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June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla

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For the earlier attack on the ship Conscience off the coast of Malta, see May 2025 drone attack on Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

Blockade of the
Gaza Strip
Crossings
2004–2009
2010–2022
2023–present
Groups involved

A flotilla was organized in June 2025 by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) attempting to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid. The flotilla, which was led by the UK-flagged vessel Madleen,[1] departed from Catania, Sicily, on 1 June 2025. In the early hours of 9 June, Israeli forces intercepted, boarded, and seized the Madleen in international waters, preventing it from reaching the Gaza Strip, and brought the twelve people onboard to detention and deportation from Israel. The people onboard included Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. The cargo contained baby formula, 100 kg (220 lb) of flour, 250 kg (550 lb) of rice, diapers, medical kits, and crutches.

The flotilla followed an earlier attempt on 2 May, when the vessel Conscience was struck with projectiles while anchored off the coast of Malta outside Maltese territorial waters.

Background

The June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla is one of several attempts to break the Israeli blockade and send humanitarian aid to Gaza via small flotillas of ships. The first was seen in 2010, when the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sailed with the intent of breaking the blockade of the Gaza Strip that had been enacted in 2007; ten activists were killed by Israeli commandos on this voyage.[2][3] Other flotillas set out with similar missions in 2011, 2015, 2018 and May 2025 with Israeli officials interceding on all attempts, with participants detained, deported or held in Israeli prisons.[4] The vessel Conscience in the FFC's previous flotilla attempting to establish a corridor for humanitarian aid had been struck by drones,[5] while preparing to set sail for Gaza in May 2025, 14 miles off the coast of Malta, in international waters. Four individuals sustained injuries in the attacks, and the ship suffered damage and flooding.[2]

After the October 7 attacks and during the ensuing Gaza war, Israel intensified its blockade on the Gaza Strip, labeling it as a total blockade denying the entry of food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity,[6] causing high risk of famine and a humanitarian crisis that scholars have described as genocide.[7] Due to Israeli checkpoints into Gaza which predate the October 7 attacks, the Israeli government and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have controlled the entrance of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with aid delivery disrupted multiple times over the years, either via Israeli government blockades or Israeli civilian protests.[8] Additionally, since March 2, 2025, very little humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza, with concerns about famine in Gaza being raised by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).[9][10] Israel has announced that any action that leads to breaking the siege of Gaza will be met with failure.[11] Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation allege that Hamas has diverted aid and hindered humanitarian aid disbursement.[12]

Voyage

The vessel Madleen (formerly the Barcarole; the boat was renamed in honor of Gaza's first fisher woman, Madleen Culab)[13][14] set sail from Catania, Sicily, on 1 June 2025[15][16] carrying baby formula, 100 kg of flour, 250 kg of rice, diapers, menstrual products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and children's prosthetics and was expected to reach the Gaza Strip on 7 June.[17][15] Twelve passengers were onboard, including activist Greta Thunberg and French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan.[15][18] Since it was sailing under a UK red ensign, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the UK government "has a legal duty to defend 'Madleen' and the civilians on board, and to prevent unlawful interference-including any threat or use of force-by foreign powers such as Israel".[19]

The passengers (along with their nationalities) included:[20]

On 3 June, a drone was seen near the vessel prompting a call for international protection.[21] A Hellenic Coast Guard Heron drone was reported to have monitored the vessel.[22][23][24] In the afternoon of 4 June the flotilla had been reported as being near Crete.[22] On 5 June the vessel altered course to assist a small boat of Sudanese migrants.[23] Four migrants were recovered from the sea and taken aboard Madleen,[25] and subsequently transferred to Frontex.[26] On 7 June, the vessel had reached Egypt.[27]

Israeli interception, boarding, and detention of passengers

On 8 June, passengers reported that boats were circling the Madleen and the ship's alarm was triggered. They prepared for an interception,[28] but the boats eventually dispersed, and passengers later described the incident as an "unlikely false alarm."[29] The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) also reported that two Israeli quadcopter drones surrounded the vessel and sprayed a white, paint-like substance that passengers described as an irritant. Shortly afterward, the FFC reported losing contact with the passengers, and the Israeli military boarded the ship.[30][31]

