*WARNING: Due to its nature and the very many actors involved, this event is likely to be continuously improved* To consult previous events concerning Humanitarian Flotilla: [See](https://genocide.live/events/search?query=flotilla) This campaign of the flotilla, launched on April 5 from Europe, aimed to challenge Israel’s longstanding maritime blockade and deliver aid to civilians facing severe shortages in Gaza. The flotilla included dozens (70) of vessels and more than 1,000 participants from multiple countries, marking one of the largest civilian-led maritime efforts to reach Gaza in recent years. ## **Timeline fo the events** **On 30 April 2026**: unlawful interception and seizure of vessels belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli naval forces in international waters near the Greek island of Crete, over 1,000 kilometres from Gaza. At least 22 boats with 175 activists from a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza have been intercepted in international waters off Crete. The Global Sumud Flotilla reported that “military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees”. According to what was reconstructed by activists and various media sources, the raid began in the early hours of 30 April with the deployment of drones, communications jamming systems, and armed naval units. The flotilla boats were progressively surrounded by large military ships, from which fast speedboats were launched for boarding operations. Before the intervention, Israeli forces allegedly interfered with radio frequencies, broadcasting direct warnings to activists: the route to Gaza, described as “illegally blocked,” would put their lives at risk. Shortly after, naval commandos reportedly ordered civilians to move to the bow and kneel, while weapons and lasers were aimed at them. **On April 30, 2026,** The Trump administration stated, via Mark Rubio, against the @gbsumudflotilla, threatening not only States that give safe harbor to the flotilla, but also U.S. citizens who dare to bring critical aid to Gaza. ([archive](https://archive.md/OYeBr) ) **On May 1, 2026,** participants from the Global Sumud Flotilla testified they were violently treated after being intercepted by an Israeli warship in international waters more than 500 nautical miles from Gaza. They say some were punched, kicked, dragged with tied hands, and shot at with live and rubber bullets during the operation, particularly when resisting the detention of two organizers, Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek, who remain held. According to Lautaro Rivara (@LautaroRivara), writer and member of the Global Sumud Flotiall, Saif (did not intend to travel to the occupied territories, but rather to dock safely at a prior port; Israeli intelligence was aware of this. "Saif, who holds Spanish and Swedish nationality, could be detained under the harsh system of “administrative detention” because of his Palestinian background". The Global Sumud Flotilla says eyewitnesses confirmed that Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Swedish national of Palestinian origin, was tortured aboard an Israeli military vessel after Israeli forces illegally intercepted 22 flotilla boats in international waters roughly 80 miles west of Crete. Witnesses say they heard Abukeshek’s screams after he was separated from the group. 175 civilian participants were taken aboard the Israeli vessel Nahshon to Greece. All were eventually released except Abukeshek and Brazilian national Thiago Ávila. They were not allowed to disembark in the Greek port of Ierapetra, despite the fact that the ship was in territorial waters of Greece Greek authorities did not act on legal interventions to prevent the transfer, GSF said, and the Nahshon has now left Greek waters and is expected to arrive in Israel on May 2. Organizers report that 36 participants, including two British nationals, have been hospitalized in Crete with injuries such as broken bones, broken ribs, broken noses, and neck injuries. One person reportedly lost consciousness, and others showed signs of bloodied clothing and serious trauma. Nearly 200 additional participants are being held on buses by Greek authorities, which flotilla organizers accuse of closely cooperating with Israel. Activists also claim that during roughly 40 hours aboard an Israeli frigate they were denied sufficient food and water and forced to sleep on flooded floors. Sixty participants have begun a hunger strike in protest. Organizers say only 22 of 57 boats were intercepted, and the remaining vessels intend to continue toward Gaza. *RSF Condemns Seizure of Journalists as Israel Intercepts Gaza Flotilla:* Reporters Without Borders said Israeli forces “kidnapped” three journalists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted in international waters, escalating concerns over press safety and legal accountability in a conflict already marked by extensive restrictions on media access. The Paris-based organization identified the journalists as Hafed Mribah and Mahmut Yavuz of Al Jazeera, and Alex Colston of U.S.