Spanish activist files war crimes case over Gaza-bound aid flotilla
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Invoking universal jurisdiction, Spain takes legal steps to hold Netanyahu and Israeli officials accountable for intercepting a Gaza-bound aid ship.
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Climate activist Greta Thunberg stands near a Palestinian flag after boarding the Madleen boat and before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
Lawsuit cites universal jurisdiction as Spanish courts are urged to investigate Israeli officials over the hijacking of a humanitarian aid ship in international waters.
Spanish activist Sergio Toribio has filed a criminal complaint with Spain’s National Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top military officials over the hijacking of a humanitarian vessel bound for the Gaza Strip. The case, first reported by Anadolu, accuses the Israeli leadership of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The complaint centers on the June 9 hijacking of the Madleen, a ship participating in the Freedom Flotilla mission, which aimed to deliver urgent aid to Palestinians in Gaza. According to Toribio, the vessel was hijacked roughly 100 nautical miles off the coast, in international waters.
“The ship was intercepted 100 nautical miles out, in international waters. We were literally kidnapped by a special combat unit … We were forcibly taken to Tel Aviv and handed over to the authorities without having committed any crime,” Toribio told reporters outside the court.
Spain’s principle of universal jurisdiction invoked
The lawsuit invokes Spain’s principle of universal jurisdiction, allowing its judiciary to prosecute international crimes regardless of where they were committed. The filing includes a personal complaint by Toribio, as a direct victim, and a popular accusation submitted by the Committee of Solidarity with the Arab Cause (CSCA).
Spanish lawyer Jaume Asens, representing the case, stated that “these acts, under Spanish law, constitute war crimes within the context of systematic attacks against the Palestinian population in Gaza and those trying to assist them,” as cited by EFE.
Wider context
The Madleen, a vessel organized by the pro-Palestine Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Italy on June 1 carrying humanitarian aid intended for civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The boat was hijacked on June 9, approximately 200 kilometers off the coast of Gaza, by Israeli naval forces enforcing the ongoing blockade. Twelve passengers, including Thunberg and Dr. André, were detained and transferred to the occupied territories.
The Madleen carried 11 activists and one journalist, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan. According to organizers, the ship was transporting essential humanitarian items such as baby formula, flour, rice, medical tools, water desalination kits, crutches, and prosthetics for children, as well as diapers and other sanitary supplies.
The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of the Israeli occupation’s treatment of detainees and the legality of its maritime blockade, especially when enforced far beyond Gaza’s coastal waters.
In addition to Netanyahu, Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz and several other unnamed senior officials were listed in the complaint.
The legal filing seeks the opening of a formal judicial investigation, the hearing of international witness testimonies, and the issuance of international arrest warrants against the Israeli officials named.
