09.06.2025 07:30
The Israeli army attacked the Madleen ship, which was on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and had 12 human rights activist volunteers on board. Communication with the ship was lost. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced that the volunteers on the ship had been kidnapped. Israel announced that the activists on the Madleen ship would be sent back to their countries.
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Israel attacked a humanitarian aid ship en route from Italy to Gaza.
In a statement indicating that the Israeli army intervened with the Madleen ship, it was said, "Contact with the Madleen has been lost. The Israeli army boarded the ship. The volunteers on the Madleen ship were kidnapped by the Israeli army."
The statement called for pressure to be applied to the foreign ministries of the countries of the kidnapped human rights activists to ensure their safety, who were on their way to support Palestinians struggling with hunger in Gaza.
A short video shared by human rights activist Yasemin Acar shows a person believed to be an Israeli soldier telling those filming to turn off their phones.
UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR: CONNECTION WAS LOST WHILE THE CAPTAIN SAID ANOTHER BOAT IS APPROACHING
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, stated in a post on X that she had contacted the captain of the Madleen ship and reported that no one was injured when the ship was stopped.
Albanese said, "While the captain was speaking to me on the phone, I heard soldiers talking. The connection was lost while saying, 'Another boat is approaching.'
ISRAELI ARMY POURED A WHITE CHEMICAL LIQUID ON THE SHIP
A video shared by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition indicated that drones belonging to the Israeli army were flying over the ship.
Human rights activist Yasemin Acar, showing the white liquid that was poured, said, "They poured a chemical liquid on us; we don't know what it is. This is another war crime being committed against civilians."
In the shared video, Acar, covering her face, said her eyes were burning due to the liquid. Acar previously explained the false alarm that occurred on the sailboat.
Pointing out that Israel wanted to stop the ship, Acar stated that they believed the boats surrounding the ship were a method of intimidation by Israel.
Acar emphasized that Israel's intimidation tactics would not work, saying, "We will continue on our way. We will keep sailing towards Gaza to deliver this aid. We will continue until the Israeli army stops us."
Pointing out that Israel has been blockading Gaza for years, Acar stated, "We are currently in international waters, about 185 kilometers away from Gaza."
Israel requested the activists on the Madleen ship to change their course.
A post from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X included a video of an Israeli soldier speaking.
The post noted that communication was established with the Madleen sailboat using an international civil communication system and that a "directive to change course" was given.
In the video, the Israeli soldier stated, "The maritime area of Gaza is closed to maritime traffic," indicating that the ship's course should be changed towards the Port of Ashdod.
AN ISRAELI MINISTER HAD THREATENED
As part of the last mission organized by the civil society organization Freedom Flotilla Coalition to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver aid to the region, the 18-meter sailboat set sail for Gaza from the Port of San Giovanni Li Cuti in Catania, Italy, on June 1.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced that he had instructed the Israeli army to "do whatever is necessary" to prevent the Madleen ship from reaching the Gaza coast.
Israeli Army Spokesperson Effie Defrin stated in a press release that they were preparing to take action against the ship carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians struggling with hunger under Israeli attacks.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition's ship named "Conscience," created by the gathering of campaigns and initiatives from various parts of the world to end Israeli attacks on Gaza, was attacked by drones on May 2 at 00:23 local time off the coast of Malta.
ISRAEL ANNOUNCED THAT ACTIVISTS ON THE MADLEEN SHIP WOULD BE SENT BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided information regarding the situation of the 12 activists on the Madleen ship.
The statement noted that the Madleen ship, which was detained by the Israeli army about 185 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip, was taken to Israel, and the activists would be sent back to their countries.
THERE ARE 12 PEOPLE ON BOARD
As part of the last mission organized by the civil society organization Freedom Flotilla Coalition to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver aid to the region, the 18-meter sailboat set sail for Gaza from the Port of San Giovanni Li Cuti in Catania, Italy, on June 1.
The activists on the Madleen ship had announced that they would maintain their peaceful stance and would not resist in the event of an intervention by the Israeli army.
The Israeli army had intervened with the Madleen ship, which aimed to break the blockade on Gaza.
On board were 12 people, including Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament (EP), Yasemin Acar, a German citizen, Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu from Turkey, Thiago Avila from Brazil, Sergio Toribio from Spain, Marco van Rennes from the Netherlands, Baptiste Andre, Reva Viard, Pascal Maurieras, and Yanis Mhamdi from France, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, and journalist Omar Faiad.
ABOUT 2.3 MILLION PALESTINIANS ARE FIGHTING A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has been conducting violent attacks on the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, schools, and tents where displaced Palestinians are staying.
Due to Israel's blockade, which restricts the entry of medicine and humanitarian aid into Gaza, approximately 2.3 million Palestinians are struggling with a humanitarian disaster.
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Palestinian officials and international circles warn that Israel is implementing a policy of starvation in Gaza and using hunger as a "weapon of war."
Protests held around the world are calling for an end to the attacks on Gaza and for humanitarian aid to be delivered to the region.
Israel, which seeks to monopolize the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, frequently targets Palestinians who are heading to humanitarian aid points established with the support of the United States in hopes of finding food.
In the attacks carried out by Israel on Gaza, 55,000 Palestinians have lost their lives and 126,000 people have been injured.
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