——- Amnesty calls for Madleen activists’ release
——- Sweden distances itself from Gaza-bound aid journey
DM Monitoring
GAZA: Israeli naval forces have seized the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel headed for Gaza, in international wa-ters approximately 160km (100 miles) from the besieged Palestinian enclave.
The ship, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and registered in the United Kingdom, was inter-cepted early Monday. Israeli authorities confirmed they are escorting the crew to Ashdod, a port city in southern Israel.
Video footage taken before communications were lost shows the unarmed crew—activists and jour-nalists from across Europe and the Americas—seated with hands raised as Israeli commandos boarded the ship. The vessel was reportedly carrying essential supplies including food, baby formula and medi-cal items.
Among the 12 detained are high-profile climate activist Greta Thunberg, Brazilian organiser Thiago Ávi-la, French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, and journalist Omar Faiad from Al Jazeera Mubasher.
Before contact was lost, passengers said Israeli drones sprayed the ship with a thick white substance that caused burning and irritation. Analysts believe it may have been a tracking compound rather than Israel’s commonly used “skunk water”.
Human rights experts have described the seizure as a breach of international law and a violation of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) provisional measures, which demand unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
“This is not only an act of state piracy. It’s in direct violation of the ICJ’s orders,” said Mouin Rabbani, non-resident fellow at the Qatar-based Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies.
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila had recorded a message prior to departure, stating: “If you’re watching this, I’ve been kidnapped… we count on you.” He urged international pressure to ensure their release and to end the blockade. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs downplayed the mission as a “selfie yacht” stunt, suggesting ac-tivists sought media attention rather than humanitarian goals. Critics called the statement degrading and warned it could constitute a war crime under international law.
The Israeli Defence Ministry said the operation had been ordered by Minister Israel Katz, who labelled the voyage a “propaganda effort in support of Hamas.” The vessel’s interception follows a pattern of restrictions and violence around aid deliveries to Gaza. According to human rights monitors, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access food in recent weeks.
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said: “Israel has no authority over Gaza. The people of Ga-za need to be helped—not blockaded.”
This latest interception comes just weeks after another FFC aid vessel (the Conscience) was attacked by drones while sailing in international waters off Malta.
The coalition accused Israel of targeting the ship, which suffered major damage to its hull. “Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,” the group said at the time.
Greta Thunberg, who was aboard the intercepted yacht, said she had initially planned to join the earli-er voyage. “I was part of the group who was supposed to board that boat today to continue the voy-age towards Gaza, which is one of many attempts to open up a humanitarian corridor and to do our part to keep trying to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza,” she told Reuters. “This attack caused an ex-plosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission.”
