The Gaza-bound aid yacht, Madleen, which was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters, is now making its way to an Israeli port. The 12 activists onboard, including prominent figures like Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, are expected to be deported following their arrival. This development comes after the vessel, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was boarded in the early hours of Monday, 9 June 2025, sparking widespread international reactions.
The British-flagged Madleen set sail from Sicily on 1 June with a dual mission: to deliver a modest quantity of humanitarian aid, such as rice and baby formula, and to symbolically challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported losing communication with the yacht at approximately 03:00 local time, subsequently accusing Israel of a “forceful” interception and “kidnapping” its volunteers. A pre-recorded video from Thunberg, released by the coalition, stated, “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters.”
The Israeli military has confirmed the “quick and safe takeover” of the Madleen, asserting that the crew is unharmed and being transported to Ashdod. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has characterised the mission as a “selfie yacht” of “celebrities” engaged in propaganda for Hamas. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that he had instructed the military to show the activists footage of the 7 October attacks “to see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation they came to support… is.”
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Activist Status and International Responses
As of the latest reports, the Madleen is still en route to an Israeli port, with conflicting accounts regarding its exact location and estimated time of arrival. While Israeli authorities initially indicated the vessel had arrived in Ashdod, subsequent reports suggest it is still making its way.
Adalah, a rights group representing the activists, has claimed that the 12 individuals have not yet been brought to Israel and remain at sea. The group stated that Israel’s Detention Review Tribunal confirmed the activists are not currently in its custody and that authorities intend to deport them upon arrival. Adalah maintains that the Madleen was unlawfully intercepted in international waters and that the activists are being illegally detained, demanding immediate disclosure of their location and legal status, and access to legal counsel.
The interception has continued to elicit varied international responses. Iran and Turkey have condemned the action, with Turkey accusing Israel of acting “as a terror state” and Iran labelling the seizure “an act of piracy.” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who was in contact with the vessel, described the sequence of events leading to the communication cut-off.
Given the Madleen’s UK flag, Downing Street has urged Israel to resolve the situation “safely with restraint, in line with international humanitarian law” and reiterated its stance on the “appalling and intolerable” humanitarian situation in Gaza. Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to offer consular assistance to Greta Thunberg. France’s foreign ministry confirmed six French nationals were on board and is in contact with Israeli authorities for their return, having previously warned activists of the risks involved. Hamas has also demanded the immediate release of the activists, condemning their detention as “a flagrant violation of international law.”
This incident is part of a broader history of attempts by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to breach the Gaza blockade, which Israel asserts is vital for its security to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas. A previous attempt in 2010 saw a deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara, resulting in ten activist deaths. Activists also allege that a sister ship to the Madleen, the Vicdan (Conscience), was bombed by Israeli drones off the coast of Malta just weeks prior.
The severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains a concern. Durban-based Islamic scholar Mufti Zubair Bayat, in a recent lecture, emphasised the dire conditions in Gaza, noting, “The little children are skin and bones because they haven’t received food and their parents are crying that how do we pacify the hunger of our children.” He called for continued support for the Palestinian cause, urging individuals to “become activists and volunteers for the cause of Gaza and Palestine” and to “spend generously for the needs of the people of Gaza and Palestine.”
The ongoing efforts to deliver supplies underscore the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the besieged territory, highlighting the complex interplay of political, humanitarian, and security concerns. The fate of the Madleen and its crew continues to be a focal point of international discussion.
Image: Greta Thunberg on board the Madleen, on her way to Gaza, June 2025. Image: Greta Thunberg/RNZ
