Israeli Seizure of Gaza Aid Vessel Madleen: International Incident in Mediterranean Waters
Introduction
Israeli naval forces intercepted and detained the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen in international waters during the early hours of June 9, 2025, bringing the ship and its 12-member activist crew to Ashdod port under military escort.
FAF, Gulf.Inc analyzes the operation, which Israel characterizes as enforcing a lawful naval blockade, which has been condemned by international human rights organizations and several governments as an illegal act of piracy in international waters.
FAF, Imperialism.Forum asserts, “Israel has exceeded any rational threshold of acceptable conduct, reaching a critical juncture from which it cannot return. Historical trends are clear: imperialistic ideologies ultimately face a reckoning, often sooner than anticipated. Future narratives will reflect on this episode as yet another instance of genocide that will remain indelibly marked in collective memory, unforgiven and unforgotten.”
Among the detained activists are prominent figures, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, and Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad. All of them were attempting to deliver symbolic humanitarian aid to Gaza’s besieged population.
The Interception Operation
The Israeli military operation to seize the Madleen occurred approximately 200 kilometers from Gaza’s coast in international waters at 3:02 AM Central European Summer Time on Monday, June 9, 2025.
The vessel, flying under a British flag, was intercepted by Israeli special forces, including members of the elite Shayetet 13 naval commando unit.
Before the boarding, Israeli forces deployed quadcopter drones that surrounded the vessel and sprayed it with a white chemical substance, which activists reported was affecting their vision.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition documented the interception through video footage showing crew members wearing life jackets and raising their hands in surrender.
Activist Yasmine Acar reported in a live stream that the substance sprayed on the deck was impacting her ability to see, and she indicated that Israeli military personnel were attempting to communicate with those aboard before the transmission was cut.
The Israeli Navy had used international civilian communication systems to contact the Madleen, instructing the vessel to alter its course and directing it to deliver any humanitarian aid through the port of Ashdod via established channels.
The operation was conducted without physical altercation, according to Israeli sources, with the vessel and all crew members subsequently taken under military escort to Ashdod port.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the boat’s arrival at Ashdod and published photographs of Thunberg disembarking from the vessel.
Upon arrival, the 12 activists underwent medical checks to ensure their health and were expected to be held at a detention facility in the Israeli city of Ramle before deportation.
The Activists and Mission
Madleen’s crew consisted of 12 international activists from diverse backgrounds and nationalities.
The most prominent figure aboard was 22-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, whom Amnesty International designated as an Ambassador of Conscience.
Also among the crew was Rima Hassan, a 33-year-old French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament from France’s far-left La France Insoumise party, who had previously been barred from entering Israel in February due to alleged anti-Israel comments.
The crew included Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad, who was covering the mission, and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham.
Other crew members represented an international coalition of activists from Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
The crew's diversity reflected the global nature of solidarity efforts with Palestinians in Gaza. Before their detention, all crew members except Omar Faiad had issued pre-recorded SOS messages calling on their respective governments to pressure for their release.
The vessel departed from the port of Catania in Sicily on June 6, 2025, carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian supplies, including rice, baby formula, food, and medical supplies.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the voyage, stated that the mission aimed “to break Israel’s more than 17-year illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip”.
Thunberg had explained her participation as an effort “to confront Israel’s unlawful siege and escalating war crimes” in Gaza, emphasizing the critical need for humanitarian support.
The mission was part of the broader Freedom Flotilla Coalition movement, which has campaigned against Israel’s blockade of Gaza and sought to challenge the siege by sea.
The coalition had been tracking the ship’s location online using a Garmin live tracker monitored by Forensic Architecture, which was switched off when Israeli forces intercepted the vessel.
Legal and International Reactions
The interception has generated significant controversy regarding its legality under international law.
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard condemned the operation, stating that “the operation carried out in the middle of the night and international waters violates international law and put the safety of those on the boat at risk.”
Amnesty characterized the crew as “unarmed activists and human rights defenders on a humanitarian mission” who “must be released immediately and unconditionally.”
Adalah, a legal organization representing the activists, contended that Israel had “no legal jurisdiction” to commandeer the vessel since it was in international waters and destined for the “territorial waters of the State of Palestine.”
The organization described the detention of the “unarmed activists” as “a significant violation of international law.”
Huwaida Arraf, an organizer with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, emphasized that the Madleen was sailing under a United Kingdom flag when forcibly taken by Israeli commandos, noting that “Israel entered UK territorial waters and sovereign territory, which is illegal.”
UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese urged vessels in the Mediterranean to persist in confronting Israel’s maritime blockade, stating that “Madleen must be freed without delay, and every port in the Mediterranean should dispatch ships carrying aid, solidarity, and compassion to Gaza.”
She also called on the UK government to “promptly obtain complete clarification” and “ensure the swift release of the ship and its crew.”
The legal characterization of the incident has become a point of international dispute. Activists’ supporters have described the boarding in international waters as an act of state-sanctioned piracy, comparing it to Iran’s vessel seizures in international waters of the Gulf of Oman.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman explicitly characterized the assault as “a form of piracy under international law” since it occurred in international waters.
Turkey’s foreign ministry went further, asserting that the intercept was evidence of malign intent in Israeli foreign policy and accused Israel of “acting as a terror state.”
Humanitarian Context
The Madleen’s mission occurred during a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where approximately 2.3 million people are at risk of famine.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the UN’s reference system for measuring food insecurity, has classified the food supply status in all areas of Gaza as Phase 4 nutrition “emergency,” with the risk of edging into famine. Due to border control restrictions, Gaza has not received full-scale food imports since early March.
The humanitarian situation has been exacerbated by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities and the taking of 251 hostages.
