Greta Thunberg is making headlines again, this time for setting sail with a Gaza flotilla to break through the Israeli naval blockade. The international flotilla is stocked with humanitarian aid and a crew of activists, including “Game of Thrones” actor Liam Cunningham.

The ship set off on its voyage Sunday from Catania, a port in southern Italy, seeking to reach the Gaza Strip by breaking through Israel’s naval blockade.

Madleen — the name of the vessel — is being operated by a nonprofit group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is dedicated to challenging Israel’s control of maritime access to the Gaza area. Organizers with the group say this isn’t charity. It’s a form of nonviolent protest against, in their words, “Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes.”

Shortly before the group set sail, Thunberg began to sob while speaking at a press conference. Thunberg became an international figure for the work she did as a teenager for environmental causes.

Activist Greta Thunberg says silence is more dangerous than sailing to Gaza, as she boarded a vessel that will try to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla had to abandon its last attempt on May 2 when it was bombed. pic.twitter.com/ieecZ8ps0E

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 1, 2025

“We are doing this because no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity,” she told the media. “No matter how dangerous this mission is, it is nowhere near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the lives being genocized [sic].”

Israel has strongly and consistently denied all accusations of “genocide,” referring to such claims as a blood libel that is part of a broader strategy to undermine the existence of the Jewish state. Officials say the naval blockade, which has been in place since 2007, is an important and very necessary security measure to prevent the terrorist group Hamas from obtaining dangerous weapons that jeopardize the lives of Israelis.

“The latest voyage comes after a failed flotilla attempt in June, when another FFC vessel, the Conscience, was struck by two drones in international waters near Malta. While the group accused Israel of being behind the attack, Jerusalem has not publicly commented on the incident,” The Times of Israel reported.

The FFC says the Madleen is carrying “limited…though symbolic” barrels of aid. Activists aboard the vessel believe the trip will take a week. If, that is, they aren’t intercepted en route. It’s been reported that Israeli authorities have stopped similar flotillas attempting to break through the blockade.

Recent reports have emerged lately claiming severe humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Large parts of the area have been demolished during the 19-month skirmish between Hamas and Israel, which came about after the terror group’s horrific attack on the Jewish State in October 2023.

Just last week, Israel agreed to ease up on its blockade for limited aid deliveries to be made under the supervision of the United Nations.