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Al Jazeera
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Freedom Flotillas: A history of attempts to break Israel's siege of Gaza
Early on Monday morning, the Madleen ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was intercepted by the Israeli military about 185 km (100 nautical miles) from Gaza, in international waters. Among the 12 detained crew members are climate advocate Greta Thunberg, Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad, and other activists. Israeli media reported that the Madleen and its crew were being taken to the port city of Ashdod, about 30km (19 miles) north of Gaza, where National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instructed prison authorities to hold the activists in solitary confinement, isolated from one another and the outside world. The ship, which departed from Sicily on June 1, was carrying humanitarian aid for starving Palestinians who have been under a strict Israeli blockade since March 2. The blockade was only partially eased last month amid growing international pressure. Several Freedom Flotilla vessels have attempted to break the blockade of Gaza. In 2008, two boats from the Free Gaza Movement successfully reached Gaza, marking the first break of Israel's naval blockade. The movement, founded in 2006 by activists during Israel's war on Lebanon, went on to launch 31 boats between 2008 and 2016, five of which reached Gaza despite heavy Israeli restrictions. Since 2010, all flotillas attempting to break the Gaza blockade have been intercepted or attacked by Israel in international waters. The map below shows the approximate locations where prominent flotillas were stopped, some encountering deadly Israeli 2010, Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara in international waters. The assault killed 10 activists and injured dozens, leading to global outrage. The ship was carrying humanitarian aid and more than 600 passengers. The Mavi Marmara was owned and run by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, a Turkish NGO. The incident severely strained Israel-Turkiye relations and drew widespread condemnation for violating international law. In 2013, Israel apologised for 'operational mistakes' in the raid. A compensation deal is still being negotiated between the two countries. Israeli soldiers and officials who took part in the attack are being tried in absentia in Turkiye for war crimes. Freedom Flotilla II was launched in 2011 as a follow-up to the 2010 mission. Organised by a coalition of international activists and NGOs, it aimed to break Israel's blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. The flotilla involved more than 300 participants from around the world and was set to sail on 10 vessels. However, intense diplomatic pressure from Israel, coupled with reported sabotage of ships and restrictions by host countries like Greece, prevented most boats from departing. Only the Dignite-Al Karama came close to reaching Gaza. The 17-passenger French vessel initially declared an Egyptian port as its destination upon leaving Greek waters, but activists later announced they were heading for Gaza. Israeli naval commandos intercepted the boat and towed it to Ashdod. The activists were detained for questioning and later deported. Freedom Flotilla III was launched in 2015 as the third major attempt by international activists to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. Organised by the FFC, the mission included several vessels, with the Swedish-flagged Marianne of Gothenburg leading the effort. On June 29, 2015, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Marianne about 100 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, in international waters. Commandos boarded the ship and diverted it to Ashdod. The activists on board were detained and later deported, with some crew members released after six days. The Just Future for Palestine Flotilla – also known as the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was part of a continued effort by the FFC to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. The campaign included two main vessels, Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom, along with two support yachts, Mairead and Falestine. On July 29 and August 3, 2018, both Al Awda and Freedom were intercepted and seized by the Israeli navy in international waters. All on board were arrested, with some reporting being Tasered, assaulted, or beaten by Israeli forces. Most participants were held in detention before being deported to their respective countries. While preparing to sail to Gaza on May 2, the Conscience was struck twice by armed drones, just 14 nautical miles (25km) off the coast of Malta. The attack triggered a fire and caused a significant breach in the hull, forcing the 30 Turkish and Azeri activists on board into a desperate effort to bail out water and keep the ship afloat. Four people sustained minor injuries in the assault, including burns and lacerations. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, one in five Palestinians in Gaza is facing starvation because of Israel's three-month-long total blockade of the Strip, eased partially last month, allowing some food aid. Some 1.95 million people, or 93 percent of the enclave's population, are facing acute food shortages. The IPC says Israel's continued blockade 'would likely result in further mass displacement within and across governorates', as items essential for people's survival will be an Israel-led and United States-backed aid distribution initiative, called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which started to deliver aid into Gaza last month, its new distribution hub disintegrated into chaos within hours of opening on May 27 and has been marred by atrocities following deadly shootings at aid distribution centres. The Gaza Strip has a population of about 2.3 million living in one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Since 2007, Israel has maintained strict control over Gaza's airspace and territorial waters and restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza. Even before the war, Gaza had no functional airports after Israel bombed and demolished the Yasser Arafat international airport in 2001, only three years after it opened. Gaza is again the scene of widespread destruction and human suffering, and remains the place often described as 'the world's largest open-air prison'.
