Shayetet 13, the elite IDF naval unit, intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla early on Monday morning at around 3 a.m., according to the ship's operators and military officials. 

The IDF boarded the Madleen, and took the crew and the ship to the Port of Ashdod, where they would be sent back to their respective countries, with Defense Minister Israel Katz instructing that the passengers view footage from Hamas's October 7 attacks. 

The IDF had previously estimated that the flotilla would arrive in Israeli territory an hour earlier.

The Israeli Navy had also reportedly made contact with the Madleen prior to Israeli forces boarding, and had instructed it to change its course.

"If you wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, you are able to do so through the Port of Ashdod via the established channels and distribution zones," the video documented a soldier from the Israeli Navy as saying.

Flotilla's passengers to return to home countries

The ministry later announced that the flotilla, referring to it as the "selfie yacht," was making its way to Israeli shores, and announced that all passengers are expected to return to their home countries.
Activist Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1 to travel to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, in this picture released on June 2, 2025 on social media. (credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition/via REUTERS)
Activist Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1 to travel to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, in this picture released on June 2, 2025 on social media. (credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition/via REUTERS)
"While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity - and which included less than a single truckload of aid - more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks," the ministry said in an official statement. "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip - they do not involve Instagram selfies."

The ministry then added that the aid on the flotilla, describing it as "tiny," would be transferred to the Gaza Strip through real humanitarian channels.

The Madleen's official tracker had shown the ship edging closer to the Gaza coastline, and Shayetet 13, had already begun training for the ship’s boarding.

Thunberg, flotilla crew to watch Oct. 7 footage

Katz had also instructed the IDF to show Thunberg and the rest of the Madleen passengers footage from Hamas's October 7 attacks.

"It is appropriate that antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who this terrorist organization they came to support and whom they are working for is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself," he said.

At 1:17 a.m., the flotilla's Telegram account reported that alarms sounded on the ship, and life jackets were being prepared. The activists on board include Greta Thunberg, European lawmaker Rima Hassan, and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham. 

One of the flotilla participants, Yasmine Najer, uploaded a video to her Instagram and explained why the alarm in the flotilla was activated: "We are very close to Gaza. The reason we activated the alarm is that four ships surrounded us and two approached to a distance of about 200 meters - this has not happened before. So that is why we sounded the alarm.

A security source told Maariv that Shayetet 13 and the Israeli Navy would have no issue boarding the vessel.

"It’s a small and low-profile sailboat with a small auxiliary engine, so it sails slowly. We’ll have no problem boarding it once it enters Israeli waters.”

Pro-Palestinian activists on Madleen to try to livestream IDF vessel takeover

Because the ship is entering waters under Israeli jurisdiction, it necessitates a response by the Israeli Navy. The vessel left a week ago from the city of Catania in Sicily. The IDF has stated that it would intercept the vessel before it reaches Gaza. The activists on board reported that they would attempt to livestream the IDF's takeover of the vessel.

Katz also clarified that Israel will prevent the ship’s entry into Gaza. The IDF has completed its final preparations in recent hours to prevent the vessel from reaching the shores of Gaza.

"Greta the antisemite and her friends, I say clearly: you'd better turn back – because you will not reach Gaza," he said.

Amichai Stein and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.