Israeli military arrests Greta Thunberg, flotilla activists after intercepting dozens of boats
Share this @internewscast.com

Israeli naval forces intercepted 39 vessels from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on Thursday, detaining dozens of activists — including international climate activist Greta Thunberg and several European lawmakers, The Associated Press reported.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set out across the Mediterranean with more than 40 boats carrying about 500 activists, was the largest yet to attempt to break Israel’s blockade of the enclave, according to the AP.

The flotilla has since been reduced to a single vessel still headed toward Gaza. Organizers with the Global Sumud Flotilla said on X that the boat was last tracked only a few miles off Gaza’s coast before contact was lost. Activists told the AP that they believed the flotilla’s size would make it harder for Israeli forces to intercept every vessel. 

Photos and surveillance footage captured the moment Israeli soldiers in helmets and night vision goggles boarded the flotilla. A photo from Israel’s foreign ministry showed Thunberg, the most prominent of the flotilla’s passengers, accompanied by soldiers following the interception. Israeli officials said those detained included Thunberg, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau and European Parliament member Rima Hassan, according to the AP.

Multiple Israeli soldiers in tactical gear climb onto the deck of a sailboat during an early morning raid.

Israeli forces stormed a Global Sumud Flotilla vessel on Oct. 2, 2025, as the boat attempted to sail toward Gaza. (Global Sumud Flotilla via AP)

News of the interception also drew condemnation and sparked demonstrations in cities including Rome, Naples, Istanbul, Athens and Buenos Aires, the AP said. Italy’s largest trade union announced a one-day general strike for Friday in protest, while more rallies were expected across the globe on Thursday, the outlet added.

A group of pro-Palestinian activists sit inside a boat, some smiling, wearing life vests; another photo shows Greta Thunberg seated among activists wearing life jackets.

Anti-Israel activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, before the vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces. (Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The flotilla is part of a series of international efforts to challenge Israel’s blockade, which has been in place since 2007 after Hamas took control of Gaza. Previous attempts by activist flotillas to break the blockade have largely failed and sometimes sparked deadly clashes, including during the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Global Sumud Flotilla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Police investigating homicide after victim dies following shooting in Birmingham

Police Investigate Homicide After Shooting Victim Dies in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham Police Department is actively investigating a…
Trump uses government shutdown to dole out firings and political punishment

Trump Utilizes Government Shutdown to Issue Terminations and Political Reprimands

President Donald Trump has taken advantage of the government shutdown as a…
Starmer’s digital ID work requirement sparks uproar from UK's left and right

Starmer’s Proposal for Digital ID Work Requirement Faces Backlash Across UK Political Spectrum

The United Kingdom’s political spectrum, from right-wing to left-wing, has united in…
Jacksonville man arrested for possession of CSAM

Jacksonville Resident Charged with CSAM Possession

Police said that the man had over 400 files on various devices…
Trump administration cuts nearly $8B in clean energy projects in blue states

Trump Administration Reduces Clean Energy Funding by $8 Billion in Democratic-Leaning States

The Trump administration is cutting $7.6 billion in grants that funded numerous…
10-time Olympic medalist Caeleb Dressel joining Sporting JAX Aquatic Club

Olympic Superstar Caeleb Dressel Joins Sporting JAX Aquatic Club

Dressel, hailing from Green Cove Springs, is about to reconnect with one…
Woman caught on camera allegedly lunging at MAGA activist in viral confrontation

Video Allegedly Shows Woman Confronting MAGA Supporter in Viral Altercation

A physical confrontation at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station went viral after conservative…
'9-1-1' season nine preview: Mark Consuelos sends two beloved members of the 118 to space, chaos ensues

Preview of ‘9-1-1’ Season Nine: Mark Consuelos Sends Two Favorite Characters from the 118 Unit into Space, Leading to Mayhem

“9-1-1” fans, it looks like season nine is going to be out…
Des Moines Public School Board accepts superintendent's resignation after ICE arrest

Ex-Des Moines Schools Superintendent Arrested by DOJ on Federal Firearms and Immigration Charges

The former Iowa school district superintendent detained by immigration authorities last week…
Texas megachurch founder Robert Morris pleads guilty to child sex abuse charges

Texas Megachurch Leader Robert Morris Admits to Child Sexual Abuse Offenses

The founder of a Texas megachurch, who stepped down last year following…
South Carolina AG demands death penalty against career criminal charged in college student’s murder

South Carolina Attorney General Calls for Death Penalty for Repeat Offender Accused of Killing College Student

South Carolina’s attorney general is urging a local prosecutor to pursue the…
Student uproar erupts at elite college after professor put on leave over ties to far-left gun club

Elite College in Turmoil as Professor’s Suspension Linked to Far-Left Gun Club Sparks Student Protests

The community at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gathered…