-based outlet Zeteo, and said Israel bears responsibility for their safety following detention. **On May 2, 2026,** David Adler @davidrkadler testify: "I can confirm that both Saif and Thiago have been *severely* beaten and tortured by Israeli authorities. This is not a “questioning.” It’s an extrajudicial abduction to brutalize Israel’s critics without charge — but with blessing of the United States." According to Adalah and confirmed by the Embassy of Brazil in Israel, Flotilla activists Thiago de Avila and Saif Abukeshek, kidnapped by Israeli occupation naval forces in international waters on April 30, have been beaten, blindfolded, held in stress positions, and interrogated by Shin Bet. De Avila lost consciousness twice and faces possible Mossad interrogation on "terrorist" suspicion. Both are on hunger strike and are due in court on May 3.

### The "Conscience" boat **On September 30, 2025** — A boat carrying dozens of international journalists and medical professionals from 25 countries has set sail for Gaza as part of the latest mission organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) to break Israel‘s illegal siege. The vessel, Conscience, bombed by Israel off the coast of Malta in May 2025, has returned to serve as a vehicle for medics and media determined to reach their colleagues in besieged Gaza. **Mission of speak truth and preserve life** For nearly two years, Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering Gaza, creating one of the most severe and sustained press blackouts in modern history. During this time, Israeli forces have targeted Palestinian journalists, killing over 270 and imprisoning countless more since October 2023. Simultaneously, Israel has systematically dismantled Gaza’s healthcare system through relentless siege and bombardment. Hospitals and clinics have been destroyed, while Palestinian medical workers have been starved, abducted, tortured and killed. International medical teams are routinely barred from entering — and those few allowed in are prohibited from bringing lifesaving equipment and supplies. **Statement of Huwaida Arraf, FFC steering committee member aboard the ship:** *“The Conscience is the latest and largest boat in this historic flotilla — and its name represents not only steadfast resistance to Israel’s illegal blockade, but a call to awaken the conscience of the world,” “As journalists and medical professionals, we carry the responsibility to speak truth and preserve life. This mission is an appeal to our colleagues — and to the institutions that represent us globally — to break their silence, uphold their ethics, and stand on the right side of history,” said Dr. Ricardo Corradini, general surgeon from Italy. The launch of the Conscience follows the departure of 10 boats that set sail for Gaza on September 25 and 27, organized jointly by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens. Together, these missions seek to break Israel’s illegal blockade, challenge the media blackout, and affirm the Palestinian people’s right to live in freedom and dignity. We call on governments, international bodies, and global civil society to: 1. Demand safe passage for the Conscience and all vessels in the flotilla 2. Take urgent action to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza 3. Work to dismantle Israel’s illegal blockade and occupation of Palestine"*  ### The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG) On September 27, in Catania, Italy, The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG) will launch a flotilla of 10 boats from San Giovanni Li Cuti harbour, Catania, Sicily, Italy. The nearly 70 citizens on board, from 20+ nationalities and all ages, gender, race and creed, are reinforced by 9 elected officials from the Belgian, Danish, European Union, Irish, French, Spanish and U.S. parliaments who carry the voices of their constituents with them. This wave of boats follows the Madleen, Handala, and the dozens of boats that the FFC has sailed over the past 15 years, as well as the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla — all of which the Israeli military has repeatedly attacked. Together, these civilian missions signal that the demand to end Israel’s blockade cannot be silenced or deterred. **Joint statement from FFC and TMTG:** “Every boat we launch is a direct challenge to the blockade and a declaration of solidarity. We sail not as charity, but as part of the global struggle to end apartheid and affirm the right of the Palestinian people to live free.” **Volunteers and elected officials:** 1. Farida Amrani – is a Moroccan-born French trade unionist and politician from La France Insoumise. She has been a Member of Parliament since 2022. 