Freedom Flotilla Condemns Alleged Forcible Arrest of Its Crew Members by Israeli Authorities
3-Minute Read: The "Freedom Flotilla" collective claims that activists aboard the Madleen, with 12 personnel on deck, have been "seized by Israeli soldiers" in an early morning raid on June 8, 2025.
A post on their social media platform exclaims: "Emergency! Volunteers from 'Madleen' have been seized by Israeli forces. Urge your foreign ministries to intervene and ensure their safety!" The social media posts also feature video messages from crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who appeals for international aid: "I'm Swedish, and if you see this video, we are being intercepted and seized by Israeli occupying forces or forces supporting Israel." She further urges her friends, family, and acquaintances to press the Swedish government to secure their release.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, shared that she lost contact with the ship and called on the UK government to seek immediate clarification and secure the boat's release.
Israel's Foreign Ministry, however, claims that all passengers are "safe and well-fed", reportedly providing them with sandwiches and water. The ministry characterized the mission as merely a "publicity stunt" with minimal actual aid on board. They assured that humanitarian aid regularly enters Gaza through official channels, having delivered over 1,200 trucks in the past two weeks.
The boat set sail from Sicily (Italy) seven days prior, destined for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, break the Israeli blockade, and raise awareness of the ongoing hardship in the Palestinian enclave.
The Israeli speedboat approached the boat around 2:00 AM (Spanish Peninsula Time) in an incident where "no one was injured". Euro-MP Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan, on board the 'Madleen', posted on social media about a drone spraying "a white substance" onto the boat. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli navy was in constant communication with the vessel and demanded it to alter its course to avoid a restricted zone.
Despite the encounter with Israeli forces about 277.8 kilometers away from Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla maintained their resolve and called on world governments to demand Israel to "stand down" and respect their humanitarian mission. They challenged Israel's "violent and illegal" blockade of Gaza.
German activist Yasemin Acar, one of the crew members, underlined the peaceful nature of the flotilla, claiming the boat had been continuously monitored by drones since they departed from Sicily with its cargo consisting solely of humanitarian aid. Acar noted that it was only the Israeli Defense Forces who were armed and exhibited violence, a pattern dating back 20 months and almost 80 years.
In response to the ongoing mission, Israeli Minister Katz referred to the group as anti-Semitic and a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda, specifically mentioning Greta Thunberg. Katz asserted that Israel would act against any attempt to breach the blockade or aid terrorist organizations at sea, in the air, or on land.
- In response to the situation, the average global response on social media has been one of concern, with calls for intervention from various foreign ministries, such as that of the Swedish government, in the case of Greta Thunberg.
- As the conflict unfolds, numerous concerned groups and individuals, tuned in to general news, have been observing the politics surrounding the war-and-conflicts in the Palestinian Territories, specifically the Freedom Flotilla's mission to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge the ongoing Israeli blockade.
