Israel’s foreign ministry has announced that the Madleen, an aid vessel, is “safely making its way to the shores of Israel.” This statement was shared on the social media platform X, indicating that the passengers aboard are expected to return to their home countries. The ministry emphasized that while some activists, including prominent climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, attempted to create a media spectacle with the vessel, actual humanitarian efforts have been significantly more impactful. In the past two weeks alone, over 1,200 aid trucks have successfully entered Gaza from Israel, providing critical supplies to the region.
The statement from the foreign ministry framed the aid vessel as a "selfie yacht," suggesting that the scant aid it carried—less than a single truckload—was inadequate compared to the humanitarian channels already in place. The ministry assured that the aid on board the Madleen would be transferred to Gaza through established humanitarian channels, emphasizing the effectiveness of organized aid distribution over publicity stunts.
In a contrasting statement, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has accused Israel of acting with “total impunity” following the interception of the Madleen. According to the FFC, at approximately 3:02 AM CET, the ship was unlawfully boarded by Israeli forces, resulting in the abduction of its unarmed civilian crew and the confiscation of essential supplies—including baby formula, food, and medical provisions. Huwaida Arraf, an organizer with the FFC, argued that Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen, asserting that their actions to deliver aid are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction.
Before communications were lost, the FFC shared a video from the Madleen showing a chaotic scene as activists prepared for what they believed to be an imminent boarding. The footage depicts activists wearing life jackets, urging each other to discard their phones. Amidst flashing lights and loudspeaker announcements, one activist alerted viewers to the ship's situation, stating, “we are being boarded, right now…everyone here is safe.”
Earlier reports indicated that the Madleen was “under assault in international waters,” with quadcopters surrounding the vessel and spraying a white irritant substance. Activists aboard the ship had previously posted videos showing the alarming situation, with images of the white substance on the deck. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, shared an image of this substance on her X account shortly before communication was disrupted.
Multiple sources confirmed that communications with the Gaza-bound Madleen were lost after the alleged boarding by Israeli forces. Al Jazeera reported that their journalist on board experienced a loss of contact following a demand from Israeli commandos that all onboard devices be turned off. The FFC acknowledged that connection had been severed with the vessel.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, also reported a loss of communication with the Madleen. She noted that she had been in contact with the ship’s captain when the connection was abruptly cut, just as the captain was relaying information about an approaching vessel.
The Israeli foreign ministry has indicated that the navy is in communication with the FFC’s ship and has advised a change of course. The FFC has described the situation on board as an assault, highlighting that their communications have been jammed and they are surrounded by quadcopters. Earlier, Israel's defense minister had warned of taking “all necessary measures” to prevent the humanitarian ship, which included Greta Thunberg, from reaching Gaza. The Madleen aims to deliver a symbolic amount of aid while raising international awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
The situation surrounding the Madleen is evolving rapidly, and updates will continue to be provided as more information becomes available.
