The Israeli navy intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship, the Madleen, on Monday, detaining all 12 passengers aboard—including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and European Parliament member Rima Hassan—as the vessel attempted to breach Israel’s longstanding blockade of the Gaza Strip.
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the mission, Israeli naval commandos boarded the ship in international waters off Gaza’s coast. The vessel was towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the detainees were reportedly unharmed and would be returned to their respective countries, the Israeli foreign ministry stated.
Dispute Over Legality of Interception
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition condemned the interception, calling it an “unlawful boarding” and accusing Israel of abducting unarmed civilians and confiscating life-saving aid cargo, which included baby formula, food, and medical supplies. The coalition insisted that Israel has no jurisdiction over international volunteers delivering humanitarian aid in international waters.
Huwaida Arraf, a human rights attorney and one of the flotilla organizers, labeled the detention a “blatant” violation of international law. “These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalised for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade,” she said.
Context of the Blockade and Humanitarian Crisis
The Madleen departed from Sicily over a week ago with the explicit goal of challenging Israel’s blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. The situation in Gaza has significantly deteriorated since March, when Israel imposed an 11-week full siege, only partially eased in recent weeks.
The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have warned that Gaza’s 2 million residents are facing the risk of famine, with traditional UN-led aid mechanisms crippled by Israeli inspection policies and insecurity on the ground. A separate U.S.-backed humanitarian initiative led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has faced deadly disruptions, including the reported killing of several civilians by Israeli forces near aid distribution points.
Israeli Response
Israeli authorities dismissed the Madleen mission as a publicity stunt, referring to it as a “selfie yacht of celebrities” and stating that its limited aid cargo would be processed through official humanitarian channels. The Israeli government later released footage showing naval personnel distributing food and water to the detained passengers, all wearing life jackets. “The show is over,” the Israeli foreign ministry posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the military to show the detainees a compilation video depicting the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Katz accused the group of aiding a terrorist organization and criticized Thunberg directly, referring to her and the other activists as “antisemitic” and supporters of Hamas.
Strategic Concerns
Israeli officials argue that easing access to Gaza by sea could facilitate weapons smuggling to Hamas. They maintain that the group used the sea to launch attacks during the October 7 assault and warn that allowing one aid ship through the blockade would trigger a wave of similar attempts.
Despite the political backlash, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has defended its actions as part of a broader effort to deliver urgent humanitarian aid and challenge what it views as a blockade that exacerbates the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
As of now, all detainees remain in Israeli custody but are expected to be repatriated soon. The incident adds a high-profile diplomatic layer to the ongoing humanitarian and geopolitical crisis surrounding Gaza.
