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United Nations Special Rapporteur for Palestine Francesca Albanese has called for the immediate release of the Madleen vessel and its 12 human rights activists detained by Israel, while urging the breaking of the Gaza blockade.
Albanese, in a post on her X account, stated that the vessel bringing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip "must be released immediately." The U.N. Rapporteur declared, "Breaking the siege is a legal duty for states, and a moral imperative for all of us. Every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable."
Israel's Foreign Ministry announced that the Madleen vessel has been taken to Israel and the activists aboard will be sent back to their home countries.
The ministry confirmed that Israeli commandos seized the vessel approximately 185 kilometers ( 114.95 miles) from Gaza in international waters.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry also released a video of the detained human rights advocates, showing that the activists were unharmed during the Israeli military raid.
In the footage, activists can be seen being provided with food and water during their detention.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a civil society organization, organized this latest mission to break the Gaza blockade and deliver aid to the region.
The 18-meter sailboat departed on June 1 from San Giovanni Li Cuti Port in Catania, Italy, heading for Gaza.
Activists aboard the Madleen had announced they would maintain peaceful attitudes and would not resist if Israeli forces intervened. The Israeli military subsequently intercepted the vessel attempting to break the Gaza blockade.
The vessel carries 12 people, including:
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces have conducted intense attacks on the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, schools, and tents where displaced Palestinians shelter.
Approximately 2.3 million Palestinians face a humanitarian catastrophe due to Israel's blockade restricting medicine and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
Palestinian officials and international circles warn that Israel implements a starvation policy in Gaza and uses hunger as a "weapon of war." Demonstrations worldwide call for ending attacks on Gaza and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches the region.
Israel seeks to monopolize humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza and frequently targets Palestinians heading to U.S.-supported humanitarian aid points, hoping to find food. Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed 55,000 Palestinian people, most of them being civilians and wounded 126,000 others.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. Israel's most recent total blockade began on March 2 and has only partially lifted under mounting international pressure.
The current incident follows a previous attack on another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Conscience, which was reportedly hit by Israeli drones in international waters off Malta just one month ago.
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