The Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that the IDF intercepted it at around 3 a.m. on Monday morning, the organization posted on its Telegram group.

The post noted that all connection to the Madleen had been lost. Activists reported being attacked by drones that sprayed a white irritant substance on the boat a few minutes before they were intercepted. 

According to posts from the flotilla's Telegram, the boats' communication signals were jammed, and loud, disturbing sounds were being played on their radio. 

The flotilla's telegram also posted videos of the activists that were pre-recorded in the event that they were "kidnapped" by the IDF. There have been no reports so far about the activists being detained by the military.

Activist Greta Thunberg appears in a video posted after the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was reportedly taken to Israeli shores on June 9, 2025. (credit: screenshot, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)
Activist Greta Thunberg appears in a video posted after the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was reportedly taken to Israeli shores on June 9, 2025. (credit: screenshot, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)
The Israeli foreign ministry noted in a statement at around 4 a.m. that the boat was safely making its way to Israeli shores. 

IDF intercepts flotilla near Gaza shore

The IDF said it expected to intercept the boat at around 2 a.m. local time. The activists onboard the Maldeen reported that they were intercepted by around four or five speedboats at around 2 a.m., and claimed that they belonged to the IDF.

However, activists initially noted that the boats left quickly after they arrived, and noted that an IDF interception of the vessel had not taken place as of 2:00 a.m.. 

In a video posted to her Instagram, Yasemin Acar, a German pro-Palestinian activist, showed two boats that remained floating close to the Madleen. She said that those on board had "reason to believe this is psychological warfare."

She also said that two of the speedboats came about 200 meters close to the vessel. 

At around 1 a.m., an alarm was sounded on the ship warning of a possible interception, and activists were told to put on life jackets for their safety.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said he told the military to stop the boat carrying activists, including Sweden's Greta Thunberg, and a symbolic quantity of aid, including rice and baby formula, to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade.

The coalition posted on its Telegram account a voice memo of Thiago Avila, one of the activists onboard, saying "we have been surrounded by many lights all at once; they were circling our boat but in the end they kept going their own way."

Francesca Albanese claims IDF intercepts flotilla

This comes after UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said that the flotilla was intercepted by several Israeli speedboats in a post on X/Twitter. 

Albanese said that she could hear the activists speaking with what she believed were IDF soldiers during the flotilla's online livestream. 

However, the activists said in a post on Instagram that they were unsure if the boats belonged to Israel or not. 

The Foreign Ministry said that the activist's efforts were "dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts," in a statement on X/Twitter, and noted that it had advised the Madleen to change its course.