In a move condemned by activists as a violation of international law, Israeli forces have seized a civilian aid ship carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza while it was sailing in international waters.
The Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was intercepted at approximately 3:02am Central European Time on Monday 9 June, at coordinates 31.95236° N, 32.38880° E. According to the coalition, Israeli forces boarded the vessel, detained its international civilian crew and confiscated cargo including baby formula, food and medical supplies, although the ship was still in international waters.
“This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the binding orders [of the International Court of Justice] requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza,” said Huwaida Arraf, a human rights lawyer and FFC organiser. “These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction.”
The Madleen had departed from the Italian port of Catania on 1 June, carrying what FFC described as both symbolic and life-saving aid. Among the 12 international volunteers were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. The voyage was intended as a peaceful act of civil disobedience against Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The incident follows an earlier, unpunished attack on another FFC vessel, the Conscience, in May. That ship was reportedly struck by drones in international waters near Malta, injuring four activists. The FFC blamed Israel, but the Israeli authorities did not respond to the allegations.
Activists argue that such actions demonstrate a pattern of impunity. “Every hour without consequences emboldens Israel to escalate its attacks on civilians, aid workers, and the very foundations of international law,” said FFC organiser Tan Safi.
The Israeli government maintains that the blockade is a necessary security measure to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas, the armed group that governs Gaza. It strongly denies accusations of genocide or war crimes, calling such claims politically motivated.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, a large proportion of whom were women and children. Independent estimates, including from The Lancet, suggest the actual toll may be higher. The United Nations has warned of looming famine and societal collapse if humanitarian access is not drastically improved.
Children have been especially affected. Reports indicate that more than 16,500 children have died, including over 3,100 under the age of five. Around 90% of Gaza’s population is now displaced.
Despite the risks, the FFC remains defiant. “We will not be deterred. We will not be silenced,” the coalition stated. “We will sail again.”
The Madleen, named after Gaza’s first known fisherwoman, was the latest in a series of civilian-led maritime efforts to challenge the Israeli naval blockade. The memory of the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, in which ten civilians were killed by Israeli forces, looms large over such missions. Organisers say all volunteers aboard the Madleen had received non-violence training and were committed to peaceful resistance.
