South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was widely condemned on X after he tweeted a threat aimed at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is part of a flotilla that's attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The vessel, named Madleen, is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), a nonprofit known for organizing maritime missions to challenge Israel’s control over Gaza’s coastal access. Organizers of the effort described it not as a charitable delivery but as a form of nonviolent protest against what they called “Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes.”
The Madleen is transporting what FFC describes as a “limited… though symbolic” amount of humanitarian aid. The activists anticipate the journey will take about a week unless the vessel is intercepted. Israel has a history of blocking similar flotillas that attempt to break its naval blockade of Gaza.
Graham shared a news article about Thunberg’s participation in the flotilla amid a months-long Israeli blockade that aid organizations warn is pushing the territory toward famine.
He wrote:
“Hope Greta and her friends can swim!”
You can see his post below.
Graham was harshly criticized for his remarks.
The latest voyage by the FFC follows a failed attempt, when another of its ships, Conscience, was reportedly struck by two drones in international waters near Malta. While the group blamed Israel for the attack, the Israeli government has not issued any public statement regarding the incident.
Israel agreed last week to partially ease its blockade of Gaza, permitting limited aid deliveries under United Nations supervision. However, a separate aid initiative—the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the United States—has faced strong opposition from major humanitarian organizations.
These groups argue that the foundation’s distribution model undermines neutrality and could contribute to the forced displacement of civilians.
Thunberg stressed that "no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity."
@kirstendunst/Instagram