Israel: Israel announced Monday that it had intercepted an aid ship headed for Gaza, detaining all activists on board and towing the vessel to the port of Ashdod. The Foreign Ministry stated that the Madleen aid ship is on its way to the port, where arrangements will be made for the activists' return to their home countries. Earlier reports from Israel's public broadcaster, KAN, indicated that the vessel had already docked at Ashdod.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli human rights center Adalah confirmed that the vessel and its detained activists have not yet been brought ashore and remain at sea. The organization described the activists as part of a civilian mission to break what it calls an illegal blockade on Gaza. Adalah stated that the Madleen was unlawfully intercepted in international waters and demanded legal representation for the activists, promising to take legal steps to ensure their release.
The British-flagged boat was carrying aid, including food and baby formula, in an attempt to break the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza, where nearly 55,000 people have died since October 2023. Israeli forces boarded the ship during the night, preventing it from reaching the Gaza shore and towing it to Ashdod Port.
According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, Israeli authorities plan to detain the foreign activists in separate cells at the Givon Prison facility in Ramla, central Israel. The activists will be provided with some basic necessities, though electronic devices such as radios or televisions will be prohibited, as per orders from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The 12-member crew of the aid ship included notable figures like Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan. Other activists hailed from various countries including Germany, France, Brazil, Trkiye, Spain, the Netherlands, and a journalist from Al Jazeera Mubasher.
Amidst Israel's closure of all Gaza border crossings to humanitarian aid since early March, aid agencies have voiced concerns over the risk of famine for Gaza's 2.4 million residents. The situation follows the International Criminal Court's issuance of arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.