The humanitarian vessel Madeleine arrived at Israel’s Ashdod port on Monday evening after being intercepted by Israeli forces, preventing it from delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli authorities are now preparing to deport all activists on board.
According to the Associated Press, Israeli officials confirmed that the activists would be transferred to a detention facility before their deportation.
Israeli naval forces escorted Madleen for approximately 18 hours as it was forcibly redirected. The ship was carrying humanitarian supplies intended for Gaza residents in an effort to challenge the ongoing blockade.
Israel’s public broadcaster reported that naval commandos and the elite Shinvir unit boarded the vessel while it was still in international waters. Israeli forces took control of the ship and directed it toward Ashdod port.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency cited the Adalah legal center, which stated that Madleen and its crew remained at sea as Israeli forces continued towing the vessel against their will.
In the early hours of Monday, Israeli naval commandos stormed the ship, which was en route to Gaza with 12 volunteers carrying humanitarian aid as part of the Freedom Flotilla, an initiative aimed at breaking the blockade on the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Israeli forces seized control of Madleen, and according to The Times of Israel, military sources confirmed that the vessel would dock at Ashdod, where its crew would be interrogated.
Israeli right-wing newspaper Israel Hayom reported that the prison service was preparing to receive the activists, with separate cells allocated for them at Givon prison in Ramla.
The activists will be transported from Ashdod port by the Nahshon unit of the Israeli prison service in vehicles with tinted windows to minimize public displays of support, Israel Hayom added.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has reportedly instructed prison authorities to prohibit detainees from accessing communication or media devices while in custody, according to Israeli media reports.
Government spokesperson David Mencer claimed that Israeli forces took control of Madleen “smoothly and without injuries.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming that the vessel was “safely heading toward Israeli shores” and that its passengers would soon be repatriated.
International Condemnation
Israel’s seizure of Madeleine and its prevention from reaching Gaza sparked swift international condemnation.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry informed Al Jazeera that Madrid had summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires in protest over the incident. Spanish authorities also confirmed they are providing consular protection to a Spanish citizen among Madeleine’s crew and have contacted his family. Spain’s Foreign Ministry remains in direct communication with its Israeli counterpart to monitor developments.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France had explicitly urged Israeli authorities to avoid any incidents as Madeleine approached Gaza’s shores as part of the Freedom Flotilla. Barrot added that Paris had informed Israel in advance of its intention to exercise consular protection for French nationals aboard the vessel.
The European Parliament’s spokesperson said officials had reached out to Israel to ensure the safety of parliament member Rima Hassan, who was on board Madeleine. “Protecting members of parliament anywhere in the world remains a top priority for us,” she emphasized.
The British Prime Minister’s Office called on Israel to resolve the issue of Madeleine’s detention in accordance with international humanitarian law. “Our stance on the humanitarian situation in Gaza is clear—it is dire and intolerable,” the statement read.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin described Madeleine as a “powerful symbol of the urgent need to end the blockade on humanitarian aid destined for Gaza.”
Turkey condemned Israel’s actions against Madeleine, calling it a “heinous act by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government that once again proves Israel is behaving like a terrorist state.” Iran also denounced the interception, labeling it “piracy.”
Amnesty International weighed in, stating that Israel’s seizure of Madeleine and the detention of its crew constitute a violation of international law.
Calls for Immediate Release of Activists
The International Committee to Break the Gaza Siege condemned the Israeli navy’s raid on Madleen, calling it an act of piracy, state terrorism, and a blatant violation of international law. The committee demanded the immediate release of all activists aboard the vessel, including environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
The organization urged the international community to deliver humanitarian aid directly to the Palestinian people, bypassing Israeli control.
Caoimhe Butterly, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, told Al Jazeera that Israel’s interception of Madeleine was illegal. “We have no direct communication with the ship’s crew, and it remains unclear whether the activists have been transferred to another vessel,” Butterly stated.
