Climate activist Greta Thunberg Detained by Israel During Gaza Aid Mission: Flotilla Interception Sparks Global Outcry. In a high-profile humanitarian mission turned international flashpoint, climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by Israeli forces after joining a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The boat, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aimed to deliver essential humanitarian aid to Gaza amid the region’s worsening crisis. Instead, it was intercepted in international waters and escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod.