Israeli commandos have intercepted the Madleen, a vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, approximately 100 miles (160 km) off the coast in international waters. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the ship’s crew is being transferred to Israel.
The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Sicily on June 1. It was en route to deliver aid to Palestinians affected by Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza, which intensified into a total blockade beginning March 2 and has since been only partially eased amid global outcry.
Among the 12 activists detained is Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. A video message she recorded aboard the ship before its interception has since been released, in which she accuses Israel of unlawfully detaining the activists in international waters and calls for pressure on the Swedish government to secure their release.
Israeli authorities described the vessel on social media as a “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrities,” while footage circulating online shows the moment Israeli forces boarded the ship and ordered those on board to discard their phones into the sea.
Al Jazeera, which had a journalist on board, reported that contact with their correspondent Omar Faiad was lost during the operation. Prior to the communication blackout, activists reported that Israeli forces sprayed a white, paint-like substance onto the vessel, causing irritation and burning sensations.
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, also on board, recorded a video prior to the interception, warning that its publication would mean he had been “arrested or kidnapped.” He urged international supporters to demand the activists’ release and call for the end of the Gaza blockade.
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who was reportedly on a call with the crew during the incident, condemned the interception. In a statement on social media, she demanded the immediate release of the Madleen and its passengers.
“Breaking the siege is a legal duty for states and a moral imperative for all of us,” Albanese said. “Every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. United, they will be unstoppable.”