2. Mélissa Camara – Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA, France). She brings a background in political activism and environmental / social justice, and has taken a public stand on human rights and ecological issues. 3. Alma Dufour – Alma Dufour is a French Member of Parliament (since 2022) from La France Insoumise. She has a long background in activism both for environmental and social causes. 4. Barry Heneghan – (Barra Ó hÉanaíchain) is an Irish independent who has been a MP (Teachta Dála) for the Dublin Bay North constituency since 2024. 5. Jimena González – Spanish academic and politician of the party Más Madrid, elected in 2023. She was the first transgender person to run for election under a preferred given name rather than a legal given name 6. Bénédicte Linard – Member of the Walloon Parliament and Minister in the French Community of Belgium, previously Minister of Childhood, Health, Culture, Media and Women’s Rights. 7. Ellen Read – New Hampshire State Representative for Newmarket. 8. Victoria Velasquez – Member of the Folketing (Danish Parliament) for the Red-Green political Alliance. She’s also a spokesperson on immigration and a vocal advocate for social justice. 9. Claude Girod – Mandated by Confédération Paysanne, member of Via Campesina, present in 81 countries. She’s known for fighting against free trade and defending peasant agriculture. 10. Pierre-Yves Dermagne – Belgian politician who served as Minister of Economy and Employment in the De Croo Government led by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo between 2020 and 2025. 11. Karim Ali – Co-founder of ‘The Gaza Sunbirds‘ with Alaa al-Dali, a para-cycling team based in Gaza, Palestine. 12. Youssef Swatt‘s – Belgian-Algerian rapper, author, producer, and winner of the third season of Netflix’s « Nouvelle École » in 2024, Youssef is recognized for his poetic writing and blending old-school and new-school rap. 13. Assa Traoré – One of France’s most prominent campaigners for racial justice, Assa is a French-Malian activist and leader of the Truth and Justice for Adama Committee (named after her brother, Adama Traoré, who died in police custody). **Interception by Israeli Naval** All the vessels were intercepted on 8 October 2025, during the night 1. Soul of My Soul, Time: 02:23 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1124, 32.1598) 2. Leïla Khaled, Time: 02:24 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1182, 32.1489) 3. Umm Saad, Time: 02:56 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1123, 32.2079) 4. Abd Elkarim Eid, Time: 03:15 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1093, 32.1931) 5. Anas Al Sharif, Time: 03:19 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1102, 32.1895) 6. Milad, Time: 03:45 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1200, 32.2704) 7. Gaza Sunbird, Time: 03:56 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1261, 32.2297) 8. Conscience, Time: 04:00 UTC, Coordinates: (31.7981, 31.7720) 9. Alaa Al-Najjar, Time: 04:04 UTC, Coordinates: (32.1300, 32.2779) **Israel statement:** Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on X that a raid on the flotilla had taken place: "Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing,” (...) “The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly.”. **The FFC statement** The FFC, an international network of pro-Palestinian activist groups that organises civilian maritime missions, said the boats were carrying “vital aid” worth more than $110,000 in medicines, respiratory equipment, and nutritional supplies destined for Gaza’s starving hospitals. (...) The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters,” “Our flotilla poses no harm.” ### **The interception and abduction of the Flotilla crews** Over 48 hours, flotilla participants—journalists and medics among them—were captured in international waters, abused, detained in harsh prison conditions, and deported, in a process marked by humiliation, physical mistreatment, and denial of basic rights. **1. Interception at Sea** On October 8, 2025, the flotilla ship