Israeli naval forces intercepted the Madleen in international waters early Monday and detained all 12 activists on board. The civilian boat sailed from Italy with the goal of delivering aid to Gaza and creating a maritime humanitarian corridor for the starving enclave.
Among those detained were Greta Thunberg, a Swedish climate activist, and Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament. They were sailing with other activists who aimed to break Israel’s deadly siege on Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organized the humanitarian mission, reported that Israeli forces instructed detained activists to sign a document admitting illegal entry into Israeli territory to be deported back to their home countries. One activist stated, "I did not recognize that I entered illegally."
Four of the detainees have since been deported, but all strongly rejected Israel’s claim of unlawful entry. The remaining eight are still being held under inhumane conditions, according to reports from those who have been released.
Conditions and Treatment of Detainees
Activists have reported facing abuse and threats from authorities while being held. Despite this, they urge people worldwide not to lose focus on Israel’s destructive campaign in Gaza and to continue supporting their cause for an end to the siege.
In response, the FFC has called upon governments worldwide to "take concrete actions" against Israel over its blockade of Gaza. "We will continue our struggle until we reach our goal: an end to this blockade," the FFC stated.
Background on the Blockade
Israel has maintained its blockade since 2007, when Hamas took control of Gaza after winning elections two years earlier. The Israeli government claims the blockade is necessary for security reasons, but critics argue it amounts to collective punishment against Palestinians living there.
Since the blockade began, thousands have died due to hunger-related illnesses or lack of access to medical care, as they cannot leave or receive visitors or goods via land or sea routes controlled by Egypt and Israel, respectively.
Current Humanitarian Crisis
- Thousands more are at risk as winter sets in, bringing freezing temperatures—something many Gazans do not have adequate clothing for.
- Aid agencies report that nearly half of Gazans rely entirely on food assistance, while millions lack access to basic necessities such as:
- Electricity
- Water
- Sanitation
- Healthcare
- Education
- Jobs
The FFC aims to create maritime corridors between Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, allowing boats carrying aid supplies to enter Palestinian waters without needing permission from either side. This initiative also seeks to help break the psychological isolation felt by Palestinians living under occupation, blockades, curfews, and travel restrictions.
As part of this effort, last month, three boats set sail from Greece carrying hundreds of tons of food, medicine, medical equipment, and school supplies. However, they were intercepted by Greek authorities before reaching international waters, prompting them to sail towards the Italian port city of Genoa, where they arrived last week. There, passengers disembarked onto another boat called Madleen, which had already set sail several days earlier carrying similar cargo.
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