Israel defence minister says Greta Thunberg refused to watch Oct. 7 attack video while detained

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz reportedly ordered Greta Thunberg to be shown a video featuring the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, after she was detained while attempting to send aid to Gaza.

The BBC reported that Thunberg and 11 other activists were set for Gaza aboard a yacht called the Madleen with a small amount of humanitarian aid, before Israeli forces intercepted the voyage on Jun. 9.

According to AP News, the Madleen was attempting to bring aid, which included baby formula and food, for the people in Gaza.

Following the seizure of the yacht, Aldalah, a legal rights group representing Palestinians, claimed that the yacht had been “sailing in international waters, where Israel had no legal jurisdiction or authority”.

The organiser of the voyage, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), has also released a series of videos serving as an “SOS call” by Thunberg and the other activists.

“If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel,” said Thunberg in her FFC video, which seems to have been filmed before the capture.

“I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.”

Refused to be shown Oct. 7 video

In a statement on X, Katz said he instructed the Israel Defence Forces to show the activists the video when they arrived at the port of Ashdod in Israel.

“It is appropriate that the anti-semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation they support is, and for whom they work, the atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself.”

According to The Times of Israel, Katz said in a separate statement that the activists refused to continue watching the video when they saw what it was about.

Provided with sandwiches and water

Referring to the Madleen as a “selfie yacht”, the Israeli Foreign Ministry deemed the voyage a “media gimmick for publicity” as the yacht carried less than a single truckload of aid.

“There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip – they do not involve Instagram selfies”.

It also claimed that the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza was under a naval blockade that is legal under international law, stressing that unauthorised attempts to enter are “dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts”.

In a photo and video published on X by the ministry, the activists, including Thunberg, appear to be handed bread and water by Israeli forces. The captions of the posts reiterated that all passengers were “safe and unharmed”.

Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits. pic.twitter.com/pjWSr0lOsE

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025

All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. pic.twitter.com/tLZZYcspJO

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025

As of Jun. 10, the ministry has assured that the activists have arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, and were set to depart for their home countries, with a subsequent update showing Thunberg on a plane reportedly set for Sweden.

Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). pic.twitter.com/kWrI9KVoqX

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025

The ministry added that, in alignment with Israeli law, those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before the judicial authority to authorise their deportation.

The aid present on the yacht would be delivered to Gaza via “real humanitarian channels”, it said.

“Real humanitarian channels”

In light of criticisms, Israel’s foreign ministry has said on X that humanitarian aid is delivered “regularly and effectively” to Gaza.

“More than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and close to 11 million meals were transferred by the GHF directly to civilians in Gaza.”

According to The Guardian, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel and the U.S., began civilian food provision in Gaza on May 27 after Israel imposed a blockage of all supplies to the strip in March.

The foundation has since drawn criticism from the UN, which rejects the system as a “deliberate attempt (by Israel) to weaponise aid” for its military and political purposes.

As quoted by The Guardian, a GHF spokesperson claimed that there had been “no incident at or in (the) surrounding vicinity” of any distribution site.

However, media reports about civilians being killed and wounded while attempting to get aid from GHF centres due to alleged open fire by Israeli forces have prompted UN chief Antonio Guterres to call for an investigation.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighted in a briefing that the GHF aid distribution model was “all a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what is going on”.

"It is unacceptable,” she said. “Civilians are risking – and in several instances losing – their lives just trying to get food.”

Top image via Israel Foreign Ministry/X