Israeli Military Seizes “Madeleine” in International Waters

Didpress: The Israeli military intercepted and seized the humanitarian aid ship Madeleine in international waters in the early hours of Monday, June 9. The vessel had departed from the port of Catania on the Italian island of Sicily and was en route to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli special forces stormed the ship, took control of it, and detained those on board. The vessel was then redirected to the port of Ashdod.

The Madeleine was part of the “Freedom Flotilla” and was carrying humanitarian aid intended for the Gazans, who have been under blockade. Reports indicate that several prominent activists were aboard, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Prior to departure, Thunberg said that her participation aimed to protest the illegal blockade of Gaza and the Israeli regime’s war crimes against Palestinian civilians.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and that the international community must not remain silent, She emphasized.

Following the seizure, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused the activists involved of “antisemitism” and warned they would not be allowed to reach Gaza.

The Israeli regime claims its naval blockade of Gaza is to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas. However, international organizations stress that the blockade severely hinders the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to Gaza’s population, which, according to UN reports, faces severe famine and critical shortages of medicine.

Despite growing international pressure to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid through, Israeli air and ground strikes on aid distribution areas ongoing, while civilians—particularly women and children—are the primary victims.