Greta Thunberg and 11 fellow activists have boarded a vessel bound for Gaza with the unlikely goal of “breaking Israel’s siege.”
According to organisers, the group set off on Sunday from the Sicilian port of Catania aboard the Madleen, a sailing boat operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Speaking at a press conference before departure, the activists said the mission aims to deliver limited humanitarian aid and draw global attention to the ongoing situation in Gaza.
“We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying,” Thunberg said, holding back her tears.
“Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity,” she continued.
”And, no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the livestreamed genocide.”
Activist Greta Thunberg says silence is more dangerous than sailing to Gaza, as she boarded a vessel that will try to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
The Gaza Freedom Flotilla had to abandon its last attempt on May 2 when it was bombed. pic.twitter.com/ieecZ8ps0E
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 1, 2025
Among the passengers aboard the Madleen are actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role in Game of Thrones, and Rima Hassan, a French MEP of Palestinian heritage.
⛵️ Avec @GretaThunberg nous appelons à la mobilisation citoyenne pour soutenir massivement le navire humanitaire de @GazaFFlotilla ! C’est le seul moyen de garantir notre sécurité. pic.twitter.com/5DUJbkRdPZ
— Rima Hassan (@RimaHas) June 1, 2025
Hassan has previously been prohibited from entering Israel due to her fervent opposition to their military campaign.
Greta Thunberg.
“To stand with Palestine is to be human” pic.twitter.com/pyqHY2bDQc
— Dr. Yousef (@yousef_ki1) June 1, 2025
Thunberg, who gained notoriety for her hardcore climate activism, was originally scheduled to join an earlier Freedom Flotilla mission in May.
However, that voyage was aborted after one of the coalition’s ships, the Conscience, was reportedly struck by two drones while navigating international waters near Malta.
The group blamed the attack on Israel, claiming the drone strike caused significant damage to the vessel’s bow.
Ben Kew is a writer and editor. Originally from the UK, he moved to the U.S. to cover Congress for Breitbart News and has since gone on to editorial roles at Human Events, Townhall Media, and Americano Media. He has also written for The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, and The Spectator.
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