What to know about the intercepted Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla Coalition

• Thunberg and the other activists — German, Dutch, Brazilian, Turkish and Spanish citizens — were on board the ship as part of an unarmed aid mission to Gaza. Israel said it would deport the 12 activists, multiple outlets reported.
• The Madleen is the second Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship targeted by Israel in just over a month. The Conscience was drone-bombed off the coast of Malta in early May, though no injuries were reported.
• The FFC's efforts to bring food and other aid to Gaza come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked deliveries of food, water and medicine to the enclave in March, deepening the crisis for millions of Palestinians in Gaza.

What they're saying: The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a post to X that the Madleen passengers were kidnapped by Israeli forces.

• Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the incident as a "selfie yacht" with "celebrities" on board in a post to X, but said all the activists will be deported to their home countries, though no timeline was given for when.
• The Foreign Ministry said the Madleen contained less than a truckload of aid for Gaza and contended that over 1,200 trucks of aid have gone into the enclave in the past two weeks.
• "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies," the statement said, adding that the aid recovered from the ship would be sent to Gaza through "real" humanitarian channels.

Behind the scenes: United Nations experts called for the Madleen's safe passage to Gaza on June 2, a day after the ship set sail from Malta.

• "Aid is desperately needed for the people of Gaza to forestall annihilation, and this initiative is a symbolic and powerful effort to deliver it," their statement said. "Israel should remember that the world is watching closely and refrain from any act of hostility against the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and its passengers."

What is the Freedom Flotilla Coalition?

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition defines itself as "an international civilian mission responding to international failure" and has focused its efforts on Gaza.

• Its demands include an end to Israel's occupation of Gaza; immediate release of all Flotilla volunteers; delivery of humanitarian aid directly to Palestinians; and accountability for the military assaults on its ships.
• "Governments must fulfill their obligations under international law and stop enabling Israel's crimes," the coalition said in a statement. "We are undeterred. We will sail again. We will not stop until the siege ends and Palestine is free."

• The coalition began in 2010 and "guides its work in accordance with explicit goals and plans of the people in Gaza," its website said. Between 2008 and 2018, 35 boats challenged an Israeli naval blockade in Gaza.

Greta Thunberg's role

Thunberg, a climate and political activist, was aboard the Madleen as a volunteer when it was stopped by Israeli forces.

• "How many people have to die before we decide that OK, this is the right moment?" Thunberg said in a video that was posted to social media while she was on the flotilla. "So it falls on us as communities, as human rights defenders, to take that responsibility."
• Israel's Foreign Ministry said she was on her way to Israel, "safe and in good spirits," sharing a photo of her receiving a sandwich while wearing an orange life vest.

Context: Thunberg has long been outspoken about her support for Palestinians and a free Palestine.

• "If you as a climate activist don't also fight for a free Palestine and an end to colonialism and oppression all over the world, then you should not be able to call yourself a climate activist," she said in October at a rally in Milan, Italy.

Go deeper:

• Israeli forces intercept Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg
• Israeli troops shoot Palestinian civilians approaching new aid centers