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Israeli forces intercept Freedom Flotilla’s aid ship ‘Madleen’ in international waters

Israeli forces intercepted the humanitarian vessel Madleen in international waters en route to Gaza, detaining unarmed volunteers and seizing essential aid. Israel dismissed the mission as a media stunt, while rights groups condemned the act as unlawful and urged immediate release.

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Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen, a humanitarian vessel operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), while it was en route to Gaza in international waters.

The FFC confirmed the interception in a press release on Monday (9 June), stating that the incident occurred at 3:02 am CET.

Carrying essential aid to Gaza, the ship was boarded by the Israeli military, which seized its cargo, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies.

The vessel’s unarmed civilian crew was detained.

“Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen,” said Huwaida Arraf, human rights attorney and Freedom Flotilla organizer.

“This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the International Court of Justice’s binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade—their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately.”

This act follows a previous Israeli drone attack on the FFC’s earlier vessel, Conscience, which left four civilian volunteers injured. The attack disabled the ship in European waters.

The FFC condemned both incidents as violations of international law, noting Israel’s escalating aggression by targeting yet another peaceful civilian vessel.

Interception Details

According to the FFC’s Telegram updates, Israeli quadcopters surrounded the Madleen, spraying it with a white paint-like substance.

Communications were jammed, and disturbing noises were broadcast over the radio.

In a livestream from the boat, activist Yasemin Acar showed the white substance on the deck, later reporting that it was affecting her eyes.

She said the vessel was approximately 100 miles (160 km) from Gaza when intercepted

 

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A video posted by the FFC on Telegram showed crew members sitting with their hands in the air.

After losing communication, the group released pre-recorded messages from onboard activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

“If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel,” Thunberg said in her message.

“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.”

Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila also posted a video, in which he stated that if the video was published, he had been “arrested or kidnapped by Israel or another complicit force.”

He called on supporters to pressure governments to release the activists, sever ties with Israel, end the siege on Gaza, and halt its ongoing actions.

European Parliament member Rima Hassan also pre-recorded a message to be shared in the event of her detention.

In it, she echoed the sentiments of her fellow activists, urging supporters to pressure the French government to act on behalf of all the French crew members aboard.

Israel Calls Flotilla a ‘Publicity Stunt’

Israel previously warned it would prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza.

On Monday (9 June), the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that the vessel was being brought to Israel, with the passengers to be repatriated.

“The ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries,” the ministry said in a post on X.

It dismissed the mission as a media stunt, claiming it carried “less than a single truckload of aid.”

The ministry further argued that over 1,200 aid trucks had entered Gaza from Israel in the past two weeks, and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation had distributed close to 11 million meals to civilians.

“There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip—they do not involve Instagram selfies,” the ministry added.

In a separate post, a video showed the Madleen crew seated side by side, wearing orange life jackets while a soldier handed them water and sandwiches.

International Calls for Release

UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, has demanded the immediate release of the humanitarian vessel Madleen and its crew, following its interception by Israeli forces.

“Madleen must be released immediately,” she said in a post on X.

“Breaking the siege is a legal duty for states, and a moral imperative for all of us,” Albanese added.

She also urged wider international action: “Every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable.”

Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq strongly condemned what it described as Israel’s “unlawful interception” of the Madleen in international waters.

In a statement issued from its Ramallah office, Al-Haq called for the “immediate release of all those detained.”

“Israel has no legal authority to restrict access to Palestine, since such is within the exclusive right of the Palestinian people,” the group said.

Al-Haq also accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon: “Israel’s manufacture of famine as a tool of genocide, and its blockade of Gaza, is designed to isolate, fragment, and destroy the Palestinian people.”

Mission and Passengers

The Madleen departed Italy on 1 June with a mission to deliver humanitarian supplies and challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which the group deems a “genocidal” and illegal siege.

Onboard were international volunteers and public figures, including French MEP Rima Hassan, climate justice activist Greta Thunberg, humanitarian Yasemin Acar, and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila.

Journalists Omar Faiad (Al Jazeera) and Yanis Mhamdi (Blast, France) were also aboard.

The vessel carried essential supplies for Gaza’s besieged population, including baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, sanitary products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and children’s prosthetics.

Despite some eased restrictions in May 2025, UN agencies and humanitarian groups report that aid delivery continues to be obstructed by Israeli-imposed limitations, lawlessness, and looting.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with three-quarters of the population facing “emergency” or “catastrophic” food insecurity.

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