Conscience—carrying around 100 journalists, medics, and activists—was intercepted in international waters by the Israeli navy. Soldiers stormed the vessel by helicopter and boats, destroyed communications equipment, and took control of the ship. Passengers were searched, zip-tied, and segregated; some were harassed and insulted. **2. Detention on the Ship** For about 12 hours, those aboard were held captive by armed soldiers in confined, overheated conditions. Some passengers, including elderly people, fell ill and were denied adequate medical care. Detainees were periodically threatened with violence and deprived of comfort or communication. **3. Arrival at Ashdod Port** At night, detainees were marched off the ship under heavy guard. They were beaten, humiliated, zip-tied, and subjected to verbal abuse. Personal belongings were confiscated, including press credentials and cameras; some underwent invasive body searches. Brief “hearings” were held without legal counsel, followed by blindfolded transport to a desert prison camp. **4. Imprisonment at Ketziot Prison (Naqab/Negev Desert)** Prisoners were strip-searched, given prison clothes, and confined in dirty cells with minimal food and water. Conditions were unsanitary, and access to medicine was denied. They faced psychological pressure, including being forced to watch war footage and threatened for minor “provocations.” Some detainees reported beatings, solitary confinement, and sexual threats. **5. Consular Visits and Release** After two days, some detainees met briefly with foreign consular officials, showing bruises and recounting abuse. On October 10, 94 detainees (including the author) were deported via Eilat airport to Istanbul. Others remained in custody for several more days, enduring further mistreatment. The last detainees were freed on October 12, just before Israel released 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under a ceasefire deal.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is the largest international civil attempt since 2010’s “Freedom Flotilla” to challenge the Gaza blockade. It's a a civil, non-violent flotilla initiative launched in mid-2025 to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid, and open a solidarity corridor. It's organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Global Movement to Gaza, Maghreb Sumud Flotilla, and Sumud Nusantara in order to unite Western activists and Arab/Muslim solidarity movements. Despite harassment, Israeli attacks, and political pressure, the flotilla has drawn major global attention to Gaza’s isolation. “Sumud” means steadfastness in Arabic. The activists, doctors, artists, and volunteers comes from ~44 countries. With notable figures: Greta Thunberg, Spanish politician Ada Colau, and activists from the Arab world. Different departure: from late August (31 in Barcelona) to current September 2025 from Genoa, Catania, Syros (Greece), Tunis, Lisbon. The flotilla planned to converge in the eastern Mediterranean en route to Gaza. **Previous attempts to break the siege by sea**  * *************************** ## **Israeli attacks and undetermined incidents** *************************** Drone attacks, explosions, GPS jamming reported during the journey (no casualties). Some vessels delayed or blocked by authorities citing “security risks” and rough seas. Israeli smear campaigns accused flotilla of aiding Hamas — organizers deny this. *************************** ## **International responses** *************************** **09 September 2025**, UN experts, including Franceska Alabanese, stand in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla, demand full protection of all passengers, urging Israel to cease all threats of harm against the Global Sumud Flotilla and ensure it proceeds unhindered in its mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza: *“Any attempt to block the flotilla would constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian principles,”* the experts said. Belgium and other governments demanded a transparent investigation into attacks on the flotilla. Turkey, Arab states, and NGOs called for respect of international law and safety of civilian ships. Western coverage often emphasizes “risk and danger,” while Arab press frames it as resistance to the blockade and a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. **On September 24, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto** strongly condemned the overnight drone attack on the flotilla, which is trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a statement, Crosetto said he had redirected an Italian navy ship to head towards