Photo by
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs/TPS-IL on 9 June, 2025
Terror-Affiliated Businessman Behind the Intercepted Greta Thunberg Flotilla
Jerusalem, 9 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- A terror-affiliated businessman is reportedly behind the boat that was stopped by IDF last night carrying Swedish ‘activist’ Greta Thunberg and others towards Gaza.
Zahar Birawi is a founding member of the ‘Freedom Flotilla’, the organization which sent the yacht, named ‘Madleen’ towards Gaza, claiming to be on a humanitarian mission.
Birawi is a Palestinian based in Britain and was previously the chairman of Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), of which the armed wing is a proscribed terror group.
In addition to being chairman of MAB, Birawi was a board trustee for Education Aid for Palestinians (EAP), whose members are identified with Hamas, and involved in transferring funds to Hamas.
He was also involved in sending convoys and ships to the Gaza Strip, including involvement in the organization of the Mavi Marmara flotilla at the end of May 2010, which was found to contain weapons.
According to Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, since October 7, he has been promoting initiatives to send “aid ships” to Gaza Strip as part of his role as chief of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG).
Regarding the financing of the boat, Dr. Hayim Iserovich, Deputy Director and Head of Research at the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center told TPS-IL: “We don’t have proof on papers, but since he is the head of the committee and a leader of Freedom Flotilla Coalition, he played a significant role in funding and organising it.”
Thunberg, 22, and several others, including Irish Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, 64, boarded a small ‘pleasure’ boat which left the shore of Italy last Sunday.
Last night, IDF forces intercepted the vessel before it reached Gaza, and took the crew to Israel, who will each soon be deported back to their respective countries, including Brazil, Germany, France and Turkey.
Many on board are known to publicly support Hamas and Hezbollah on social media.
The interception came days after Defense Minister Israel Katz issued an order for the IDF to take ‘any measures necessary’.
Katz stated at the time: “The State of Israel will not allow anyone to violate the naval blockade on Gaza — whose primary purpose is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas, a murderous terrorist organization that holds our hostages and commits war crimes.
“I have instructed the IDF to act to ensure that the ‘Madleen’ flotilla does not reach Gaza. To the antisemitic Greta and her Hamas propaganda-spreading friends — I say clearly; you would be wise to turn back, because you will not reach Gaza.
“Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or aid terrorist organizations — by sea, by air, and on land.”
The Foreign Ministry dismissed the Madleen as a publicity stunt, referring to the boat as a “selfie yacht” organized to “stage a media provocation.”
Experts yesterday called for harsher measures to act as a deterrent to self-styled ‘activists’.
