Rest of Madleen crew released after being detained by Israel
The Madleen ship, co-ordinated by humanitarian group Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set sail for Gaza on June 1 in an attempt to break Israel's blockade on the enclave and deliver much needed aid.
On June 9, the vessel was intercepted by Israeli forces while sailing in international waters. The 12 volunteers on board - which included Swedish climate and social justice campaigner Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan - were detained and taken to Israel, where they were asked to sign deportation consent forms.
READ MORE: At least 34 Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers near aid site
While four people, including Thunberg, signed the forms and were subsequently deported, the remaining eight were detained in prison while waiting to appear before an Israeli tribunal.
Five more activists were deported by Israel on Thursday, but the remaining three had their deportation flights "abruptly cancelled" following the country's attack on Iran, which closed Israeli airports and grounded flights.
However, it has now been confirmed that the last three detained volunteers - Marco van Rennes (Netherlands), Pascal Maurieras (France) and Yanis Mhamdi (France) - were released from Israeli detention on Monday morning and have begun their return to their home countries via the Jordanian border.
Their respective embassies are now expected to facilitate their return home from Jordan.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, the FFC said: "This mission took place as Palestinians in Gaza face the most devastating campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide in recent history. Israel's nearly two-decade-long blockade of Gaza has been repeatedly found to violate international law, including in the 2009 United Nations Fact-Finding Mission Report and numerous legal analyses since.
"In 2024, the International Court of Justice found it plausible that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and issued binding provisional measures to prevent such acts. Despite this, Israel's deadly blockade continues with full backing from the US, EU, and other complicit governments.
READ MORE: BBC coverage of Israel's war on Gaza shows 'pattern of bias', new report finds
"The Madleen mission is part of a 17-year-long civil society effort to confront, challenge, and break Israel's illegal blockade on Gaza. Based on precedent, we knew the risks – including attack, injury, and even death – were high. But we believe the cost of inaction is greater.
"Our goal is to break the siege – not symbolically, but materially and politically – which requires mobilizing not just civil society, but governments as well.
"In that sense, this mission has succeeded in reigniting global awareness, hope, and imagination in the power of people-to-people solidarity and direct action. We're not stopping – and we invite the world to join us."
The statement continued: "Our mission sought to break through media fatigue and remind the world: Gaza remains under illegal blockade. International silence is not neutrality – it is complicity.
"Palestinians have the right to live with dignity, freedom, and justice, and to receive aid – everything they need – without the control of their illegal Occupying Power."
READ MORE: UK must not look away from Gaza genocide amid Iran-Israel war - Amnesty
The FFC said it welcomed "the people's solidarity with our mission" and "above all, with the starved and besieged Palestinian people of Gaza".
The group added: "We ask you to keep mobilizing, watch for announcements of our next action against the blockade, and let your solidarity sail.
"We will continue sailing until the blockade is broken, the genocide ends, and Palestine is free – from the river to the sea."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Defiant Caitlyn Jenner makes shock three-word remark on ill-advised Israel trip after fleeing missile attacks
Caitlyn Jenner defended her visit to Israel, despite ongoing missile attacks from Iran in a retaliatory effort. The 75-year-old Olympic Gold medalist said she has zero regret about spending time in the country amid violence, revealing 'I was proud.' 'I was proud to be in Israel, the past few days, including when the bombings started. I sheltered in place alongside Israelis and foreigners this included, Christians, Jews and Muslims,' Caitlyn said to TMZ. Caitlyn fled Israel on Saturday after seeking refuge in a bomb shelter while bombs rained down on Tel Aviv, as Iran retaliated for strikes on its nuclear sites. 'The unity and strength of the diverse spirit of all faiths and nationalities sheltering together as one people was a ceiling I can hardly explain without getting emotional. The best version of humanity was on display in the bunkers,' she added. Caitlyn even gave props to Donald Trump and the people of Israel - all the while criticizing former President Joe Biden. 'The spirit and strength of the Israeli people, and allies of Israel, specifically leaders like Donald Trump, have achieved a long overdue mission - the destruction and dismantling of the terrorist Iranian regime. 'The Iranian people deserve to be liberated from these terrorists, and the world is much safer without their violent terrorist government,' noting that she did not have 'one ounce of regret or fear' for being in the country. She called Biden's administration as 'pro-Iran' and 'anti-Israel. Her statement comes after she was pictured guzzling wine while inside a bomb shelter with Israeli influencer Regev Gur. Caitlyn fled Israel Saturday amid ongoing missile attacks from Iran. The Olympic gold medalist, 75, departed the area, after sharing snippets of her trip via social media, according to the Times of Israel. The Mount Kisco, New York-born celebrity said on X Saturday: 'What an incredible way it has been to celebrate Shabbat. 'I am here in Israel, in Tel Aviv with you all. I am a friend, advocate, ally, and thank you to the Israeli people for making me family. We will prevail and liberate the poor Iranian people held hostage by terrorist thugs!' The I Am Cait star praised President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a subsequent tweet. 'The leadership by @IsraeliPM Bibi, and Israel's closest ally President @realDonaldTrump will not allow this reckless violence towards so many continue. Israeli jets overhead in Iran now. (Bye bye terrorists),' she said. 'We will liberate Iran's citizens Thank you to all allies! PEACE FOR ALL!' She wrote Friday: 'A 'quiet' night in Tel Aviv. There is not a place I'd rather be, than with the brave people of Israel. God, please continue to shield and protect us.' 'We are back in the shelters in Tel Aviv. This looks like it is the third wave of attack from Iran.' The posts came as a group of Americans visiting Israel - including the former Olympian and conservative commentator - were prevented from leaving the country on Friday, as the military strike against Iran and the ensuing retaliatory effort locked down the nation's airports. Israel launched a blistering surprise attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites, killing several top generals - including nine senior scientists and experts involved in the program, Associated Press reported. Thursday's attack also claimed the lives of 78 people and left more than 320 wounded, according to an Iranian official. Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei vowed to 'inflict heavy blows' in a threat to civilians in Tel Aviv as he blamed Israel for starting the war, while Benjamin Netanyahu warned 'more is on the way'.
