The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) on board the Madleen, which was on its way to Gaza to provide crucial aid after more than a year and a half of war, was intercepted and then detained by the Israeli military.
The Madleen, named after Madleen Kulab, Gaza’s only fisherwoman, was set on delivering life-saving aid to Gazans with the hope that the fact that internationally acclaimed people were on board would help obstruct Israel from any actions towards the Madleen. Among the 12 members who were on the ship were world-famous Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, German activist Yasemin Acar, Brazilian climate activist Thiago Avila, and many others. It was critical that these people were known faces with international acclaim to safeguard their lives. Had the Madleen aid ship been boarded by ordinary activists, the outcome might have been far worse.
The moment the aid ship was intercepted was captured on video, and the activists claimed that they were being kidnapped by the Israeli military. This garnered traction on social media, with people urging the embassies of the nations the activist belonged to to guarantee maximum safety and a route out of Israel. Israel, however, claimed that they were “safely” escorting the activists to Israel to be deported, further calling the whole thing a “media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity”.
After being intercepted on Monday morning, the detained Madleen crew were taken to the Ashdod port in Israel, according to the Israeli foreign ministry. The activists were then subjected to medical examinations.
According to Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, the Madleen activists were shown a “horror film documenting the October 7 massacre”, a screening they said highlighted Hamas attacks. It is unclear how they stand to justify more than a year of war crimes and countless international law violations since then with this “horror film”.
Katz claimed that “When they saw what it was about, they refused to continue watching,” in regards to the horror film screening. He also claimed that Greta Thunberg and the other Madleen crew were “closing their eyes to the truth’’ by apparently ignoring Hamas atrocities. Nothing was said in regards to the starvation and bombing of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip that Israel continues.
The Israeli ministry posted a video showing the Madleen crew members sitting in orange life jackets while an Israeli soldier was offering them bottled water and sandwiches. The video, clearly showing Greta Thunberg, seemed to be a response to international concerns for the safety of the abducted activists.
In a now viral video, however, Greta Thunberg can be seen saying, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel,” while still on board the Madleen. The FFC posted this pre-recorded video after the ship had been intercepted, and they lost communication with it.
The FFC also said that the ship had come “under assault in international waters” in a Telegram post. Activist Yasemin Acar live-streamed a video right before being intercepted, where she showed a white substance on deck, saying it was dropped on the ship and that it hurt her eyes. The FFC said in that regard, “Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white paint-like substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.” The FFC also posted a video on Telegram where the Madleen crew is seen helplessly sitting inside the boat with their hands in the air.
Since Greta Thunberg being one of the primary reasons the interception of the Madleen gained momentum on social media and her being a trending topic online with thousands of people calling her brave and fearless, American President Donald Trump called her “strange” and a “young, angry person” who, according to him, “has to go to an anger management class”. He further added, “Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg.”
Huwaida Arraf, human rights attorney and one of the organizers of the Freedom Flotilla, said, “Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen. This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza,” in regards to Israel breaking International law.
Amnesty International’s secretary general, Agnès Callamard, said in a statement, “The operation of intercepting and blocking the Madleen in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and puts the safety of those on the boat at risk.”
However, Israel said to CNN in a statement that it “is preventing the entry of all vessels into the Gaza Strip, in accordance with international law.” Israel Katz said on Sunday, the day before the interception, “I have instructed the IDF to ensure that the Madleen flotilla does not reach Gaza.” Israel has repeatedly affirmed that it would prevent the aid boat from reaching Gaza, calling it a “selfie yacht” with “celebrities” on board.
Israel’s foreign ministry said the activists “attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity.” They went as far as to say, “There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip – they do not involve Instagram selfies,” reducing this historic and fearless attempt by the human rights activists to a mere publicity stunt.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron “has requested that arrangements be made, as quickly as possible, for the return” of six of the twelve crew members on board the Madleen were French nationals. The French foreign ministry said in a statement that earlier they had warned the French activists against their plan to take aid to Gaza “due to the risks involved.” The French foreign ministry also added to its statement and urged the Israeli government to let in “immediate, large-scale, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
Hamas too condemned the abduction of the Madleen activists, calling the Israeli interception “a flagrant violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers acting out of humanitarian motives.”
Activists within Israel also joined in, with around 15 activists protesting on the streets with placards reading “resist genocide,” “release the Madleen activists now,” and “stop state terror.” The demonstrators were then interrupted by passersby, who were shouting in Hebrew, calling them “hooligans” and “bullies” and saying things like “You’re living in Israel.”
The Madleen carried essential aid such as baby formula, food, and medical supplies, which were confiscated by Israel, who claimed that they would transfer the goods to Gaza through humanitarian channels. However, these claims seem like empty promises, as since March 2nd, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, the very thing the Madleen crew members were trying to fight.