the flotilla to offer assistance to Italian citizens on board - and Israel had been informed : *"Regarding the attack suffered in recent hours by the Sumud Flotilla vessels, which also include Italian citizens, carried out using drones by currently unidentified perpetrators, we can only express the strongest condemnation. In a democracy, even demonstrations and protests must be protected when they are conducted in compliance with international law and without resorting to violence,” (...) “To ensure assistance to the Italian citizens on the ‘Flotilla,’ this morning at 3:50 a.m … I spoke with the Prime Minister and authorized the immediate intervention of the Italian Navy's multi-purpose frigate Fasan, which was sailing north of Crete as part of Operation Mare Sicuro. The frigate is already en route to the area for possible rescue operations. The Israeli Military Attaché in Italy, our Ambassador and the Military Attaché in Tel Aviv, and the Crisis Unit of the Farnesina have been informed of this decision.”* **On September 29**, Turkiye joined Spain, Italy and Greece in monitoring the Global Sumud Flotilla, flight data shows. Flight tracking websites showed that three long-endurance drones originating from Turkiye’s Corlu airbase have been circling over the flotilla for three days. **On october 3, 2025**, Two French lawyers, including Raphaël Kempf, lawyer for French nationals aboard the flotilla to Gaza, announces legal action. They state they will file a complaint in France for the harm caused by Israel against its nationals (33), whose boat was illegally boarded and seized, who were abducted and unlawfully detained. They will also request that France join the complaint before the ICJ for the obstruction of humanitarian aid. *************************** ## **Timeline of the incidents:** *************************** **Aug 30, 2025**: Italian convoy departs from Genoa. **Aug 31, 2025**: Spanish convoy leaves from Barcelona. Forced back to port due to bad weather. **Sept 1, 2025**: New attempt to sail from Barcelona after interruption by storms. **Sept 5, 2025:** French actress Adèle Haenel joins the flotilla from Tunis. Tunisian departure delayed. **Sept 7–10, 2025:** Multiple delays from Tunisian ports (Bizerte, Sidi Bou Said) due to weather and logistics. Tunisian authorities delay departures citing “security reasons.” Some activists accuse Israel of pressure. **September 8, 2025:** The lead vessel, Familia Madeira, carrying activists including Greta Thunberg, Ada Colau, and Thiago Ávila, is reportedly attacked by a drone dropping an incendiary device near the port of Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. The fire is extinguished without injuries. **September 10, 2025: **Another vessel in the flotilla is targeted by a drone attack in the same area, but no injuries are reported. **Sept 24, 2025**: Drones and GPS jamming attack several flotilla vessels south of Greece. At least 13 explosions reported near the boats. Sept 24, 2025 Drone & GPS jamming attack south of Greece At least 13 explosions near flotilla vessels, drones overhead, communication systems disrupted.One Activist injured by chemical agent dropped on his vessel is hospitalized in Greece. **Sept 26–27, 2025:** Mechanical failure lead ship suffers engine breakdown in Crete, delaying final departure toward Gaza. Activists call it “sabotage.” **Sept 26–28, 2025:** Italy and Spain dispatch naval vessels for protection. **Sept 30, 2025**: Turkey dispatched a naval vessel for protection. An Italian military vessel and the Italian government urged the Flotilla to abandon the mission, stating that the vessel would not enter Palestinian territorial waters. The GSF released a statement about this withdrawal. **Oct 1st, 2025:** In the night 2 vessels faced intimidation: an Israeli military vessel circled the Alma and Sirius boats, launched a cyber attack, which created a lot of damage to equipements. **Until October 1, the vessels intercepted by the Israeli forces in International waters are:** **On October 2 in the evening**, the only vessel that reached the Palestinian territorial waters, the Mikeno, was finally intercepted y Israely Navy, at only 9 miles from the beaches of Gaza. **Oct 3th, 2025:** the last vessel, the Marinette, vas intercepted by Israeli Navy in the international waters. On 1st Oct 2025 1. Sirius — 19:31 UTC 2. Alma — 19:32 UTC 3. Adara — 19:54 UTC 4. Spectre — 20:06 UTC 5. Yulara — 20:30 UTC 6. Aurora — 20:50 UTC 7. Dir Yassine (Mali) — 21:14 UTC 8. Huga — 21:14 UTC 9. Grande Blu — 23:02 UTC On 2 Oct 2025 10. Otaria — 00:40 UTC 11. Morgana — 00:40 UTC 12. Hio — 00:41 UTC 13. Seulle — 00:50 UTC 14. Jeannot — 01:31 UTC 15. Mohammad Bhar — 03:20 UTC 16. Oxygono — 04:23 UTC 17. Karma — 04:54 UTC 18. All-In — 04:59 UTC 19. Florida — 05:02 UTC 20. Captain Nikos — 05:22 UTC *************************** ## **Israeli (and allies) incitement campaign against GSF** *************************** Ongoing (Sept 2025) Smear campaign Israeli officials accuse flotilla of aiding Hamas; organizers deny, insisting on humanitarian purpose. Elaph, Mada Masr 1. On September 29, Turkish filmmaker Necmi Sancak says his debut feature Ayse was pulled from theatrical release in Turkiye after he joined the Global Sumud Flotilla in protesting Israel’s blockade of Gaza.  **2. On September 30,** the X account of Israel Foreign Ministry released a framing reflects Israeli hasbara (propaganda) intended to delegitimize the Global Sumud Flotilla and justify future measures against it. Exposed (according to Israeli sources): Official Hamas documents allegedly found in the Gaza Strip — and revealed for the first time — are claimed to prove Hamas’s direct involvement in the funding and execution of the “Sumud” flotilla to Gaza. According to this narrative, the documents show links between flotilla leaders and the Hamas-aligned PCPA (Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad), which Israel designated as a terrorist organization in 2021. One document is described as a 2021 letter from Ismail Haniyeh endorsing the PCPA, while another allegedly lists PCPA operatives such as Zaher Birawi (UK) and Saif Abu Kashk (Spain). Israeli reports further claim that Abu Kashk, CEO of a Spanish company called Cyber Neptune, controls ships participating in the flotilla, presenting them as effectively owned by Hamas. The statement and attached pictures and documents were denounced by Muhammed Shehada (@muhammadshehad2), from the Middle East Human Rights Monitor, Post *"Israel's gov is putting a target on the back of @GretaThunberg; labelling her & the entire flotilla as "Hamas" ahead of the flotilla's imminent arrival to Gaza's sea space.Today, every single Israeli newspaper has published this faked doc to preempt Israel's planned attack on the ships.Reminder: Israel published 2 similar "Hamas documents" last year in Bild & the Jewish Chronicle only for us to learn that both documents were total fakes! Israel similarly published fake "Hamas documents" ahead of the assassination of Anas al-Sharif, Mahmoud Shabat & other journalists!"* 3. On October 4, while 328 activists remain in detention in the Prison fo Ketziot, Itamar Ben Gvir proudly admits on his Facebook account that the flotilla activists have been abused in Israel's Ketziot Concentration Camp. Full translation: *"This morning I see the claims in the world media about the conditions in which Greta Thunberg and the "flotilla activists" were imprisoned - and it is important for me to say it very clearly: I am proud of the Prison Service fighters who acted in accordance with the policy that Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi and I outlined. I was there, on their ships - I saw neither aid nor humanitarians. I saw one baby formula and a big festival of people who masquerade as human rights activists, and in reality came to support terrorism and have fun at our expense. I came to visit Ketziot prison, and I was proud that we treat the "flotilla activists" as supporters of terrorism, anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist, and deserves the conditions of terrorists. If any of them thought they would come here and receive a red carpet and trumpets - they were mistaken. They should get a good feel of the conditions in Ketziot prison, and think twice before they approach Israel again. That's how it works."* *************************** ## **Verified Participants** *************************** Greta Thunberg – Swedish climate activist, Ada Colau – Former mayor of Barcelona, Spain, Adèle Haenel – French actress, Liam Cunningham – Irish actor (Game of Thrones), Eduard Fernández – Spanish actor, Thiago Ávila – Brazilian activist, Yasemin Acar – Turkish-German activist, Robert Martin – Australian activist, Tony La Piccirella – Australian activist, Cele Fierro – U.S. activist, Sofia Aparício – Portuguese activist, Zwelivelile Mandela – South African activist, grandson of Nelson Mandela, Tadhg Hickey – Irish activist, Mariana Mortágua – Portuguese politician, Bruno Gilga – Brazilian activist, Phillip Tottenham – U.S. veteran, Veterans for Peace member, Bob Suberi – U.S. activist, Braedon Peluso – U.S. activist, Alexis Deswaef – Belgian activist, Bénédicte Linard – Belgian politician, Enissa Amani – German-Iranian actress *************************** ## **Global Sumud Flotilla – Steering Committee** *************************** 1. **Kleoniki Alexopoulou** (Greece / Global Movement to Gaza) – Historian and activist in leftist and humanitarian initiatives, involved in pro-Palestinian solidarity in US campuses. 