Israeli authorities have begun deportation proceedings for 12 international activists, including prominent climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and a French Member of the European Parliament, after their vessel attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza was intercepted in international waters and forcibly towed to Ashdod Port.

The activists were part of the Madleen mission, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) in an effort to draw global attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over two million Palestinians are facing what rights groups describe as famine-like conditions.

The boat had departed from Sicily on June 1 and was seized by Israeli naval forces early Monday morning, roughly 200 kilometres off the coast of Gaza.

While the Israeli government insists the blockade is legal, international legal experts and human rights organisations have condemned the move as a violation of international law. The activists are now being held in a detention facility at Ben Gurion International Airport, where they are undergoing processing for deportation.

According to Adalah, a Palestinian legal centre representing the detainees, the activists were taken against their will in international waters and had no intention of entering Israeli territory. "This seizure constitutes a serious breach of international law," Adalah said in a statement. “The Madleen was sailing under a UK flag en route to the territorial waters of Palestine, not Israel.”

Suhad Bishara, Adalah’s legal director, confirmed that the Israeli Navy handed over the detainees to immigration authorities, who intend to deport them “as soon as possible.” Some of the activists, she noted, are seeking legal consultation before agreeing to leave, and may be transferred to a detention facility in Ramleh pending immigration tribunal proceedings.

At the time of the interception, a video released by the FFC showed the activists with their hands raised as Israeli forces boarded the vessel. Since then, organisers say they have had no direct contact with those on board. Among the passengers were journalists and aid volunteers, none of whom were armed.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the mission as a publicity stunt, referring to the vessel as a “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrities.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the ministry stated that the activists were undergoing medical examinations and would be returned to their respective countries.

Government spokesperson David Mencer singled out Greta Thunberg, stating: “Greta was not bringing aid, she was bringing herself.” Thunberg, in a pre-recorded message released by FFC before communications were lost, urged her supporters to demand her release from Israeli custody.

In response, Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed it was in contact with Israeli authorities and prepared to provide consular support if needed. The UK government also called on Israel to act with restraint and uphold international humanitarian law. “The Prime Minister has described the situation in Gaza as appalling and intolerable,” said a spokesperson for PM Keir Starmer.

French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly asked for the immediate release of six French nationals aboard the Madleen, calling the Gaza blockade a “disgrace” and a violation of humanitarian norms.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, condemned Israel’s actions unequivocally. “Israel has absolutely no authority to intercept and stop a boat like this, which carries humanitarian aid, and more than anything else, humanity,” she said.

Meanwhile, protests erupted in several European capitals, including Paris, London, and Berlin, denouncing what many demonstrators called “an act of piracy.” Activists in Brussels demanded stronger EU action against Israel’s blockade, which has been in place since 2007 and has drawn criticism from international courts and human rights observers.

Al Jazeera, reporting from Amman due to being banned in Israel and the occupied West Bank, said the activists had no plans to dock in Israel and were never in its territorial waters.

Despite the Israeli government’s insistence on the legality of its blockade, the interception of the Madleen has once again drawn global attention to Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Aid agencies continue to warn of severe food insecurity and lack of medical supplies, with much of the enclave’s infrastructure reduced to rubble amid continued Israeli bombardment.

The ultimate fate of the Madleen crew remains uncertain. Some of the activists are expected to be deported within hours, while others may contest their removal in Israeli courts. As of late Monday, legal representatives and diplomats from several countries were attempting to gain access to the detainees.

“We expect strong condemnation from the international community,” said Huwaida Arraf, a lead organiser with the FFC. “This is not only about 12 people on a boat. It’s about the millions in Gaza whose suffering is being ignored.”