According to Gaza health officials, more than 54,927 Palestinians have died in the ongoing Israeli military operations, with significant portions of the territory left in ruins. The UN has warned that the majority of Gaza’s population faces the threat of famine.
Israel has recently commenced limited entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which receives support from both Israel and the United States.
However, this initiative has faced significant criticism from various humanitarian organizations and has been labeled by the United Nations and several nations as merely a “drop in the ocean.”
The GHF has repeatedly suspended its activities due to issues related to overcrowding and safety risks, with reports indicating that numerous Palestinians have lost their lives and hundreds have sustained injuries while attempting to reach distribution centers.
Recent violence has continued to impact aid distribution efforts. On the day of the Madleen’s seizure, Israeli forces reportedly killed at least 60 people in Gaza, including 13 aid seekers near an aid distribution site supported by Israel and the US.
Since late May, over 130 individuals have been killed near distribution points managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The United Nations and various aid organizations have declined to collaborate with the GHF, alleging a lack of neutrality and suggesting that the group has been established to assist Israel in achieving its military objectives.
Israeli Justification and Response
Israeli officials have defended the interception as a legitimate enforcement of their naval blockade of Gaza.
Defense Minister Israel Katz had ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, characterizing the mission as a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.
In a statement posted on X, Katz declared: “I have directed IDF to ensure that the ‘Madleen’ flotilla does not reach Gaza.” He directly addressed the crew, stating: “To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say unequivocally: You should turn back – as you will not reach Gaza.”
The Israeli government has portrayed the activists’ mission as a publicity stunt rather than a genuine humanitarian effort.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry characterized the expedition as a public relations maneuver, referring to the vessel as a “selfie yacht” of “celebrities” and stating that the passengers were “undergoing medical evaluations to ensure their well-being.”
Government spokesperson David Mencer expressed particular derision for Thunberg, stating: “Greta was not delivering aid; she was bringing herself. Let’s be frank—she is not here for Gaza; she is here for Greta”.
Israeli officials have emphasized that the blockade serves crucial security purposes. Katz stated that the embargo aims to “prevent the flow of weapons to Hamas” and is essential for Israel’s safety as it seeks to dismantle the Palestinian militant organization.
Israel has maintained this naval blockade of the coastal region since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, asserting that it is lawful given Hamas’s designation as a terrorist organization.
As part of the detention process, Defense Minister Katz indicated that the activists would be shown footage of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel for “educational purposes.”
The activists were expected to be held in solitary confinement during processing before deportation, with Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir stating he would keep each activist isolated without contact with each other or the outside world.
International Diplomatic Fallout
The seizure of the Madleen has generated significant diplomatic tensions across multiple countries whose citizens were aboard the vessel.
The UK government, whose flag the vessel was flying, has urged Israel to manage the detention “safely and with restraint, by international humanitarian law.”
However, the UK has notably avoided directly condemning the interception of the British-flagged vessel, instead referring to statements calling for restraint.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office reported that he had requested the immediate release of the six French citizens on board, labeling the humanitarian blockade of Gaza as “a scandal” and “a disgrace.”
The significant French presence on the vessel, representing half of the 12-person crew, has made this a particularly sensitive issue for French-Israeli relations.
The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed it communicates with Israeli officials regarding Thunberg’s detention. It stated that if consular assistance is needed, the ministry would “evaluate how best to support the Swedish citizen, Greta Thunberg, in resolving her situation.”
Turkey has taken the strongest diplomatic stance, with its foreign ministry condemning the interception as a “heinous assault” and accusing Israel of “acting as a terror state.”
This response reflects Turkey’s broader criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza and its support for Palestinian rights. Iran has also characterized the incident as “piracy” in international waters, though this criticism comes within the context of broader Iranian-Israeli tensions.
The incident has also drawn attention from the United States, where former President Donald Trump commented on Thunberg’s detention, saying: “I think Israel has enough issues without kidnapping Greta Thunberg.”
This unusual intervention from a former U.S. president highlights the incident's international profile and potential to complicate diplomatic relationships.
Demonstrations have erupted in numerous European capitals in response to the detention, reflecting public outrage over the incident.
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry issued a statement appreciating “the efforts of international activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla and calls for their protection.” Hamas condemned the boat’s seizure as “state terrorism” and expressed solidarity with the activists.
Conclusion
The interception and seizure of the Madleen represents a significant international incident that has exposed fundamental disagreements about the legality of Israel’s blockade of Gaza and the rights of humanitarian activists in international waters.
While Israel maintains that its actions were justified under its blockade policies and necessary for national security, international human rights organizations and several governments have characterized the operation as a violation of international law and an act of piracy.
The incident has highlighted the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians face the threat of famine amid ongoing conflict and restricted aid access.
The symbolic nature of Madleen’s mission—carrying a small amount of humanitarian supplies—has drawn global attention to the broader issues of aid delivery and the Israeli blockade that has persisted for nearly 18 years.
The diplomatic fallout from the incident continues to unfold, with multiple countries demanding the release of their citizens and calling for accountability regarding the interception in international waters.
The case has become emblematic of broader tensions surrounding Israel’s policies in Gaza and the international community’s response to the humanitarian crisis there.
As the detained activists await deportation, the incident serves as a powerful symbol of the ongoing struggles over aid delivery, international law, and the rights of civilians in conflict zones.
The Madleen affair ultimately underscores the complex intersection of humanitarian concerns, international law, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East while raising fundamental questions about enforcing blockades in international waters and protecting humanitarian missions.
The international community’s response to this incident may have lasting implications for future humanitarian efforts and the interpretation of maritime law in conflict situations.
