Israel’s remarks regarding Madleen as a “selfie yacht” has caused outrage across social media, with activists, human rights defenders and global citizens accusing Israeli authorities of trivializing what should be taken as seriously humanitarian effort.
On Monday, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement characterizing the Freedom Flotilla Coalition vessel as an illegal publicity stunt and declaring “the show is over,” suggesting activists onboard were only interested in photo ops rather than providing genuine humanitarian assistance. Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan were two prominent activists aboard and her efforts had resulted in humanitarian assistance being rendered.
The phrase “selfie yacht” quickly went viral – although perhaps not in the way Israeli officials expected. Hashtags like #NotASelfieYacht, #AidNotPR and #SolidaritySails began trending on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok as many users voiced outrage against what many saw as an irresponsible and dehumanizing response to an ongoing crisis.
One user on X posted “Mocking a ship full of medical supplies, prosthetics, and baby formula bound for war-torn zones isn’t clever; it’s cruel”; their post quickly garnered over 250,000 likes within hours. Another wrote “Even if they took selfies while doing more than government who remain silent.
Photos posted from the ship this week revealed volunteers loading boxes marked “Medical Aid for Gaza” while protesters held signs reading “End the Blockade.” Greta Thunberg could also be seen sitting beside pallets of flour and water, emphasizing its humanitarian nature.
The Madleen was intercepted and diverted back to Ashdod port by Israeli naval forces while it was in international waters, detained, and later released or processed through immigration. While Israel maintains this was necessary to enforce its blockade on Gaza and prevent potential arms smuggling, critics contend it was simply meant as intimidation or propaganda.
Human rights groups and international legal experts strongly criticized both the seizure and language used by Israeli officials. Referring to peace activists as Instagram influencers is both offensive and dangerous, according to Dr. Leila Mounir of the Global Civil Society Institute. She noted how such references foster an environment of suspicion against humanitarian efforts worldwide.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition issued a statement distancing itself from Israel’s depiction of their mission and asserting that every passenger aboard was there with an intention of breaking an unlawful siege and providing aid. They declared: “We are not actors – we are human beings sailing for justice.”
As arguments rage online and off, digital pushback has increased global scrutiny of Israel’s actions at sea and elevated the voices of those aboard ships carrying powerful messages of solidarity from those aboard them.