Aid Ship ‘Madleen' Nears Gaza Despite Israeli Threats
DaysofPal- The aid vessel Madleen has entered Egyptian waters and is making its way toward Gaza, defying Israeli warnings not to dock, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza announced Sunday.
According to a statement from the committee—one of the key organizers of the humanitarian flotilla—the ship passed through Alexandria in northern Egypt and is expected to 'in hours reach Mansoura city… en route to Gaza.'
'The coming hours will be most critical,' the statement read.
Shortly after, the committee issued another update, alleging that Israeli forces were interfering with the ship's tracking and communication systems.
'It seems Israel is jamming our colleagues' location and signal on the Madleen (vessel).'
'This is serious… We'll keep you posted,' the statement added.
Organizers also published a live-tracking link for the ship, encouraging supporters to share it widely online.
'Israel is preparing to commit a war crime in the middle of international waters,' the committee claimed.
Yasemin Acar, one of the activists on board Madleen, confirmed the situation, stating,'The communication blackout has officially begun.'
'If you don't hear from us in the coming hours, it means we have been cut off from the world… Remember we are doing this for Gaza.'
The warnings come as Israeli forces are reportedly preparing to intercept the Madleen, tow it to Ashdod port, and deport the activists on board, according to Israeli media outlets.
Twelve activists are aboard the vessel, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament who is also part of the mission, posted a live photo update from the ship on her X (formerly Twitter) account.
Last week, Israel's state broadcaster KAN reported that Tel Aviv had rescinded earlier approval for the Madleen to pass, citing fears that allowing the mission to proceed could set a precedent for future humanitarian aid efforts.
The Madleen is carrying urgently needed supplies for the besieged population of Gaza. According to its organizers, the cargo includes baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, women's sanitary products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and prosthetic limbs for children.
This latest mission follows an earlier incident in May, when *Conscience*, another aid vessel operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was reportedly targeted by drones off the coast of Malta.
Since October 2023, Israel has waged a relentless military campaign in Gaza, killing nearly 54,800 Palestinians—most of them women and children. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the offensive continues. Aid agencies have warned that famine is looming for Gaza's more than two million residents.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
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