logo
Widespread backlash grows over Israel's interception of ‘Madeleine' Flotilla

Widespread backlash grows over Israel's interception of ‘Madeleine' Flotilla

Shafaq Newsa day ago

Shafaq News/ Israel's seizure of the humanitarian ship 'Madeleine' in international waters on Monday has drawn widespread backlash and renewed scrutiny of its blockade on Gaza.
Hamas labeled the interception 'piracy' and a 'war crime,' urging the immediate release of all activists onboard and holding Israel fully accountable for their safety.
Al-Haq, a rights group based in Ramallah, condemned the operation as an 'unlawful interception,' framing it as part of Israel's strategy to isolate and dismantle Palestinian society.
Al-Haq urges states & intl orgs to ensure safe passage for the Madleen crew. Detained activists must be released & protected now. Let the #Madleen sail to Gaza. #FreePalestine #LetMadleenSail #MadleenToGaza https://t.co/pbACi5xtBf pic.twitter.com/aZAYhzf0ro
— Al-Haq الحق (@alhaq_org) June 9, 2025
The operation also sparked internal dissent. Israeli media reported frustration within naval ranks, with a former navy chief telling Maariv the standoff should have been resolved through diplomacy, not force.
The Australian Government must now impose immediate sanctions on the Israeli arms industry and the Netanyahu Government and end the two way arms trade with Israel #Madleen
— David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) June 9, 2025
Internationally, Australian Senator David Shoebridge denounced the raid as 'a clear breach of international law,' urging Canberra to sanction Israel's arms sector and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese echoed those calls, stressing that 'breaking the siege is a legal duty for states and a moral imperative for all of us.'
While #Madleen must be released immediately, every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable. #BreakingTheSiege is a legal duty for states, and a moral imperative for all of us. pic.twitter.com/FeaD1Fq4Dk
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) June 9, 2025
Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed the 'Madeleine,' also known as 'Madleen,' was towed at 3 a.m. local time into Israeli waters under orders from Defense Minister Israel Katz. The military claimed the move followed prior warnings and said all 12 passengers would be deported.
Those detained included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for Game of Thrones.
This marks the second maritime standoff in recent weeks. In May, the aid ship Al-Dameer was reportedly damaged by an Israeli drone while approaching Gaza.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Article In Qatari Government Daily: Muhammad Sinwar Was A Great And Daring Fighter – It Is Enough That He Was October 7 'Mastermind'
Article In Qatari Government Daily: Muhammad Sinwar Was A Great And Daring Fighter – It Is Enough That He Was October 7 'Mastermind'

Memri

time30 minutes ago

  • Memri

Article In Qatari Government Daily: Muhammad Sinwar Was A Great And Daring Fighter – It Is Enough That He Was October 7 'Mastermind'

The Qatari government press continues to declare its full-throated support for Hamas and its terrorist activities against Israel, especially for its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel in which some 1,200 people were murdered and 251 were taken hostage. This approach is in line with Qatar's unconditional support for its protégé Hamas.[1] One expression of this support was an article published June 8, 2025 by the Qatari Al-Raya government daily. In it, senior writer Babiker Issa[2] praised Muhammad Sinwar, a top official of the Hamas military wing, the 'Izz Ad-​Din Al-Qassam Brigades, and one of the planners of the October 7 attack. Sinwar, killed recently in the Gaza Strip, was the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October 2024. Under the headline "Sinwar – Icon of the Palestinian Resistance," Issa called Muhammad Sinwar "a daring fighter" and "an honorable and great warrior." He went on to describe him as "an icon of the national struggle on the land of Palestine and in Gaza," and as "the planner and the mastermind – with his comrades the fighters – of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023… which restored to the Palestinian issue its brilliance and its glory." Also in his article, Issa placed Muhammad Sinwar alongside prominent historical figures such as the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ, freedom fighters such as Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela, and PLO leaders such as Yasser Arafat and his deputy Abu Jihad, who had headed the Fatah military wing and was responsible for the murder of dozens of Israelis in numerous terrorist attacks in the 1970s and 1980s. Muhammad Sinwar (Source: May 25, 2025) The following are excerpts from Babiker Issa's June 8, 2025 article in the Qatari Al-Raya government daily: Beginning his article with an extensive list of prominent figures who changed history, from Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad to the 20th century and "great and honorable fighters" such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and others, Issa went on to state: "...What led me to the biographies of these esteemed fighters who sacrificed the best of their lives for the sake of their country is the story of the daring fighter Muhammad Sinwar (1975-2025), in whom I see, according to every criterion, an icon of the national struggle on the exalted land of Palestine and in Gaza of steadfastness. "It is enough that this great and honorable warrior was the planner and the mastermind – along with his comrades the fighters – of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023, which restored to the world the sanity that was absent and was stolen from it, and which restored to the Palestinian issue the brilliance and glory that was stolen from it. This was in spite of the excessive sacrifices [that resulted from the operation] and the attempts at exiling and erasing [the Palestinians] from human existence. "When I think of [Muhammad] Sinwar, who frightened his hangmen [i.e. the Israelis] even after his death, I think of a deceased leader: Yasser Arafat (1929-2004), a national symbol and a charismatic figure who combined diplomatic activity with the armed struggle, and of his fortunate comrades, several of whom I had the opportunity to meet. I recall George Habash (1926-2008), founder of the Popular Front [for the Liberation of Palestine], aka 'the doctor,' one of the most influential leaders in Palestinian revolutionary thought. [I recall] the fighter Khalil Al-Wazir (Abu Jihad, 1935-1988), architect of the first Intifada, who was killed by the Mossad in Tunisia. [I recall] the fighter Salah Khalaf Abu Iyad (1933-1991), one of the most prominent leaders of Fatah and head of internal security in the PLO..."[3]

