No—Israel has not approved a plan to throw Greta Thunberg in a “terror cell.” A hardline proposal exists, but it isn’t policy.

Greta Thunberg has set sail again for Gaza. And behind the scenes, Israel’s national security minister is pushing a plan to lock flotilla activists in “terrorist-level” conditions and seize their boats. The plan made headlines. The approval did not.

Here’s what’s real, what’s spin, and what happens next—told through the tug-of-war between ships at sea and politics on land.

The headline claim, straightened out

• Key correction: The line “Israel is planning to throw Greta in a terror cell” is misleading. What exists is a proposal by National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir, reported by Israel Hayom. There is no government decision adopting it, and no evidence Thunberg herself would be placed in a “terror cell.” (Israel Hayom)

• What the proposal says: hold flotilla activists under “terrorist‑level conditions” in Ktzi’ot (men) and Damon (women) prisons and seize vessels to build a police maritime force. Aides were quoted saying, “after several weeks… they’ll be sorry.” Again: a plan to be presented, not approved policy. No confirmation from the prime minister’s office, IDF, or prison service as of Aug 31. (Israel Hayom)

• Context on the prisons: Ktzi’ot is a large desert facility long used for security detainees; Damon houses women, including security cases. (Wikipedia, AP background)

Meanwhile at sea: Greta’s second flotilla is real—and bigger

• Verified: Thunberg departed Barcelona on August 31, 2025 with the Global Sumud Flotilla. Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau joined; actor Liam Cunningham has been associated with the departure. Organizers say more boats will join from Italy, Greece, and Tunisia on September 4. (AP, Reuters, Global Sumud, Sky News)

• Thunberg’s stated aim: deliver aid and “break” what she calls an illegal siege. In a Press TV clip (Iranian state media), she said some 26,000 people signed up to participate—a number attributed to her, not independently verified. (Press TV, Indian Express)

• She also told Sky News: “It is not antisemitic to say that we should not be bombing people… that everyone should have the right to live in freedom and dignity.” (Sky News)

Flashback: what actually happened in June

• Verified: Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen in international waters roughly 200 km from Gaza on June 9, detained Thunberg and others, and brought them to Israel. (AP, Al Jazeera, Euronews)

• Key correction: It’s not quite right that everyone was “given the choice to be deported or arrested.” Four—including Thunberg—waived their right to a hearing and were deported. Others were held (up to 96 hours) pending tribunal and deportation. (Euronews)

• Israel mocked the “selfie yacht,” posting an image of Thunberg accepting food from a soldier and saying the small amount of aid would be routed “through real humanitarian channels,” touting millions of meals distributed in Gaza. (Times of Israel, JTA, TIME, GHF update)

The blockade question—legal or “illegal”?

• What’s uncontested: Israel has enforced a naval blockade of Gaza since 2007 and says it will continue. The IDF states it is “prepared” to act. (AP, Times of Israel live)

• What’s contested: The blockade’s legality is disputed. A UN panel in 2011 (the Palmer report) found the naval blockade lawful under international law; many UN experts and rights groups say it amounts to unlawful collective punishment. So calling it “illegal” is a political and legal position—not a settled fact. (Guardian overview, UN docs)

The stakes—and the risks

• In 2010, Israeli commandos raided a Gaza‑bound flotilla; nine people were killed (eight Turkish nationals and 19‑year‑old Turkish‑American Furkan Doğan). A tenth later died of his wounds. (Guardian, Wikipedia)

• In May 2025, another flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported an alleged drone strike off Malta in international waters. Malta documented a fire and response; Israel did not comment. Attribution remains unconfirmed. (Euronews, Washington Post, Times of Israel)

What we know, what’s unproven, what’s misleading

• Verified

  • Greta Thunberg launched a second flotilla from Barcelona on Aug 31. (AP, Reuters)
  • More ships are slated to join from Tunisia/Italy around Sep 4. (Reuters, Global Sumud)
  • June interception happened in international waters; Thunberg was detained and deported. (AP)
  • IDF says it will enforce the naval blockade. (Times of Israel live)

• Unproven (as policy)

  • Ben‑Gvir’s “terrorist‑level” detention and boat‑seizure plan. It’s reported, not adopted. (Israel Hayom)

• Needs nuance or is misleading

  • “Israel is planning to throw Greta in a terror cell.” Overstates a proposal as policy; misleads about Thunberg specifically.
  • “Choice to be deported or arrested.” The process was more complex—some waived hearings and were deported; others were detained pending tribunal. (Euronews)
  • “Illegal siege.” The legality of the blockade is disputed, not settled. (Guardian, UN docs)

• Unverified extras

  • Viral TikTok scenes of activists “smiling, swimming” are anecdotal; we didn’t independently verify specific clips and they’re not central to the core facts.

Why this matters

If Ben‑Gvir’s proposal advances, it would mark a sharp escalation—treating foreign activists like high‑risk security detainees and folding their ships into a new police force. If it stalls, Israel likely sticks to what it did in June: intercept at sea, detain briefly, deport.

For Thunberg’s flotilla, the stakes are high either way. Past flotillas turned deadly. Recent voyages drew military interception and online mud‑fights over optics and aid.

How we checked

We compared the original claims to reporting from wire services on the ground and official statements:

• Departure and route: AP, Reuters, organizers’ site (AP, Reuters, Global Sumud)
• June interception/deportations: AP, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Guardian (AP)
• Ben‑Gvir plan: Israel Hayom’s scoop, echoed by JNS/Omni; no cabinet/IDF confirmation found (Israel Hayom)
• Legality of blockade: Palmer report coverage and UN statements (Guardian, UN docs)
• Government posture: IDF and MFA public messaging (Times of Israel live, TIME)

What to watch next

• Will Netanyahu’s government adopt, water down, or reject Ben‑Gvir’s detention-and-seizure plan?
• How will Israel respond as more boats attempt to join on September 4?
• Will third‑party states (Malta, Italy, Tunisia, Spain) intervene diplomatically or operationally?

We’ll update if the proposal moves beyond headlines into policy. For now, the ships are real, the plan is not—and the showdown is still at sea.