As the aid vessel Madleen sails steadily through the Mediterranean, carrying 12 activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, tensions escalate sharply between the humanitarian mission and Israeli authorities. The flotilla, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Catania, Sicily, on June 1, 2025, with the aim of breaking Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and delivering much-needed humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave. The activists hope to reach Gaza's territorial waters by the weekend of June 7-8.
But Israel has issued a stern warning that the Madleen will not be allowed to reach Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on June 8 that he had ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prevent the vessel from breaching the blockade by any means necessary. In a forceful statement posted on Telegram, Katz said, "To the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: You should turn back — because you will not reach Gaza." He further emphasized that Israel would act against any attempt to break the blockade or aid terrorist organizations "at sea, in the air and on land."
The blockade, imposed by Israel since March 2, 2025, aims to prevent Hamas from importing arms. Israel views the naval blockade as a critical security measure, especially following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militant attacks that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of approximately 250 hostages. Since then, the conflict has escalated, with over 54,000 people, including thousands of children, reported killed in Gaza according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Despite the blockade, Israel began allowing limited humanitarian aid into Gaza in mid-May 2025 under international pressure. However, humanitarian workers warn that famine looms unless the blockade and ongoing conflict end. Food security experts reveal that one in five people in Gaza now face starvation, with prices for staples like flour soaring to $300 a bag after more than 50 days without new aid deliveries. Most residents survive on a single meal per day, often pasta, rice, or canned food. Alarmingly, over 3,700 children were admitted for acute malnutrition treatment in March alone, an 80% increase from the previous month, according to UNOCHA.
Onboard the Madleen, alongside Thunberg, are notable activists such as Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, who has been barred from entering Israel due to her opposition to Israeli policies, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, and French doctor Baptiste Andre, expected to provide medical assistance during the mission. The activists are united in their resolve to challenge the blockade and raise global awareness of the humanitarian crisis.
Thunberg, speaking ahead of departure, expressed the mission's urgency: "We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying. Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide." Israel vehemently rejects genocide allegations, calling them an anti-Semitic "blood libel."
The Madleen's journey has not been without peril. On June 8, a Brazilian activist aboard, Thiago Ávila, posted a video indicating that their tracking and communication devices were being jammed approximately 160 nautical miles from Gaza. Earlier that day, the vessel’s signal was temporarily disrupted, causing its live tracker to falsely display its location near Jordan. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition press officer, Hay Sha Wiya, confirmed that the crew is "preparing for the possibility of interception" and remains "calm, resolute, and prepared for the possibility of an Israeli attack." He condemned Israel's threats as "unlawful use of force against civilians," asserting that the Madleen is a civilian, unarmed vessel sailing in international waters carrying humanitarian aid and human rights defenders.
Adding to the tension, Israeli forces have reportedly deployed security units in the area where the Madleen is expected to arrive. Military sources told the Jerusalem Post that activists will be explicitly instructed not to enter Gaza's waters and that elite forces are prepared for any defiance or provocation. The IDF may seize control of the vessel, arrest the activists, and transfer them to the port of Ashdod for deportation. Brigadier General Effie Defrin, an IDF spokesman, remarked, "We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly." The Israeli army has previously raided freedom flotilla ships, and it remains prepared to do so again.
The flotilla's journey also faced a humanitarian detour on the morning of June 8, when the Madleen reportedly altered course to respond to a migrant distress call. Sources told Al Jazeera that the ship detected a migrant boat carrying an estimated 40 asylum seekers, highlighting the vessel's commitment to humanitarian principles beyond the Gaza mission.
Activists aboard view the sea mission as part of a broader strategy to break the siege on Gaza. Thiago Avila mentioned plans for the upcoming Global March to Gaza, an international initiative set to leave Egypt and reach the Rafah crossing in mid-June to stage a protest demanding an end to the Gaza offensive and the reopening of borders.
The blockade's impact on Gaza is dire. After nearly three months of total blockade, limited aid began entering Gaza in late May 2025, but humanitarian workers warn that this is insufficient to prevent widespread famine. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, tasked with distributing aid under a U.S.- and Israel-backed plan, has faced criticism amid reports that dozens of Palestinians were killed while seeking aid at distribution points.
Internationally, the situation remains contentious. On June 4, 2025, the UN Security Council voted on a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted humanitarian access, and the release of hostages held by Hamas and other groups. The United States vetoed the resolution, citing concerns that it undermined ongoing diplomacy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "The United States will continue to stand with Israel at the UN." The vote was 14 to 1, with the US as the sole veto.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has called on various governments, including the UK, for protection, especially since the Madleen is flying the UK flag. The coalition insists that Israel has no right to obstruct their humanitarian mission.
As the Madleen nears Gaza, the world watches closely. The mission embodies the clash between humanitarian advocacy and national security concerns, with lives and international law hanging in the balance. Whether the vessel will succeed in breaking the blockade or be stopped by Israeli forces remains uncertain, but the activists’ determination underscores the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
