Paris: French lawmakers on Monday demanded the release of detained activists following Israel's interception of the aid ship Madleen en route to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
According to Anadolu Agency, Leftist France Unbowed (LFI) stated that detaining activists on the aid ship is a "clear violation of international law." The British-flagged ship Madleen aimed to break a crippling blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza, where nearly 55,000 people have been killed in an onslaught since October 2023.
The ship, which was carrying aid including food and baby formula, was intercepted and boarded by Israeli forces at night before reaching the Gaza shore. It was subsequently towed to Ashdod Port in Israel. LFI recalled that Israel's interception of the British-flagged ship in international waters is also a violation of international maritime law. They urged the international community to condemn the interception and called on Israel to immediately and unconditionally release the activists.
Meanwhile, the Greens (EELV) criticized Israel's actions, asserting that they violate international law. The party emphasized the need for global mobilization in response to the detention of activists and urged the French government, the EU, and the UN to take action.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition dispatched the 18-meter Madleen from Catania, Sicily, Italy, with the mission of breaking the blockade in Gaza and delivering aid. A total of 12 people were on board, including 11 activists and one journalist. Among them were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, and a diverse group of other activists and a journalist from various countries.
The ship's organizers reported that it was carrying urgently needed supplies for the people of Gaza, including baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, women's sanitary products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and children's prosthetics.