Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen, a vessel attempting to defy the naval blockade of Gaza early June 9, detaining 12 passengers including climate activist Greta Thunberg and French member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan. The ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was seeking to deliver symbolic aid and draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the boat was redirected to Israeli shores and all passengers are expected to be deported. A video released by the ministry shows the detained activists seated in life jackets as soldiers offer them water and food. The government dismissed the voyage as a “media provocation,” calling the vessel a “selfie yacht.”
The FFC, however, described the interception as an assault in international waters. After losing contact with the Madleen, the group began posting pre-recorded videos from those onboard. In one, Thunberg says, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupation forces.”
As of June 2025, local authorities report that approximately 62,000 Palestinians have been killed, with tens of thousands more thought to be trapped beneath the rubble or in areas that are simply inaccessible to rescue workers. The Gaza Government Information Office estimates that a maximum of three-quarters of those killed have been identified; the rest remain missing amid the mass destruction.
Among the injured, there are hundreds of thousands, many left to die because of a blockade on all aid, including vital medical supplies. High rates of amputations and other medical interventions have been conducted without anesthesia or basic tools, as international organizations beg Israel for emergency aid to be allowed into Gaza. Starvation has also taken the lives of Palestinians, as long periods without food or medicine have targeted the most vulnerable.
The damage is extensive and experts argue that it is unlike any other war we have witnessed in modern history. So what now? What is keeping the end of the war so distant? Click through the gallery to find out.