Israel forced Greta and Gaza flotilla activists to watch 7 October footage

Israeli forces have detained all passengers on board the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship Madleen after boarding it in international waters early Monday morning, and later forced the activists to watch footage of the 7 October Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, according to a statement from Israeli officials.

The navy intercepted the ship around 2 am as it approached Gaza, with quadcopters reportedly spraying a white substance over the deck moments before Israeli troops stormed it. Among those detained were Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, German activist Yasemin Acar, and Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Omar Faiad.

Israel's foreign ministry released images of the detainees being handed sandwiches and water at Ashdod Port, while Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the army to screen videos of the October assault, which killed more than 1,100 Israelis, to show the activists "whom they are supporting".

"Connection has been lost on the 'Madleen'. Israeli army have boarded the vessel," the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the activist group operating the vessel, posted on Telegram. The coalition added that the passengers had been "kidnapped" by Israeli forces.

A video posted by the Israeli foreign ministry on X showed the activists being "escorted" by the navy, taking them to Ashdod Port.

"All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over," the ministry said.

According to Hassan’s team, quadcopters surrounded the ship and sprayed them with a white substance, moments before their detention. Hassan’s team also confirmed that they had lost contact with her at 3:19 am BST.

Some of the last images of the crew showed them wearing life jackets, in case of an incident, as the Israeli authorities have threatened violence against the activists since they embarked on 1 June from Catania, Sicily.

Before their detention, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition posted several pre-recorded videos on social media amid fears of the activists' imminent arrest. Hassan, among others, urged their respective governments to ensure their release in the clips.

A colleague of Faiad's posted on Instagram a video and message from the Al Jazeera Mubasher reporter as he was being arrested. Faiad’s hands can be seen raised in the air as the Israeli navy forced its way onto the boat.

His last words in Arabic could be heard as "Goodbye, dear viewers, and we shall meet again".

An image was shared on Hassan’s X account of a group of artists with their hands up in the air as they were being detained.

The boat, which set sail earlier this month, is intended to break Israel’s months-long siege on the Gaza Strip and provide Palestinians in the enclave with symbolic aid, who have suffered for 20 months with little to no aid amid rising starvation rates, due to Israel’s brutal onslaught and complete siege. 

The Israeli foreign ministry claimed that the freedom flotilla, which they called a "selfie yacht of celebrities", was making its way to Israeli shores and was "expected to return to their home countries".

Katz also said that he instructed the Israeli army to screen footage of Hamas’ 7 October attacks on southern Israel when they arrive at Ashdod.

"Antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends should see exactly what the Hamas terrorist organisation, which they came to support and act on behalf of, truly is," he said via a statement through a defence ministry spokesperson.

"They should see the atrocities committed against women, the elderly, and children, and understand whom Israel is fighting to defend itself."

Katz went on to praise the army for its takeover of the vessel. The ministry also claimed that "the little aid" on board the boat would be transported to Gaza, despite Tel Aviv’s ongoing blockade of the enclave.

Global condemnations

Palestinian group Hamas condemned the boat’s seizure and detention of activists, calling the move a "piracy crime".

In a Telegram statement early on Monday, the group called Israel's action "organised state terrorism and a flagrant violation of international law".

"The Madleen, along with the steadfast land convoys from Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan and elsewhere, are living evidence of the failure of the Zionist propaganda machine, and the extent of popular and humanitarian solidarity with besieged Gaza," Hamas said.

The group called for the "immediate release" of the activists on board the seized boat, holding Israel "fully responsible" for their safety.

It also called on the UN and international organisations to "condemn this crime and take urgent action to break the siege" on Gaza.

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, urged for the Madleen activists’ release, and called on Mediterranean ports to send "aid, solidarity and humanity" to Gaza.

Iran, which has harshly criticised Israel for its conduct in Gaza and engaged in attacks on Tel Aviv over the war, denounced the detention as an act of "piracy" under international law.

Turkey, another critic of the war in Gaza, branded the incident as a "heinous attack" which constitutes a violation of international law.

France said it would work to ensure the rapid return home of six French citizens onboard, with President Emmanuel Macron requesting that they "be allowed to return to France as soon as possible".

Meanwhile, the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in Britain (AOHRB) said in an official statement that it will hold Israel accountable for the fate of those on board the Madleen.

AOHRB expressed concern over their safety and urged international action for their release so their fate won’t "end up the same" as the nine Turkish nationals killed on board the Mavi Marmara flotilla, back in 2010.