Defying the siege: International aid ship bound for Gaza seized by Israeli forces in international waters

Department of Research, Studies and International News 10-06-2025

In a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, Israeli forces have intercepted and commandeered a humanitarian aid vessel en route to the besieged Palestinian enclave. The ship, named Madleen, was part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), a civil initiative launched to break the Israeli-imposed blockade and deliver life-saving supplies to the starving population of Gaza. Among the international volunteers on board were renowned Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan.

The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning, took place approximately 200 kilometers from Gaza’s shores, in clearly demarcated international waters. The vessel was sailing under a British flag and had departed from Sicily on June 1. According to the FFC, the ship was surrounded by Israeli drones and warships before commandos stormed the deck and forcibly seized the unarmed activists. The group has not been heard from since.

Legal experts, including the Palestinian human rights organization Adalah, have condemned the operation as a blatant violation of international maritime law. The ship was not heading to Israel but rather to the Palestinian territorial coast. By forcibly boarding the Madleen in international waters, Israeli forces have once again demonstrated their disregard for legal norms and sovereignty, a fact that even the ship’s UK flag underscores. As Huwaida Arraf, one of the coalition’s organizers, noted, “This was an attack on UK sovereign territory in international waters, a clear act of piracy.”

International reaction to the incident has been mixed. Turkey and Iran have vocally condemned the seizure, with Tehran describing it as “a form of piracy” and Ankara slamming it as a “heinous act” and “a threat to maritime security.” These strong responses are consistent with the broader geopolitical reality in which nations like Türkiye, Iran, Russia, China, and Pakistan have stood firmly against the collective punishment of Gaza’s population. By contrast, the Western response, particularly from governments like the UK and the US, has been tepid, focused more on consular formalities than condemnation of the unlawful aggression.

The Israeli government, in its typical fashion, attempted to downplay the incident. Officials dismissed the mission as a “public relations stunt,” while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant took the absurd step of ordering the activists to be shown propaganda videos about the October 7 events, implying, without evidence, that the humanitarian volunteers were Hamas sympathizers. This smear campaign was extended to Greta Thunberg, with Israeli and American officials trivializing her efforts and suggesting her presence was motivated by self-promotion rather than solidarity.

Meanwhile, conditions inside Gaza continue to deteriorate. On the same day as the seizure of the Madleen, Israeli strikes killed at least 60 Palestinians, including three medics and numerous civilians attempting to access food aid. In southern Gaza, Israeli forces once again targeted an aid distribution site, killing at least 13 people in line for rations. Over 130 people have been killed at such distribution points since late May.

The so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which was established under Israeli influence, has come under scrutiny for its lack of neutrality and credibility. Most international aid organizations have refused to work with the GHF, seeing it as a tool for Israel to manage and manipulate humanitarian delivery while continuing its occupation and military aggression.

Despite Israel’s attempts to portray itself as a victim of “terror,” the numbers speak volumes. Since October 7, 2023, over 54,900 Palestinians have been killed and more than 126,000 injured in Israel’s relentless assault. Civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters, has been targeted in what observers and rights groups describe as acts amounting to war crimes.

What happens next for the Madleen’s passengers remains uncertain. Israeli authorities have announced plans to deport the activists, although international legal and diplomatic pressure may yet alter that course. For now, the ship has been towed to the port city of Ashdod, and the activists are being held in detention.

While the mainstream Western media and political establishment continue to shield Israeli aggression, independent voices, civil society groups, and nations such as Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran have consistently highlighted the illegality and immorality of Israel’s actions. The seizure of the Madleen is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader strategy to suppress international solidarity and silence those who dare to stand with the oppressed.

The mission of the Madleen was never just about food or medicine. It was a moral statement against occupation, siege, and war. And despite Israel’s efforts to suppress that message, the courage of those on board has already succeeded in drawing global attention to Gaza’s desperate plight, and the urgent need to end the blockade.