Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli army spokesman: Chief of Staff orders increased readiness to implement first phase of Trump plan to release hostages.
Israeli KAN channel: Political leaders instruct the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza; negotiations expected to begin soon.
Netanyahu's office: We will continue to work in full cooperation with the president and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles laid out by Israel, which correspond with Trump’s vision for ending the war.
Netanyahu's office: Israel is getting ready to carry out the first phase of Trump's plan to immediately release all hostages.
Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson: We in Gaza City are currently being relentlessly and mercilessly bombed.
Erdogan: Conclude the talks in the best interests of the Palestinian people and implement the two-state solution, which is also supported by the international community.
Erdogan: This genocide and this shameful scene that deeply wounds the global conscience must end now.
Erdogan: All steps must be taken without delay to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and achieve lasting peace.
Erdogan: What must be done now is for Israel to immediately cease all attacks and commit to the ceasefire plan.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Hamas' response to the ceasefire plan in Gaza is a constructive and important step towards achieving lasting peace.

'Israel' threatens to block Gaza-bound aid flotilla

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 5 Jun 2025 06:04
  • 5 Shares
3 Min Read

"Israel" signals it will prevent the Madleen, a humanitarian vessel carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists, from reaching Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • 'Israel' threatens to block Gaza-bound aid flotilla
    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.

Related News

Netanyahu ordered drone strikes on Sumud boats off Tunisia: CBS

'Israel' must stop bombing Gaza now, Trump says after Hamas response

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

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation forces
  • Madleen
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza Freedom Flotilla
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Last photo showing Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Martyr Hajj Hassan in a Resistance operations room, Beirut's southern suburb, Lebanon, days before their martyrdom (Al Mayadeen)

In heart of battle: Al Mayadeen shares last photo of Sayyed Nasrallah

  • Politics
  • 27 Sep 2025
Hamas fighters stand in formation ahead of a ceremony to hand over Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP)

Hamas reviews Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan as PIJ rejects

  • Palestine
  • 30 Sep 2025
Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
Trump’s 21-point Gaza plan vs Netanyahu’s demand for Hamas defeat

Trump vows 'something special' in ME; Israeli delegation in chaos

  • US & Canada
  • 28 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' Quds Force, General Esmail Qaani, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, October 15, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah reshaped Gaza war after Sayyed Nasrallah martyrdom: Qaani

Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, October 1, 2025 (AP)
Politics

72 Palestinians martyred in Israeli strikes on Gaza since dawn

President Donald Trump is greeted by War Secretary Pete Hegseth before speaking to a gathering of top US military commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, September 30, 2025, in Quantico, Virginia (AP)
Politics

UN experts: Trump’s Gaza plan breaches international law

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS