Jerusalem: The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that the army has seized the Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen and is towing it to Israel. The activists on board are set to be deported to their respective countries.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry released a statement on X, stating that the vessel "is safely making its way to the shores of Israel," and that the passengers are expected to return home. The ministry highlighted that the maritime zone off the Gaza coast is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law. It emphasized that humanitarian aid is regularly delivered via established channels and distribution mechanisms.
On May 27, Israel initiated a plan to distribute aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, bypassing UN oversight. This move has been criticized by Palestinians as an attempt to force displacement from northern to southern Gaza. The Gaza Government Media Office reported that the death toll at American-Israeli aid distribution sites rose to 125, with 736 wounded and nine missing since the plan's implementation.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that Israeli soldiers detained the activists on the Madleen late Sunday. The coalition stated that communication with the vessel was lost after Israeli naval forces boarded it in international waters. Live footage showed Israeli boats surrounding the ship and soldiers ordering the activists to raise their hands.
French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan mentioned that sirens were triggered aboard the Madleen after drones sprayed the ship with a white liquid. UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese confirmed the presence of two overhead drones, calling them "the dangerous ones."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry explained that the navy instructed the Madleen to change its course due to its approach towards a "restricted area." The Madleen, part of a mission by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, set sail for the region on June 1 from Catania, Sicily, Italy.
The ship carried 12 people, including 11 activists and one journalist, and supplies like baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, and medical supplies intended for Gaza. Notable passengers included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan.