Twelve international activists and volunteers have boarded Madleen en route to Gaza. Photo: FFC Media Team.
“Madleen”, the civilian ship of The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), sets sail from the port of Catania in Sicily, while being globally tracked on its journey towards besieged Gaza.
This is not the coalition’s first attempt to breach the illegal blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. Last month, the FFC launched “Conscience”, another ship that sailed off the coast of Malta towards Gaza carrying humanitarian aid. Israeli drones bombed “Conscience” in international waters, stopping its route earlier than anticipated.
This is the latest in an ever-growing list of war crimes and massacres committed by the Israeli army, purposefully targeting humanitarian workers, unarmed civilians, journalists, and medical staff. Fifteen years ago, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Turkish-owned ship “Mavi Marmara” as part of a broader sea and airborne attack on the several ships of Freedom Flotilla. On May 31, 2010, the flotilla ships left Istanbul carrying NGO officials and aid workers from 50 countries with about 10,000 tons of aid, then valued at $20 million. Since history repeats itself with settlers, the aid was intended for the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli commandos intercepted the flagship in international waters at 4:30 AM, killing 9 unarmed civilians and injuring more than 50 others. The flotilla was then hijacked and dragged under armed escort into an Israeli port, where the aid was “allegedly” delivered by the Israelis. Moreover, since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed nearly 400 aid workers, and executed 15 paramedics and rescue workers in one attack as reported by The Guardian.
As the genocidal war and the total blockade of humanitarian aid by Israeli forces continue with total impunity, the world’s attention is on the twelve international volunteers and activists that boarded “Madleen” with some of what Gaza is being systematically denied: flour, rice, diapers, baby formula, menstrual products, water desalination kits, medical equipment, crutches, and prosthetic limbs for children.
(Al-akhbar) by Ingrid Chahine