Glasgow Times
15 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Israel strikes state-run Iranian TV after Iranian missiles kill eight
In other developments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli strikes have set Iran's nuclear program back a 'very, very long time'. He added that Israel is not attempting to topple the Iranian government, but said he would not be surprised if that happened as a result of the strikes. 'The regime is very weak,' Mr Netanyahu told a news conference. He added that he is in touch with US President Donald Trump daily. As he spoke, large numbers of explosions were heard in Tehran. Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people in the middle of Tehran to evacuate ahead of the strike against the TV station, which the military said provided a cover for Iranian military operations. The warning came on the fourth day of the conflict, when the Israeli military claimed it had achieved air superiority above the Iranian capital and could fly over the city without facing major threats. The military has issued similar evacuation warnings for civilians in parts of Gaza and Lebanon ahead of strikes. The warning affected up to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that includes the country's state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Women mourn over the body of a man reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on Tabriz (Matin Hashemi/AP) 'At this time, we can say that we have achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies,' said Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin. The military said it had destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran, a third of Iran's total. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. The Israeli strikes 'amount to a deep and comprehensive blow to the Iranian threat', Brig Defrin said. Iran's state-run news agency reported that state-run television abruptly stopped a live broadcast after an Israeli strike. During the broadcast, an Iranian state television reporter said the studio was filling with dust after 'the sound of aggression against the homeland'. Suddenly, an explosion occurred, cutting the screen behind her as she hurried off camera. The broadcast quickly switched to pre-recorded programmes. Iran, meanwhile, announced it had launched some 100 missiles and vowed further retaliation for sweeping attacks on its military and nuclear infrastructure that have killed at least 224 people in the country since Friday. Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze after a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv (Baz Ratner/AP) One missile fell near the American consulate in Tel Aviv, with its blast waves causing minor damage, US ambassador Mike Huckabee said on X. He added that no American personnel were injured. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 injured, Israeli officials said, after Iran launched more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones. The latest conflict began when Israel launched an assault on Iran's top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists that it said was necessary to prevent its long-time adversary from getting any closer to building a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, and the US and others have assessed that Tehran has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003. But the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so. Iran has retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel. The back-and-forth has raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.
Powys County Times
15 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Israel strikes state-run Iranian TV after Iranian missiles kill eight
Israel struck Iran's state-run television station during a live broadcast on Monday, forcing a reporter to run off camera following an explosion, after Iran fired a new wave of missiles at Israel that killed at least eight people. In other developments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli strikes have set Iran's nuclear program back a 'very, very long time'. He added that Israel is not attempting to topple the Iranian government, but said he would not be surprised if that happened as a result of the strikes. 'The regime is very weak,' Mr Netanyahu told a news conference. He added that he is in touch with US President Donald Trump daily. As he spoke, large numbers of explosions were heard in Tehran. Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people in the middle of Tehran to evacuate ahead of the strike against the TV station, which the military said provided a cover for Iranian military operations. The warning came on the fourth day of the conflict, when the Israeli military claimed it had achieved air superiority above the Iranian capital and could fly over the city without facing major threats. The military has issued similar evacuation warnings for civilians in parts of Gaza and Lebanon ahead of strikes. The warning affected up to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that includes the country's state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. 'At this time, we can say that we have achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies,' said Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin. The military said it had destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran, a third of Iran's total. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. The Israeli strikes 'amount to a deep and comprehensive blow to the Iranian threat', Brig Defrin said. Iran's state-run news agency reported that state-run television abruptly stopped a live broadcast after an Israeli strike. During the broadcast, an Iranian state television reporter said the studio was filling with dust after 'the sound of aggression against the homeland'. Suddenly, an explosion occurred, cutting the screen behind her as she hurried off camera. The broadcast quickly switched to pre-recorded programmes. Iran, meanwhile, announced it had launched some 100 missiles and vowed further retaliation for sweeping attacks on its military and nuclear infrastructure that have killed at least 224 people in the country since Friday. One missile fell near the American consulate in Tel Aviv, with its blast waves causing minor damage, US ambassador Mike Huckabee said on X. He added that no American personnel were injured. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 injured, Israeli officials said, after Iran launched more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones. The latest conflict began when Israel launched an assault on Iran's top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists that it said was necessary to prevent its long-time adversary from getting any closer to building a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, and the US and others have assessed that Tehran has not pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003. But the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chooses to do so. Iran has retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel. The back-and-forth has raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval.