At around 3:00 a.m. on 9 June, Israeli Navy forces from Shayetet 13 seized the vessel about 185 kilometres from Gaza in international waters.[32][33][34] and towed it to Ashdod. According to Israeli officials, they ordered it to turn back before boarding it.[35] During boarding, the passengers of the ship threw mobile phones and a laptop overboard.[36] The passengers on the vessel surrendered to Israeli authorities without resistance.[32]

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed that the operation was carried out under Israeli authority.[37][31] The Foreign Ministry said that the ship's aid supplies would be transferred to Gaza through "real humanitarian channels".[38][37] Israel's defence minister Israel Katz, who called Thunberg "antisemitic",[39] ordered that the flotilla members be shown the film Bearing Witness to the October 7th Massacre.[40][41] Katz later said that the flotilla members refused to watch the film. He had planned to document them watching the film, but was overruled by both the Israeli Foreign Ministry as well as the Office of the Prime Minister.[42]

After arriving at the Port of Ashdod, the detainees were taken to Ben Gurion Airport where they met with consuls from their native countries.[43] Thunberg refused to sign a document stating she entered the country illegally prior to being deported,[44] but she did sign a document stating her intention to return home as soon as possible.[45] She was then deported along with three other activists (André, Faiad, and Toribio)[46] on June 10.[47] The remaining eight, including Hassan, refused and decided to contest their deportation. They remained in custody at Givon Prison [he] in Ramla during the legal proceedings.[48] Dr. Baptiste André who was also on board alleges that Israeli authorities mocked the passengers and abused them by deliberately depriving passengers of sleep, including Thunberg.[49]

Ávila was held in solitary confinement after going on a hunger strike.[50][51] He was released on 12 June and deported to Brazil.[52] As of 12 June, two French citizens remain in Israel awaiting deportation according to Adalah.[53]

Responses

To voyage

Israel

The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the flotilla a "selfie yacht of celebrities," and characterized the mission as a "stunt" and called Thunberg an "antisemite".[37]

On 4 June, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told The Jerusalem Post that the flotilla would not be allowed to dock in Gaza.[21] On 9 June, Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated this:

I have instructed the IDF to act to prevent the 'Madeleine' hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza - and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end. To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza.[54]

International

On 2 June, UN experts called for safe passage for the Madleen.[55] Ireland's deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, referred to the vessel Madleen as "an incredible effort to get food and medicine to the starving people of Gaza"; British Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn also expressed his support for the voyage.[56]

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on Twitter, "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!" This was perceived as threatening military action against the flotilla.[57] Graham's comment was criticised by journalist Mehdi Hasan as "sociopathic, unhinged, and criminal".[57]

To interception

Freedom Flotilla Coalition

In a press release, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the raid was "blatantly violat[ing] international law and def[ying] the ICJ's binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza". It said the detention of its activists was "arbitrary, unlawful, and [it] must end immediately."[58] It also released to social media a video Greta Thunberg had pre-recorded should Israel raid the flotilla.[59]

In a press release the following day, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition characterized the detainment of their activists as a "forcibl[e] abduct[ion]".[46]

Israel

After seizing the boat, the Israeli government said that the flotilla's cargo was equivalent to less than a full truckload of aid, and an Israeli government spokesperson mocked the flotilla as "Instagram activism".[60]

Former Israeli Navy Commander Eli Marom described Israel's handling of the Gaza Freedom flotilla as a diplomatic failure, stating that it should have been resolved through diplomacy rather than military action, as he said had been done in previous cases. Marom said that the Gaza blockade, imposed in 2007 and "recognized by the whole world", is essential to Israel's security. He said that allowing the ship through undermined the blockade and could open the door to Iranian vessels reaching Gaza within months.[61]

Israeli human rights organization Adalah said, "The arrest of the unarmed activists, who operated in a civilian manner to provide humanitarian aid, amounts to a serious breach of international law." Adalah said the ship was in international waters and that its destination was the "territorial waters of the state of Palestine."[62]

