Freedom Flotilla claims that it is "working urgently" to locate the abducted activists. They are not reportedly in the custody of Israel's migration authority. Adalah, an Israeli human rights organization representing them, has not received any response from Israel about their whereabouts.
The ship was boarded by activists at 02:00 Swedish time during the night before Monday. Thereafter, the crew was taken away by Israel, which stated that they would be escorted to the port city of Ashdod.
If you see this video: We have been stopped and kidnapped on international waters by the Israeli occupation forces or forces supporting Israel, says Greta Thunberg in a clip published by the organization behind the voyage, Freedom Flotilla, on X.
She also urges all her "friends, family and comrades" to put pressure on the Swedish government to get her and the others free as soon as possible.
“The show is over”
Israel's Foreign Ministry announces that the passengers are "in safety and unharmed".
“They have received sandwiches and water. The show is over,” writes the ministry on X and refers to the ship as “selfie yacht”, a mocking comment on the activists' presence on social media.
The ship was expected to reach Gaza on Monday.
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that the activists, while in Israel, will be allowed to watch the 43-minute film that Israel previously compiled about the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023. They will then be sent back to their home countries.
In conflict with international law
Before the boarding, Israel's navy was in direct contact with the activists and urged them to change course. Israel Katz then gave the order for the military to stop the ship Madleen from continuing its journey. The intervention is considered to be in conflict with international law because the ship was sailing on international waters.
The activists have also said that they were surrounded by Israeli drones, that communication channels were disrupted, and that a white substance that damaged their eyes was sprayed on the ship.
Madleen set sail from Sicily on June 1 and has since been located outside Egypt's coast. The activists had brought humanitarian aid, including diapers, infant formula, flour, rice, and medical equipment.
