Israeli forces, on Sunday took control of a British-flagged charity yacht attempting to breach the longstanding naval blockade of Gaza. The vessel, named Madleen and operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was intercepted overnight before it could deliver its intended humanitarian cargo.
The Madleen had been sailing toward Gaza with a symbolic amount of aid—mostly rice and baby formula—meant to spotlight the dire humanitarian conditions in the besieged coastal enclave.
Onboard were 12 passengers, including internationally recognized Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. The crew aimed to dock on Monday, but Israeli forces intervened during the night, reportedly in international waters around 2 a.m., according to Hassan.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the yacht had been redirected to an Israeli port and that all passengers were safe and unharmed.
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In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the ministry dismissed the voyage as a publicity stunt: “The ‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.” It later added that the group had been given sandwiches and water while in custody, concluding, “The show is over.”
While the activists described their mission as an effort to raise international awareness and deliver aid, Israeli authorities viewed it differently. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant labeled the initiative a propaganda campaign designed to support Hamas. As a result, he instructed the military to prevent the vessel from reaching Gaza.
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Israel has enforced a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took control of the territory. Though the blockade has faced criticism from human rights organizations and international observers, Israel maintains it is a necessary security measure.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the aid aboard the Madleen—described as “tiny”—would still be transferred to Gaza through official humanitarian channels, emphasizing that it was not seized for consumption by the activists themselves.
The incident has further fueled debate about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the global response to the ongoing conflict. With high-profile figures like Greta Thunberg now directly involved, international attention is likely to remain sharply focused on the region in the days ahead.
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