'Israel' threatens to block Gaza-bound aid flotilla
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"Israel" signals it will prevent the Madleen, a humanitarian vessel carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists, from reaching Gaza.
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Activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition board the Madleen boat, ahead of setting sail for Gaza, Palestine, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, on June 1, 2025. (AP)
Israeli media outlets reported on Thursday that the country's security establishment has decided to prevent the Madleen, a humanitarian aid ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, from reaching or docking off the coast of Gaza.
The vessel, which departed from Italy, is carrying 12 international pro-Palestine activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and actor Liam Cunningham. According to the Israeli broadcasting corporation Kan, the Madleen is currently near Greek waters and is expected to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean within four to five days.
Although Israeli security officials initially considered allowing the ship to dock, citing no direct security threat, they reportedly reversed the decision to avoid setting a precedent or breaching the longstanding Israeli naval blockade on Gaza.
Military preparations and surveillance underway
Israeli outlet Walla, citing military sources, said the Israeli military has not made a final decision on how it will respond but confirmed that surveillance drones are monitoring the vessel’s movement. Preparations are reportedly in place to answer with naval forces and security units in the area.
According to those sources, "Israel" plans to issue a direct warning to the Madleen's crew not to enter restricted waters. In a more aggressive scenario, elite naval commando unit Shayetet 13 and missile boat teams are preparing for the possibility of boarding the ship and detaining those on board.
The Israeli Security Cabinet, led by Defense Minister Israel Katz, is expected to meet on Thursday to determine the official course of action.
Read more: Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla sets sail from Sicily protesting blockade
Freedom Flotilla Coalition: Defiance of an illegal blockade
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which announced the Madleen's departure from Catania, Italy, on Sunday, said the mission aims to deliver symbolic quantities of humanitarian aid to Gaza, alongside a message of nonviolent resistance.
“This is not only a humanitarian effort,” the group stated. “It is a direct, nonviolent challenge to the illegal blockade and Israel’s escalating war crimes.”
The Madleen is the second vessel in this year’s flotilla. In May, another ship from the coalition, the Conscience (Al-Dameer Al-'Alami), was attacked by armed drones in international waters near Malta. The group blamed "Israel" for the strike, which severely damaged the vessel but caused no casualties.
Read more: Drone strike targets Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship near Malta
A long record of flotilla confrontations
Over the past two decades, at least six major flotillas have attempted to reach Gaza in protest of the blockade. The most infamous incident occurred in May 2010, when Israeli forces boarded the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, killing 10 civilians in international waters as they tried to deliver aid.
The latest effort has reignited global attention on the blockade of Gaza, which human rights groups and UN experts consider a form of collective punishment.
Read more: Amnesty International condemns Gaza aid attack in Rafah
