Early Monday morning, Israeli forces boarded the British-flagged yacht Madleen. The yacht was on a symbolic run to deliver aid to Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) that owned the yacht had a highly experienced crew of 12. Among them was perhaps the most famous climate activist Greta Thunberg. The ship was stopped on its way to an Israeli port. It attributed its censorship to direct orders received from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz to prevent it arriving in Gaza.
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, is supporting the FFC’s effort. She is unapologetically loyal to the cause of their fight. She urged for more boats to break the blockade of Gaza. She ended her remarks calling for urgent international solidarity with the Palestinian people. Albanese stated via X that “Madleen’s journey may have ended, but the mission isn’t over. Every single port of the Mediterranean needs to be sending ships of aid & solidarity to Gaza.”
The Madleen was boarded by Israeli forces at 2 a.m., noted Rima Hassan, an FFC spokesperson. After the interception, the Israel foreign ministry denounced the yacht as a “selfie yacht” favored by “celebrities.” They promised that none of the passengers would be killed or left behind in foreign countries.
“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.” – Israeli foreign ministry.
Israeli authorities, for their part, portrayed the FFC’s mission as a propaganda campaign in defense of Hamas. They argue that the blockade, imposed in 2007 after Hamas took control of Gaza, is a key factor. It keeps weapons safer from falling into the hands of the militant group. Huwaida Arraf, one of the main organizers with the Freedom Flotilla, vehemently disputed this claim. She described how Israel has no legal jurisdiction to arrest international volunteers on the Madleen.
“Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen.” – Huwaida Arraf, Freedom Flotilla organizer.
“Government’s interception by simply stating that the action was arbitrary and unlawful.” Arraf went further to condemn the interception. She maintained that occupants of the yacht were not subject to Israeli law. They should not be subject to lame criminal charges for bringing relief or for challenging an unlawful blockade.
“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.” – Huwaida Arraf.
To that end, the FFC issued a shocking statement denouncing the boarding as an act of aggression against human rights defenders. They claimed that the yacht had been “illegally boarded.” They further characterized what had occurred to its “unarmed civilian crew” as “in full impunity.”
“Forcibly intercepting and unlawfully boarding its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo – including baby formula, food and medical supplies – confiscated.” – The FFC.