UNAMI Chief at UNSC: Iraq shows progress as mission nears end
UNAMI Chief at UNSC: Iraq shows progress as mission nears end

Shafaq News

time2 hours ago

  • Shafaq News

UNAMI Chief at UNSC: Iraq shows progress as mission nears end

Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq Mohamed Al Hassan briefed the Security Council on Iraq's political, security, and humanitarian status, as well as the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), set to conclude in 2025. Describing Baghdad–Kurdistan relations as a strengthening partnership, Al Hassan expressed hope for the swift formation of a new Regional government, while voicing confidence in Iraq's preparations for the November 11 elections, and commending the electoral commission's efforts. He welcomed Iraq's formal recognition of Yazidi land rights, calling it a significant step in transitional justice, and urged further support for the community. He also underscored the importance of repatriating citizens from Syria's al-Hol camp, calling it essential for national reconciliation and security. LIVE Now: UN Iraq SRSG Mohamed Al Hassan briefs UN Security Council on the situation in #Iraq and UNAMI — UNAMI (@UNIraq) June 10, 2025 With UNAMI offices in Mosul and Kirkuk now closed, Al Hassan confirmed the full mission withdrawal will be completed within six months, but assured that the UN remains engaged during the transition. Despite financial constraints within the UN, he reaffirmed continued support for Iraq's development, praising the country's institutional resilience, reform efforts, and regional diplomacy. Al Hassan also noted renewed dialogue with Kuwait, including revived talks and steps toward resolving the Khor Abdullah maritime dispute, while encouraging diplomatic solutions that preserve stability.

Iraqi envoy claps back at critics: Respect the argument, reject troll farm
Iraqi envoy claps back at critics: Respect the argument, reject troll farm

Shafaq News

time3 hours ago

  • Shafaq News

Iraqi envoy claps back at critics: Respect the argument, reject troll farm

Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, the special envoy of the Iraqi Prime Minister to Syria Izzat al-Shabandar, defended his visit to Damascus and meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Posting on X, al-Shabandar affirmed his respect for 'critical viewpoints based on evidence and reasoning', while sharply criticizing what he described as 'online trolls, [refers to individuals or accounts that engage in the provocative, disruptive, or deceptive posting]' He denounced those accused of 'begging for sympathy from their masters and slaughtering the truth without reason or proof, like stray dogs barking for whoever pays them.' He added, 'I don't even see them on the map.' اخوتي وأحبتي الذين أبدوا وجهات نظرهم في زيارتي إلى دمشق وانتقدوا طبيعتها وما يمكن أن يترتب عليها من نتائج بمنطق الحجة والدليل وبهدف الحرص على مصالح العراق وشعبه ، انحني لهم واحترم وجهة نظرهم وإن اختلفت معهم .أما الذباب الإلكتروني الوسخ أو بعض من يستجدون الشفقة مِن أربابهم… — عزت الشابندر | Ezzat Alshabandar (@IAlshabandar) June 10, 2025 According to a statement by the Syrian Presidency on X, al-Sharaa met with al-Shabandar at the Presidential Palace in Damascus on Monday. This visit follows al-Sharaa's earlier meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in April, which was facilitated by Qatari mediation.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store