In the early hours of Monday morning, Israeli military forces seized control of a humanitarian aid boat attempting to reach Gaza, detaining a crew of 12 activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, and rerouting the vessel to an Israeli port.
The vessel, The Madleen, was part of a symbolic mission organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aimed at breaking Israel’s long-standing naval blockade of Gaza. The boat carried food, baby formula, and medical supplies, and departed amid mounting international concern over famine conditions in the besieged enclave.
Despite the mission’s peaceful intent, Israeli forces intercepted the UK-flagged boat in international waters. The move sparked fierce condemnation from human rights organisations and legal experts, who argue the seizure violates international law and defies the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) binding orders mandating unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the ICJ’s binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza,” said Huwaida Arraf, a human rights attorney and one of the flotilla’s organisers. “These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction. Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately.”
Among the final messages sent from The Madleen before communications were cut was a solemn image of the crew, hands raised in surrender, clad in lifejackets. In a pre-recorded video, Thunberg stated, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters,” urging the Swedish government to intervene.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry responds
Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded by confirming the activists were being taken to Israel, stating that they were “expected to return to their home countries.” The Ministry later posted an image of Thunberg being offered a sandwich, seemingly downplaying the seriousness of the operation.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, took to X (formerly Twitter), attacking the crew as “celebrities on a selfie yacht” and stating they would be shown footage of the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023. Those attacks left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and 250 taken hostage. Of those hostages, 55 are still believed to be in Gaza.
Since the start of the war, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities, figures historically deemed credible by international observers. The majority of casualties are women, children, and the elderly. Over 125,000 have been injured and 2.3 million displaced, many multiple times.
The attempted mission by The Madleen comes just weeks after another flotilla boat caught fire off the coast of Malta. Organizers alleged that Israeli drones were responsible, though the Israeli military declined to comment.
In a striking show of global solidarity, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, called for the immediate release of the crew and urged nations to actively challenge the blockade.
“Every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza,” Albanese said. “Breaking the siege is a legal duty for states and a moral imperative for all of us.”
On Sunday, prior to the incident, at least 12 Palestinians were reportedly killed by Israeli gunfire while attempting to reach food distribution centers. Israeli forces claim they fired warning shots as people approached.
As international scrutiny of Israel’s blockade intensifies, the detention of The Madleen crew has reignited debate over the legality of the siege and the world’s responsibility to act. For many, this latest incident underscores a deepening humanitarian crisis and the growing risks faced by those trying to intervene.
