Thunberg accused the Israeli authorities of kidnapping after Madeleine was not allowed to enter Gaza.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who was traveling on the Madeleine ship to the Gaza Strip as part of a humanitarian mission, accused the Israeli authorities of kidnapping. This was announced on June 9 by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in its Telegram channel, publishing a video message from the eco-activist.

"If you see this video, it means that we were intercepted and abducted in international waters by Israeli forces or those who support Israel," Thunberg said.

In her appeal, she called on her family, friends and colleagues to put pressure on the Swedish government to achieve the immediate release of all participants in the mission, including herself.

Pressure point: Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of its operation

The IDF has stepped up operations around the entire perimeter of the exclave — during one of the strikes, the head of the military wing of Hamas was killed.

The press service of the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on the same day that all people on board the Madeline vessel would be sent to their home countries. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Thunberg tried to organize a provocation to attract public attention. The press service added that there was "less than one aid truck" on board the eco-activist's ship, while over the past two weeks at least 1,2 thousand such vehicles have been sent from Israel to Gaza.

French MEP Rima Hassan said on May 28 that Thunberg intends to visit the Gaza Strip as part of a humanitarian mission, despite its blockade by the Israeli army. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, in turn, noted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had been instructed to prevent the Greta Thunberg flotilla from reaching the shores of the Gaza Strip.