Hamas

Hamas described the naval blockade as an instance of "state terrorism".[37] It said the interception of the Madleen was "a flagrant violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers acting out of humanitarian motives".[31]

International

The Council on American–Islamic Relations said the interception of the Madleen by the Israeli military was a "blatant act of international piracy and state terrorism."[30]

The human rights organization Amnesty International described Israel's seizure of the Madleen and detention of its crew as illegal.[63]

US President Donald Trump said that Greta Thunberg, who was a passenger on the Madleen, was "strange" and "angry", and "recommended" her to take "an anger management class".[64] Upon arriving in Paris, following her deportation from Israel, Thunberg responded, "I think the world needs a lot more young angry women, to be honest. Especially with everything going on right now."[44][65] While addressing the Knesset on 11 June 2025, Argentine President Javier Milei accused Thunberg of being a "mercenary of international leftist activism" and further accused Thunberg of seeking press and cameras.[66]

The Brazilian Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally requested Ávila's release, called the interception a "flagrant violation of international law" and condemned "the continuation of severe restrictions, in violation of international humanitarian law, on the entry of basic subsistence items into the State of Palestine."[67]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b Ali, Marium. "Freedom Flotillas: A history of attempts to break Israel's siege of Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  3. ^ Black, Ian; Siddique, Haroon (31 May 2010). "Q&A: The Gaza Freedom flotilla". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Unite Union leader Mike Treen reportedly tasered repeatedly by Israeli military". New Zealand Herald. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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  32. ^ a b "'Piracy': World reacts to Israel's seizure of Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen". Al Jazeera. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
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  35. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (9 June 2025). "Israeli troops detain Gaza-bound activists including Greta Thunberg, tow boat to Ashdod". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
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  53. ^ "Israel deports six from Gaza aid boat Madleen, two more still in custody". Al Jazeera. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  54. ^ Rhoden-Paul, André (8 June 2025). "Madleen: Israel warns it will stop aid yacht reaching Gaza". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  55. ^ "Gaza: UN experts demand safe passage for Freedom Flotilla Coalition". OHCHR. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  56. ^ Seda Sevencan (8 June 2025). "Irish deputy PM, former Labour leader voice support for Gaza flotilla". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 8 June 2025. 'Any use of force against it would constitute a breach of international law,' says Simon Harris referring to any possible Israel interception against Madleen
  57. ^ a b Ferguson, Malcolm (2 June 2025). "Lindsey Graham Under Fire After Sick Post About Greta Thunberg". The New Republic. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  58. ^ "Israeli Military Attacks Madleen in International Waters — Weeks After Bombing of Conscience". freedomflotilla.org. 9 June 2025.
  59. ^ Nath, Sanstuti (9 June 2025). ""If You See This...": Greta Thunberg's Last Video Before Israel Stops Ship". NDTV World.
  60. ^ Fisch, Yesica; Goldenberg, Tia (9 June 2025). "Gaza-bound aid boat with Greta Thunberg on board arrives in Israel after its seizure". Associated Press.
  61. ^ "Israel failed in handling Greta Thunberg's flotilla". The Jerusalem Post. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  62. ^ Scharf, Isaac; Hazboun, Areej (10 June 2025). "Israel deports Greta Thunberg after Gaza-bound ship she was on was seized". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  63. ^ "Israel's interception of Madleen and detention of crew bound for Gaza flouts international law". Amnesty International. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  64. ^ Samuels, Brett (9 June 2025). "Trump says Greta Thunberg should go to anger management". The Hill.
  65. ^ Giordano, Elena (10 June 2025). "Greta Thunberg hits back at Donald Trump over anger management jibe". Politico. Archived from the original on 11 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  66. ^ "Javier Milei confirmó que mudará a Jerusalem la embajada argentina en Israel y criticó a Greta Thunberg" [Javier Milei confirmed that he will move the Argentine embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and criticized Greta Thunberg]. Infobae (in Spanish). 11 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  67. ^ "Itamaraty confirma detenção de ativista brasileiro em centro israelense" [Itamaraty confirms detention of Brazilian activist in Israeli center]. CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 10 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.

Works cited

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