Early on Monday morning, the Madleen ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was intercepted by the Israeli army about 185 km (100 nautical miles) from Gaza, in worldwide waters.
Among the many 12 detained crew members are local weather advocate Greta Thunberg, Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad, and different activists.
Israeli media reported that the Madleen and its crew have been being taken to the port metropolis of Ashdod, about 30km (19 miles) north of Gaza, the place Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instructed jail authorities to carry the activists in solitary confinement, remoted from each other and the surface world.
The ship, which departed from Sicily on June 1, was carrying humanitarian support for ravenous Palestinians who’ve been below a strict Israeli blockade since March 2. The blockade was solely partially eased final month amid rising worldwide strain.
Flotillas making an attempt to interrupt Israel’s siege of Gaza
A number of Freedom Flotilla vessels have tried to interrupt the blockade of Gaza.
In 2008, two boats from the Free Gaza Motion efficiently reached Gaza, marking the primary break of Israel’s naval blockade. The motion, based in 2006 by activists throughout Israel’s conflict on Lebanon, went on to launch 31 boats between 2008 and 2016, 5 of which reached Gaza regardless of heavy Israeli restrictions.
Since 2010, all flotillas making an attempt to interrupt the Gaza blockade have been intercepted or attacked by Israel in worldwide waters.
The map beneath reveals the approximate places the place outstanding flotillas have been stopped, some encountering lethal Israeli forces.
2010 – Gaza Freedom Flotilla
In 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara in worldwide waters. The assault killed 10 activists and injured dozens, resulting in world outrage. The ship was carrying humanitarian support and greater than 600 passengers.
The Mavi Marmara was owned and run by the Humanitarian Reduction Basis, or IHH, a Turkish NGO. The incident severely strained Israel-Turkiye relations and drew widespread condemnation for violating worldwide regulation.
In 2013, Israel apologised for “operational errors” within the raid. A compensation deal continues to be being negotiated between the 2 international locations. Israeli troopers and officers who took half within the assault are being tried in absentia in Turkiye for conflict crimes.
2011 – Freedom Flotilla II
Freedom Flotilla II was launched in 2011 as a follow-up to the 2010 mission. Organised by a coalition of worldwide activists and NGOs, it aimed to interrupt Israel’s blockade on Gaza and ship humanitarian support. The flotilla concerned greater than 300 contributors from world wide and was set to sail on 10 vessels.
Nonetheless, intense diplomatic strain from Israel, coupled with reported sabotage of ships and restrictions by host international locations like Greece, prevented most boats from departing.
Solely the Dignite-Al Karama got here near reaching Gaza. The 17-passenger French vessel initially declared an Egyptian port as its vacation spot upon leaving Greek waters, however activists later introduced they have been heading for Gaza. Israeli naval commandos intercepted the boat and towed it to Ashdod. The activists have been detained for questioning and later deported.
2015 – Freedom Flotilla III
Freedom Flotilla III was launched in 2015 because the third main try by worldwide activists to interrupt Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Organised by the FFC, the mission included a number of vessels, with the Swedish-flagged Marianne of Gothenburg main the hassle.
On June 29, 2015, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Marianne about 100 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, in worldwide waters. Commandos boarded the ship and diverted it to Ashdod. The activists on board have been detained and later deported, with some crew members launched after six days.
2018 – Simply Future for Palestine
The Simply Future for Palestine Flotilla – also called the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was a part of a continued effort by the FFC to problem Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The marketing campaign included two primary vessels, Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom, together with two assist yachts, Mairead and Falestine.
On July 29 and August 3, 2018, each Al Awda and Freedom have been intercepted and seized by the Israeli navy in worldwide waters. All on board have been arrested, with some reporting being Tasered, assaulted, or overwhelmed by Israeli forces.
Most contributors have been held in detention earlier than being deported to their respective international locations.
2025 – Break the Siege ‘Conscience’
Whereas getting ready to sail to Gaza on Could 2, the Conscience was struck twice by armed drones, simply 14 nautical miles (25km) off the coast of Malta. The assault triggered a hearth and induced a major breach within the hull, forcing the 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board right into a determined effort to bail out water and maintain the ship afloat.
4 folks sustained minor accidents within the assault, together with burns and lacerations.
Gaza going through hunger
Based on the newest Built-in Meals Safety Section Classification (IPC) report, one in 5 Palestinians in Gaza is going through starvation due to Israel’s three-month-long complete blockade of the Strip, eased partially final month, permitting some meals support.
Some 1.95 million folks, or 93 % of the enclave’s inhabitants, are going through acute meals shortages.
The IPC says Israel’s continued blockade “would doubtless lead to additional mass displacement inside and throughout governorates”, as objects important for folks’s survival can be depleted.
Regardless of an Israel-led and United States-backed support distribution initiative, referred to as the Gaza Humanitarian Basis, which began to ship support into Gaza final month, its new distribution hub disintegrated into chaos inside hours of opening on Could 27 and has been marred by atrocities following lethal shootings at support distribution centres.
Eighteen years of Israeli blockade
The Gaza Strip has a inhabitants of about 2.3 million residing in one of the crucial densely populated areas on this planet.
Since 2007, Israel has maintained strict management over Gaza’s airspace and territorial waters and restricted the motion of products and folks out and in of Gaza.
Even earlier than the conflict, Gaza had no practical airports after Israel bombed and demolished the Yasser Arafat worldwide airport in 2001, solely three years after it opened.
Gaza is once more the scene of widespread destruction and human struggling, and stays the place usually described as “the world’s largest open-air jail”.
