Freedom Flotilla Coalition: Activists Aboard “Madleen” to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Madleen, a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid and human rights activists, set sail on June 1 with the goal of symbolically breaking Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. A similar flotilla was organized in 2010 by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH). That mission ended in tragedy when the Mavi Marmara was raided by Israeli forces, resulting in the deaths of nine activists. Organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Madleen aimed to draw international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with activists of various nationalities pressuring foreign ministries to speak up on the 17-year blockade. The ship carried symbolic aid—such as flour, formula, and medical supplies.

Madleen, Anadolu Agency

On board were 11 activists and a journalist: Greta Thunberg (Swedish climate activist), Rima Hassan (French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament), Yasemin Acar (Germany), Baptiste Andre (France), Thiago Avila (Brazil), Pascal Maurieras (France), Yanis Mhamdi (France), Şuayb Ordu (Türkiye), Sergio Toribio (Spain), Marco van Rennes (The Netherlands), Reva Viard (France), and Omar Faiad (France, Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent). “We are doing this because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity,” said Greta Thunberg on the FFC mission.

Who are Şuayb Ordu and Yasemin Acar?

Şuayb Ordu, a 31-year-old Turkish activist originally from Osmaniye, was a freelancer based in Germany. Involved in pro-Palestinian activism since 2017, the 31-year-old had participated in previous attempts to reach Gaza. Before departure, he recorded a video titled “Scapegoat,” in which he declared, “As a Turk, I am a potential scapegoat,” which Israel could use to justify an attack, referring to the historical memory of the Mavi Marmara. In the video, he pleaded with Israeli authorities to film any operation against them, stating that he would remain non-violent, even if faced with armed force. “They could put the barrel to my head and fire, and I won’t even raise my hand.” He insisted that any accusation of resistance would be baseless.

Yasemin Acar was born in Germany in 1988 to a Kurdish-Turkish family. She got acquainted with activism at the age of 15 and has been advocating for Palestinian rights for years. In a live-streamed appeal just before the Israeli interception, Acar warned that any attack on the Madleen would be “yet another war crime,” emphasizing the ship carried only humanitarian aid—not weapons.

Madleen's Journey

After setting sail on June 1, the Madleen maintained consistent communication with international observers, as well as the activists posting consistently on their social media accounts documenting the voyage. However, during the night of June 8–9, while still in international waters, the vessel was intercepted by the Israeli Navy. According to reports, Israeli drones jammed the ship’s navigation and communication systems, after which commandos boarded the ship and redirected it to the port of Ashdod. Amnesty International stated that the crew was “acting in accordance with international law”, and “the detention of the crew and the confiscation of aid lacked any legal basis”.

The activists were taken into Israeli custody. Israeli authorities offered to release them if they signed documents acknowledging their violation of Israeli law and if they would waive their rights to challenge the detention before a judge, a condition several activists refused. Four—including Thunberg—agreed to deportation after medical evaluations one day after their capture. Another five were deported on Thursday, including Rima Hassan and Şuayb Ordu. The remaining three activists were scheduled for deportation on Friday, but Israel’s airstrikes on Iran caused flight cancellations. Lawyers of the activists sent an urgent letter to Israeli authorities on June 14, requesting that the activists be permitted to exit the country via Jordan. As the final deportations occurred, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted on his X account, saying six more passengers from the “selfie yacht” were on their way out of Israel. The post was in an effort to label the mission as performative activism, as the minister reminded them to “take a selfie” before they left.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry did a press release titled “Regarding Israel’s Intervention Against the Vessel “Madleen” on June 9, calling Israel’s intervention a “clear violation of international law.” It wrote, “This heinous act by the Netanyahu government, which threatens the freedom of navigation and maritime security, once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state.” The rightful reaction of the international community against the genocidal policies of Israel, which uses hunger as a weapon in Gaza and prevents the delivery of humanitarian aid, will continue. Israel's aggressive and unlawful actions will not silence the voices that stand up for human dignity and universal values.”

What’s next?

After their release, several activists returned to their home countries and gave press statements. Greta Thunberg described the raid as a “kidnapping in international waters” and said it served as a PR stunt for the Israeli government. Others reaffirmed their commitment to continue challenging the blockade through non-violent action. Upon returning, Rima Hassan invited people to meet in Place de la République in Paris in solidarity. Some critics argued that the relatively peaceful nature of the raid may have been influenced by the high public visibility of the passengers, raising questions about how less prominent figures might have been treated.

Meanwhile, a “Global March for Gaza” is now underway, with around a thousand participants attempting to reach Gaza via land through Egypt. Egyptian authorities have so far halted their progress at the Rafah border, with 200 detained and 500 deported. The Madleen mission reignited global debates about Gaza, humanitarian access, and the legitimacy of Israel’s blockade, as well as the freedom of navigation. Even though the journey could not succeed in reaching its destination, it renewed international attention and mobilized a new wave of solidarity actions across the world.

Edited by: Ömer Gökce