Madleen sailing through Egyptian waters on way to break Israeli siege on Gaza - War on Gaza
An aid ship with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is sailing through Egyptian waters and is nearing the besieged Palestinian territory, organisers said on Saturday.
The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last week with a cargo of relief supplies "to break Israel's blockade on Gaza".
"We are now sailing off the Egyptian coast," German human rights activist Yasemin Acar told AFP. "We are all good," she added.
In a statement from London on Saturday, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza -- a member organisation of the flotilla coalition -- said the ship had entered Egyptian waters.
The group said it remains in contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of those on board, warning that any interception would constitute "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law".
European parliament member Rima Hassan, who is on board the vessel, urged governments to "guarantee safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla."
The Palestinian territory has been under an Israeli naval blockade since 2007, long before the outbreak of Israel's devastating war on Gaza in October 2023.
The blockade, coupled with repeated military incursions over the years, has devastated Gaza's infrastructure and economy, exacerbating poverty and limiting access to basic services like healthcare and clean water.
In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 civilians during a raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of a similar aid flotilla attempting to break the blockade.
In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported coming under drone attack while en route for Gaza, prompting Cyprus and Malta to send rescue vessels in response to its distress call. There were no reports of any casualties.
Earlier in its voyage, the Madleen changed course near the Greek island of Crete after receiving a distress signal from a sinking migrant boat.
Activists rescued four Sudanese migrants who had jumped into the sea to avoid being returned to Libya. The four were later transferred to an EU Frontex vessel.
Launched in 2010, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a coalition of groups opposed to the blockade on humanitarian aid for Gaza that Israel imposed on March 2 and left more than two million Palestinians on the verge of starvation.
Israel has faced mounting international condemnation over the resulting humanitarian crisis in the territory, where the United Nations has warned that the entire population of more than two million is at risk of famine.
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An aid ship with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is sailing through Egyptian waters and is nearing the besieged Palestinian territory, organisers said on Saturday. The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last week with a cargo of relief supplies "to break Israel's blockade on Gaza". "We are now sailing off the Egyptian coast," German human rights activist Yasemin Acar told AFP. "We are all good," she added. In a statement from London on Saturday, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza -- a member organisation of the flotilla coalition -- said the ship had entered Egyptian waters. The group said it remains in contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of those on board, warning that any interception would constitute "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law". European parliament member Rima Hassan, who is on board the vessel, urged governments to "guarantee safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla." The Palestinian territory has been under an Israeli naval blockade since 2007, long before the outbreak of Israel's devastating war on Gaza in October 2023. The blockade, coupled with repeated military incursions over the years, has devastated Gaza's infrastructure and economy, exacerbating poverty and limiting access to basic services like healthcare and clean water. In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 civilians during a raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of a similar aid flotilla attempting to break the blockade. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported coming under drone attack while en route for Gaza, prompting Cyprus and Malta to send rescue vessels in response to its distress call. There were no reports of any casualties. Earlier in its voyage, the Madleen changed course near the Greek island of Crete after receiving a distress signal from a sinking migrant boat. Activists rescued four Sudanese migrants who had jumped into the sea to avoid being returned to Libya. The four were later transferred to an EU Frontex vessel. Launched in 2010, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a coalition of groups opposed to the blockade on humanitarian aid for Gaza that Israel imposed on March 2 and left more than two million Palestinians on the verge of starvation. Israel has faced mounting international condemnation over the resulting humanitarian crisis in the territory, where the United Nations has warned that the entire population of more than two million is at risk of famine. For more information and live updates on the current Freedom Flotilla mission, visit: Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
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