Latest news with #BaptisteAndre
The National
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Who are the activists on board the aid yacht intercepted by Israel?
Israel has intercepted an aid yacht carrying activists and humanitarian aid that was trying to reach the Gaza Strip, detaining the 12 activists on board and taking them to Israel. All eyes have been on the vessel, called Madleen, since it departed Catania, Sicily, on June 1. The Gaza Freedom Flotilla crew publicised their journey with online trackers and called on their governments to protect them. The yacht carried a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. But who was on board? Greta Thunberg Best known as the face of a youth movement demanding action on climate change, the Swedish activist, 22, has frequently spoken up about the war in Gaza – at times dividing her climate movement. She said before the Madleen departed from Italy that "it falls on us to be the adults in the room … we have to keep our promise to the Palestinians to do everything in our power to protest the genocide". A French member of the European Parliament representing the Green Party. She is of Palestinian descent and has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli actions towards Palestinians. Yasemin Acar A German activist, she has been an advocate for refugees and human rights since the age of 15. She described resistance as being a "way of life", having been born to Kurdish parents from Turkey. Baptiste Andre A French activist and doctor is among the crew. In a video posted on the flotilla's website, he calls on his friends and family to put pressure on Paris to secure his release. Marco van Rennes A Dutch activist is also a member of the flotilla. In a video posted online, he has also called for his country's government to push for his release "and that of all other peaceful activists". Omar Faiad A French journalist with Al Jazeera Mubasher. A video posted on social media shows Faiad on board the vessel with his hands up, after it is intercepted by the Israeli military. Pascal Maurieras He is an experienced crew member, having taken part in a voyage in 2018. The French activist and sailor was detained and interrogated by Israel at that time as well. A French activist who has been involved in various humanitarian causes throughout the years. Sergio Toribio The activist from Spain is a member of the Spanish Boat to Gaza the marine conservation group Sea Shepherd. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been vocal about his support for Palestinians in Gaza. Suayb Ordu A Turkish activist who has been involved in volunteer projects and advocacy for Palestine for years. "If any harm comes to me, if they kill me, and they cannot prove it with visual evidence, let it be known that I took no action," he said in a video on Instagram. Thiago Avila The Brazilian activist is co-ordinator of Freedom Flotilla Brazil and father of a six-month-old daughter. Yanis Mhamdi A French journalist and film director at the Blast platform. He previously worked in the occupied West Bank to make a film about settlers.
The Wire
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Israel Intercepts Ship With Lifesaving Gaza Aid in International Waters
Activists and journalists on the Madleen, presumably just before Israeli forces removed them from the boat. Photo: X/@FranceskAlbs. New Delhi: The Madleen, a ship carrying life-saving humanitarian aid that was bound for Gaza, has been intercepted by Israeli forces, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has said. Al Jazeera reports that the travellers on the ship were forcibly removed from it and are now being taken into Israel. The unarmed ship is an effort to break Israeli blockade of Gaza and is named after a Gaza fisherwoman. It was around 160 kilometres from Gaza when it was stopped. The ship has French physician Baptiste Andre, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunber, Dutch activist Marco van Rennes, Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad, French activists Pascal Maurieras and Reva Viard, French Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, Spanish activist Sergio Toribio, Turkish activist Suayb Ordu, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, French journalist Yanis Mhamdi and German activist Yasemin Acar. Avila and Thunberg are among those who have posted videos they had pre-recorded and sought to release if the Madleen is intercepted. Vídeo gravado por Thiago Ávila caso fosse sequestrado pelos sionistas — Instituto Brasil-Palestina (@Ibraspal) June 9, 2025 Greta Thunberg has been kidnapped by lsrael. #Madleen — Muhammad Smiry (@MuhammadSmiry) June 9, 2025 In a statement, the group said its vessel was 'attacked/forcibly intercepted by the Israeli military … in international waters.' 'The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,' the Coalition said. Israel has 'no legal authority to detain' the volunteers aboard the Madleen, human rights attorney and Freedom Flotilla organiser, Huwaida Arraf, said, according to The Guardian. Arraf added that the seizure is a violation of international law and goes against the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) 'binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.' The statement said Israel does not have the legal right to detain the volunteers, who are 'not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade.' 'Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately,' Arraf said. Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, called on others to send aid vessels to Gaza. '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,' Albanese wrote on X. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
