Israel: Activist ship carrying Greta Thunberg changes course, heads for Israeli coast
Tel Aviv- Israel's Foreign Ministry says the Freedom Flotilla Coalition activist ship Madleen, which was headed to Gaza, has diverted its course to the coast of Israel. All aboard are safe, the ministry said, and the activists will return to their countries of origin once they reach land, according to Israel.
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Freedom Flotilla Coalition said Israeli military forces “boarded” the ship overnight Sunday into Monday. Contact with the Madleen has been lost, the organization added in a Telegram message.

The Israeli navy had ordered the ship, which is heading for Gaza, to change course earlier in the night.

The activist ship is carrying twelve passengers, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Dutch captain Mark van Rennes. The ship was carrying aid supplies for Gaza.

Earlier in the night, a group of boats approached the activist ship, but they appeared to leave after a while. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered his military to prevent the Madleen from actually sailing to Gaza.

The navy demanded a change of course from the activist ship as it approached a restricted area, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.