The Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s aid ship Madleen experienced extreme tensions on their way to Gaza. As the crew continued their mission, they faced many obstacles in their groundbreaking mission. The Israeli military forcibly boarded and seized the ship while it travelled through international waters. It hosted major figures such as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan. Suddenly, at 1 a.m. UK time, all communication with Madleen ceased as we began to hear reports of extremely aggressive moves and maneuvers taking place by the Israeli military.
The Israeli foreign ministry has claimed that Madleen is “safely making its way to the shores of Israel.” According to reports, Israeli drones have been conducting aerial surveillance of the ship and launching an unidentified white irritant substance. Defense Minister Yoav Katz warned that Israel would take “all necessary measures” to prevent Madleen from reaching its intended destination.
Madleen ostensibly transports less than one truckload’s worth of aid at a time, which has led to very critical questions regarding the effectiveness of its mission’s purpose. In the last two weeks, more than 1,200 aid trucks have rolled into Gaza from Israel. In addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has personally distributed nearly 11 million meals directly to civilians on the ground in the region.
Things came to a head when people on board Madleen reported being hijacked by Israeli soldiers. A member of the crew stated, “We are being boarded, right now… everyone here is safe. No one is wounded right now… Please raise the alarm.” The captain confirmed, “At the time the boat was intercepted no one is wounded.”
Greta Thunberg, the young climate activist who has become a global icon for climate action, helped remind everyone just how urgent their mission is. She stated, “We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying. Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And, no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the livestreamed genocide.”
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that “quadcopter drones are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white irritant substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.” Together, these actions have put the safety and treatment of those on board into jeopardy.
Huwaida Arraf, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, articulated that “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.”
According to the Israeli foreign ministry, Madleen is a “selfie yacht.” They vilify its passengers as an attempt to stage a media provocation for attention. They stated, “While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity—and which included less than a single truckload of aid—more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks.” They further suggested that there are other ways to deliver humanitarian aid without the need for PR stunts.
With this story still developing, it’s unclear what action should be taken against Madleen and its passengers. The Israeli government has indicated that “the passengers are expected to return to their home countries,” yet many individuals involved in this humanitarian mission assert their right to deliver aid directly to those in need in Gaza.