CATANIA, Sicily, Italy – The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) confirms that its civilian ship, Madleen, carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, has been attacked/forcibly intercepted by the Israeli military at 03:02 CET in international waters at 31.95236° N, 32.38880° E.
The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted and its life-saving cargo – including baby formula, food and medical supplies -confiscated.
“Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen,” said Huwaida Arraf, human rights attorney and Freedom Flotilla organiser.
“This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the ICJ’s binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalised for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade – their detention is arbitrary, unlawful and must end immediately.”
Israel is once again acting with total impunity. It has defied the binding orders of the International Court of Justice to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, disregarded the international laws protecting civilian navigation, and dismissed the demands of millions worldwide calling for an end to the siege and genocide.
This latest act of aggression against the FFC follows the unpunished Israeli drone attack on our previous vessel, Conscience, which left four civilian volunteers injured and the ship disabled and burning in European waters. That unprovoked assault violated international law.
Now, Israel has escalated again by targeting another peaceful civilian vessel.
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“The world’s governments remained silent when Conscience was bombed. Now Israel is testing that silence again,” said Tan Safi, another FFC organiser. “Every hour without consequences emboldens Israel to escalate its attacks on civilians, aid workers and the very foundations of international law.”
We demand:
• An end to the illegal and deadly siege of Gaza
• The immediate release of all abducted volunteers
• The immediate delivery of humanitarian aid directly to Palestinians that is independent of the control of the occupying power
• Full accountability for the military assaults on Madleen and Conscience
Governments must fulfil their obligations under international law and stop enabling Israel’s crimes.
We are undeterred. We will sail again. We will not stop until the siege ends and Palestine is free. – Freedom Flotilla Coalition
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
