Actor Liam Cunningham has spoken out after the Gaza-bound ship from the Freedom Flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces. Cunningham had been on hand to help load the ship before it departed Italy for Gaza in an aid mission spearheaded by activist Greta Thunberg.

Alarm has been sounded on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's Gaza-bound ship the Madleen and the life jackets were put on preparing for an interception, the coalition said on Monday.

Israel's foreign ministry has said the yacht is now "safely making its way to the shores of Israel" and its passengers are "expected to return to their home countries".