Greta Thunberg is making headlines again—but this time, for accusing Israel of “kidnapping” her.
The Swedish climate activist was intercepted by the Israeli military while aboard a yacht attempting to break the Gaza naval blockade. Thunberg and her celebrity entourage were participating in a so-called “Freedom Flotilla” mission. Israel made clear it would not tolerate such stunts.
Thunberg posted early Monday that she and others had been “kidnapped” by the “Israeli occupational forces.” But footage released by Israel’s Foreign Ministry told a different story. The video showed all passengers wearing life jackets, calmly receiving sandwiches and water. Hardly the scene of a crisis.
Among the group were actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role on Game of Thrones, and Rima Hassan, a European Parliament member. Their vessel, described by Israeli officials as a “selfie yacht,” carried less than a single truckload of aid—while Israel has delivered over 1,200 aid trucks into Gaza in just the past two weeks.
“The ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated. “The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.” Officials slammed the voyage as a media stunt with no legitimate humanitarian purpose.
Israel noted that the minimal aid onboard—what little wasn’t consumed by the high-profile activists—would still be transferred through official humanitarian channels. “There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies,” the ministry added.
Defense Minister Israel Katz took responsibility for authorizing the operation to stop the ship. He confirmed, “I instructed the IDF to act to prevent the vessel from reaching Gaza,” emphasizing Israel’s firm stance against any effort to assist terror-linked groups.
“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or assist terrorist organizations — at sea, in the air, and on land,” Katz declared.
In response to the lawful interception, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition claimed on social media that its members had been “kidnapped by Israeli forces.” That framing has since been echoed by sympathetic media outlets and left-wing figures.
But Israel’s actions were clear-cut. The blockade of Gaza has long been recognized as a security necessity to prevent arms and funds from flowing into Hamas’ hands. The flotilla activists, while draped in humanitarian rhetoric, sought to create a global spectacle—and provoke Israel.
Instead, they walked into a hard wall of reality. Israel is no longer playing diplomatic games or pandering to elite opinion. Its leaders are prioritizing national security over global approval. And Americans paying attention should take note.
The left may call it “kidnapping,” but what happened was a lawful act of self-defense. While Thunberg and her allies posture for social media, Israel is on the frontlines of a very real war against terror.
And they’re not backing down. Neither should we.
