Israel Seizes Crew of Aid Ship "Madleen" Bound for Gaza Amid Widespread International Condemnation

International Activists on Board Aid Ship "Madleen" Detained at Ashdod Port

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced that the Israeli occupation forces intercepted the humanitarian ship Madleen and abducted all international activists on board as it attempted to reach the besieged Gaza Strip to break the 17-year blockade.

Israeli state media confirmed the vessel was forcibly taken to Ashdod Port, where 12 international activists were arrested. The detainees include nationals from France, Germany, Turkey, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Brazil.

The Israeli legal center Adalah demanded that authorities immediately disclose the whereabouts of the detained activists, warning that their forcible detention constitutes a clear violation of international law.

Israeli Officials Threaten, “We Won’t Allow the Blockade to Be Broken.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated he ordered the army to block the Maudlin from reaching Gaza, stressing that “Tel Aviv will use every possible means to prevent any attempt to break the blockade.”

On the night before the seizure, the Israeli army released images of the moment it stormed the vessel and detained the activists, claiming they were "safe and would be returned to their countries." A military source added that the detainees would be interrogated at a military base in Ashdod and shown a video about the events of October 7, 2023.

International Outrage over Interception of Madleen in International Waters

Iran condemned the interception, describing it as "maritime piracy" under international law, given that it took place in international waters. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson called the incident a “flagrant violation of international legal norms.”

Turkey also denounced the Israeli intervention, labeling it a "clear breach of international law" and stating that Israel "once again proves it behaves as a terrorist state."

The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza called Israel a “war criminal state” and urged for more humanitarian ships to be launched to challenge the siege imposed on over two million Palestinians in Gaza.

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, expressed her full support for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and called for more boats to challenge the illegal blockade on Gaza.

The Madleen: A Message of Humanity and Global Solidarity with Gaza

The Madleen departed from Catania Port on the Italian island of Sicily on June 1, 2025, embarking on a high-risk humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the ongoing blockade in the midst of an escalating humanitarian catastrophe.

Human rights activist and Freedom Flotilla Coalition member Yasmin Ajar stated that the initiative’s goal is to “deliver symbolic humanitarian aid and open humanitarian corridors for Palestinians trapped in Gaza.”

She added that the ship carried supplies including medicine, flour, rice, infant formula, diapers, feminine hygiene products, water purification devices, crutches, and prosthetic limbs for children.

Zaher Birawi, head of the International Committee to Break the Siege, said, “The ship carries a message of love, peace, support, and solidarity, and it protests the international community’s silence over the continued blockade and denial of essential life needs to Gaza’s residents.”

He added, “Though the ship is small, its message is powerful. It reflects the sense of moral responsibility among free people and urges everyone to do all they can to stop this ongoing crime against the people of Gaza.”

Who’s Behind the Madleen Mission?

The voyage was organized by the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza under the umbrella of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international alliance founded in 2010 to end Israel’s blockade on Gaza. Since its establishment, the coalition has launched nearly 36 humanitarian ships.

The ship Madleen is named in honor of Madleen Kolab, a prominent Palestinian fisherwoman from Gaza, recognized as the first and youngest woman in the enclave to take up fishing professionally. She has become a powerful symbol of Palestinian resilience and resistance.