Greta Thunberg is "safe and in good spirits" after a boat carrying the eco-activist was intercepted and boarded by Israeli troops as it approached the Gaza Strip.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) mocked the vessel carrying 12 "celebrity" activists to the war-torn state as a "selfie yacht" and claimed they carried with them a "tiny amount of aid".
The MFA shared an image of the 22-year-old Swede accepting a piece of bread from an Israeli soldier, following the release of a pre-recorded Instagram video where she claimed she had been "kidnapped" just hours before.
"The passengers are expected to return to their home countries," the MFA jabbed on social media.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared an image of the 22-year-old Swede accepting a piece of bread from an Israeli soldierMFA/X"While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity - and which included less than a single truckload of aid - more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks," it added.
"In addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza.
"There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip - they do not involve Instagram selfies.
"The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels."
The Israeli slap-down comes after Thunberg released a crowing video clip which declared: "If you see this... We have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel.
"I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish Government to release me and the others as soon as possible."
MORE ON GRETA THUNBERG:
Greta Thunberg, seen sitting on the bow of the British-flagged yacht Madleen
REUTERS
Her fellow activists on board the so-called "freedom flotilla" vessel had claimed it was under attack and had been sprayed with an unknown substance.
A further statement from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition declared: "The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated."
Those on board the vessel, a British-flagged yacht called Madleen, which set off from Sicily last Sunday, include Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham and French MEP Rima Hassan.
They are sailing in a bid to "break" Israel's "siege" on Gaza.
The Israel Defence Forces were ordered to stop the ship in its tracks, and have accused Thunberg of being an "antisemite travelling with Hamas propagandists".
Thunberg sparked outrage late last year after declaring "f**k Israel and f**k Germany" at a protest in Mannheim.
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PICTURED: Israeli forces hand out sandwiches to 'freedom flotilla' sailors
REUTERS
The country's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has vowed that his forces will bar anyone from breaking its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory in a bid to stop terror group Hamas importing arms.
The blockade on the coastal enclave has been in place since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
'"I have instructed the IDF to act so that the hate flotilla... does not reach the shores of Gaza - and to take all necessary measures to that end," Katz said.
"To the antisemitic Greta and her friends who echo Hamas propaganda, I say clearly: You'd better turn back - because you will not reach Gaza. Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or to assist terrorist organisations - by sea, by air, and by land."
Responding to Katz on Sunday, the flotilla said: "The statement by Israel's Defence Minister is yet another example of Israel threatening the unlawful use of force against civilians - and attempting to justify that violence with smears.
"We will not be intimidated... The world is watching," it added.
The United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has backed the FFC operation and on Sunday, urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade.
"Madleen's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid and solidarity to Gaza," she fumed.
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