The National
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Freedom Flotilla gives statement as Israel 'illegally seizes' Madleen
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition spoke through its Telegram channel after its ship the Madleen was captured by Israel. The 12 people on board – including Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan and Al Jazeera correspondent Omar Faiad – have been imprisoned. The Madleen had been sailing under a UK red ensign, meaning it was under UK jurisdiction in international waters, when Israel attacked it. The move has been described as a 'clear breach' of international law by the Turkish government, while the UK's has remained silent. READ MORE: UK Government sends spy plane over Gaza as Freedom Flotilla ship threatened by Israel The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said: 'It's time for our governments to do their jobs and sanction Israel. Its illegal attack on 'Madleen' while sailing in international waters is a small extension of their war crimes in Gaza. 'Governments, institutions, media, and corporations must stop protecting Israel, now. They must stop prioritising profit over human lives, now. 'Protect our volunteers while protecting Palestinians in Gaza and wider Palestine.' On the abduction of MEP Hassan, the group said it was 'not only an attack on civilians, but a direct assault on international law, parliamentary immunity, and the principle of free humanitarian access'. It went on: 'Israel must be held accountable. The European Parliament must formally demand her immediate release and Israel's legal accountability. 'This interception is a direct result of the international community's ongoing failure to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes. Activists pictured on the Madleen, which was sailing under a UK flag (Image: Freedom Flotilla) 'A state currently on trial for genocide must not be allowed to dictate whether life-saving aid reaches the very people it stands accused of trying to destroy.' The Freedom Flotilla Coalition pointed to the 2010 raid on their ships by the Israeli military, which also occurred in international waters and left 10 volunteers dead. The group said: 'No state has the authority to enforce an unlawful blockade, especially one whose primary purpose is to starve civilians and obstruct humanitarian relief. 'Israel's threats and attacks against peaceful ships like 'Madleen', carrying essential aid and international human rights defenders, are part of its broader pattern of impunity and disregard for international norms.' The unlawful seizure of the Madleen The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said of the boat seizure: 'At 3:02AM EEST, 110 nautical miles from Gaza, the 'Madleen' was illegally boarded by the IOF [Israel Occupation Forces] in international waters. 'Prior to their abduction, quadcopter drones flew in close range before attacking the 'Madleen' with a white chemical-like substance, harming their eyes. Signals were jammed, and disturbing audio was broadcast to interfere with communication over the radio system as the IOF boarded. 'Our volunteers were attacked and taken against their will while sailing lawfully toward Palestinian territorial waters, where Israel has no right to control. 'The 'Madleen' has reportedly been seized, and our aid, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies, has also been taken.' CCTV image shared by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (Image: FFC) Sharing security footage timestamped 2:02AM, the group added: 'This is the last moment that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ground team saw their friends, comrades and family members while they were being illegally intercepted, boarded and abducted by the Israeli military. Their whereabouts remain unknown. 'At this time, we are urgently working to locate the 11 international volunteers and one journalist abducted from 'Madleen'. 'According to the Israeli Immigration Authority, they are not yet in its custody. FFC lawyers in occupied Palestine have repeatedly contacted Israeli military officials, but are yet to receive any response to inquiries since the early hours of the morning.' Who is on board the Madleen? There are twelve civilian crew members on board the ship, which is flying the UK flag. The crew members are: Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate and social justice activist Baptise Andre, French physician Omar Faiad, French journalist with Al Jazeera Reva Viard, French climate activist Rima Hassan, French member of the European parliament, representing La France Insoumise party Yanis Mhamdi, French journalist with independent media outlet Blast Pascal Maurieras, French activist Suayb Ordu, Turkish activist Marco van Rennes, Dutch marine engineering student Sergio Toribio, Spanish crew member, a member of marine conservation NGO Sea Shepherd Thiago Avila, Brazilian journalist, social activist and politician Yasemin Acar, German activist of Kurdish descent Israel's statements Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said the Madleen was being taken to the port of Ashdod, which is around 17 miles north of Gaza. Katz said: "I congratulate the IDF for the quick and safe takeover of the 'Madleen' flotilla to prevent them from breaking the blockade and reaching the shores of Gaza. "I instructed the IDF to show the flotilla passengers the video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre when they arrive at the port of Ashdod. "It is appropriate that the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organisation they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself. "The IDF will continue its war against the Hamas murderers with all its moral righteousness until they are subdued, all the hostages are released, and the security of the State of Israel is ensured." Separately, Israel's foreign ministry called the boat a "selfie yacht' and claimed the "show is over". All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over. — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 It went on: "While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. "There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies. Israel is preparing to hold the 12 unlawfully detained activists in separate cells in Givon Prison in Ramla, media in the country is reporting. The far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is said to have ordered officials to block the detainees from having any pro-Palestine symbols or access to any electronic communications equipment.