2. **Yasemin Acar** (Turkey–Germany / Freedom Flotilla Coalition) – Human rights organizer, co-founded Berlin Arrival Support, longtime Palestine solidarity activist, crew member of the Madleen. 3. **Thiago Ávila** (Brazil / Freedom Flotilla Coalition) – Socio-environmentalist, communicator, veteran solidarity activist; imprisoned and deported after the Madleen mission. 4. **Maria Elena Delia** (Italy / Global Movement to Gaza & Freedom Flotilla) – Physicist and humanitarian, founding member of Free Gaza Movement, board member of Vittorio Arrigoni Foundation. 5. **Saif Abukeshek** (Palestine–Spain / Global Movement to Gaza) – Palestinian activist in Barcelona, organizer in European solidarity networks, chair of the Global Coalition Against the Occupation. 6. **Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri** (Malaysia / Cinta Gaza Malaysia) – Humanitarian leader, raised over $20M for Gaza, founder of CGM, prominent public voice with 500k followers. 7. **Marouan Ben Guettaia** (Algeria / Jil Tarjih Leadership Academy) – Political activist and trainer, mobilizes Maghreb civil society for Palestine, member of Sumud Convoy. 8. **Wael Nawar** (Tunisia / Sumud Convoy) – Former student union leader, ex-political prisoner, veteran activist, co-founder of Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine. 9. **Hayfa Mansouri** (Tunisia / Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine) – Sociologist and activist, involved in boycott campaigns and civil society coalitions for Palestine. 10. **Torkia Chaibi** (Tunisia / Million Rural Women and the Landless, La Via Campesina) – Peasant movement leader since 1985, represents rural women and La Via Campesina on the flotilla steering committee. *************************** ## **Human right violation against crew's members:** *************************** 1. Pro-Palestine advocate **Ayman Al-Bubhiri**, who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, has stepped back from the journey and was moved to a hospital in Greece after medical tests revealed he had inhaled toxic chemicals, along with other supporters. He was trying to document the Israeli attack on the fleet, which was carried out in an attempt to stop it from sailing and ultimately breaking the blockade on the Gaza Strip. 2. 4 Italian ativists abducted by Israeli Navy was reported mistreated during their detention. 3. On October 2, Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has filmed himself visiting the captured members of the Gaza flotilla and deriding them as "terrorists". Footage released on X showed Ben Gvir in the detention centre where the members of the Global Sumud Flotilla were being held following their capture in international waters off the coast of Gaza, verbally assaulted them. *"There are the flotilla terrorists, they are terrorists," "Look at them, supporters of murderers. By the way, in their ships it was a total mess. They didn't really come, not for the flotilla, not to help."* Some of the flotilla's activists can be heard chanting "Free Palestine" as they sit together on the ground. 4. Acording to Adalah (Palestinian legal Human Rights ONG) Israeli authorities began deportation proceedings for activists on board without allowing them to receive legal advice, the legal and human rights organisation Adalah said. "These proceedings were initiated without prior notice to their lawyers and while denying participants access to legal counsel," the group said. "This constitutes a grave violation of due process and a denial of the participants’ fundamental rights. Adalah will continue to seek access and will take legal action as necessary." 5. Itamar Ben Gvir published a footage of himself presenting the Ketziot Prison as the detention center where the abducted women activist are detained: “We are at Ketziot Prison, & as I promised, the women who support terrorism are here. There are no games here, they (flotilla members) receive the same conditions as terrorists.” He proudly shows off the high-security facility where Palestinian prisoners are held in cells, making clear the flotilla activists, including parliamentarians & journalists, will be treated the same way. 6. A plane carrying 137 activists from the flotilla, including 36 Turkish citizens, landed in Istanbul On October 4. A Turkish activist, Ersin Celik, described shocking abuse against climate campaigner Greta Thunberg during Israel’s raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla. “They dragged little Greta by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” Deported to Turkey hold American, Italian, British, Jordanian, Kuwaiti, Libyan, Algerian, Mauritanian, Malaysian, Bahraini, Turkish, Moroccan, Swiss, and Tunisian nationalities. 7. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) prepared redacted summaries after meeting Australians detainees: Australian detainees held by Israel after attempting to breach the Gaza blockade have alleged serious mistreatment. According to diplomatic reports, they described being beaten, deprived of sleep, humiliated, and having their medication confiscated. One detainee claimed he was slapped, had his arm dislocated, and his head slammed into the ground, while another said she was sprayed with a water cannon and left soaked for hours without ventilation or clean water. Several reported being confined in large cages as Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shouted abuse and called them “terrorists.” Others alleged being forced to “dance like a monkey,” having their passports destroyed, and being made to watch videos of Hamas’s October 7 attacks played repeatedly at high volume. 8. Saverio Tommasi, an Italian journalist, described being beaten repeatedly upon arrival, with blows to his back and head. He noted that Israeli soldiers laughed during the abuse and punished detainees who failed to keep their eyes down by hitting them. 9. Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, reported that when detainees requested medical attention, they were told, "that was for humans." 10. Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist, was reportedly subjected to unsanitary conditions, including being held in a bedbug-infested cell. Eyewitnesses claimed she was dragged by her hair, hit, and made to kiss or be wrapped in the Israeli flag, allegedly to humiliate her publicly. 11. Unnamed detainees, including parliamentarians and lawyers, reported being deprived of sleep and medication, having automatic rifles pointed at them, being threatened with dogs, forced to sleep on the floor, subjected to insults, and made to watch footage of the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023. 12. David Adler, US Jewish activist,said the naval interception had been violent, that an Israeli barge had fired water cannons at the flotilla, tried to ram them and that in the end Israel had stolen all the ships. Taken in international waters, the activists were abducted and brought to the Israeli port of Ashdod: "From the first moment we stepped onto that tarmac after interception, we were violently forced onto our knees into positions of submission," He said that once in positions of submission in the detention centre at Ashdod, he and the other Jewish member of the flotilla "were taken by the ear and ripped from the group for a photo op with Ben Gvir staring at the flag of the state of Israel", "our belongings and boats were stolen from us". Before they left Ashdod, he said that the activists were "stripped, zip-tied, blindfolded and sent to an internment camp in a police van without any access to food, to water or to legal support". Over the next five days, he said the group was "psychologically tortured" at Keziot Prison in the Negev desert. If a detainee made a request for necessities such as insulin for the treatment of diabetes, they were "taken individually out of their cells and regularly beaten, handcuffed and ankle cuffed and left in solitary confinement". The flotilla activist said that in the prison, which is close to the border with Egypt, detainees could hear Israeli F-16s and F-35s travelling overhead every night "going to bomb Gaza, with the sound of German Shepherd dogs around us". "Riot groups would come to our cells with tear gas, and riot gear and German Shepherds that would come and seek to terrify and terrorise us,".

Weeks after attack on Gaza Freedom Flotilla, it decides to sail again on June 1st to attempt break siege imposed by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip. Last month, the Flotilla sailed to Gaza but was soon halted by drone attack, forcing the internationals on board to return. Famous names expected to be on board: Greta Thunberg, actor Liam Cunningham and EU lawmaker Rima Hassan. **12 volunteers aboard 'Madleen'** Baptiste Andre 🇫🇷 Greta Thunberg 🇸🇪 Sweden Climate and Social activist Şuayb Ordu 🇹🇷 Mark van Rennes 🇳🇱 Omar Faiad 🇫🇷 Al Jazeera correspondant Pascal Maurieras 🇫🇷 Reva Viard 🇫🇷 Rima Hassan 🇫🇷 French-Palestinian European deputee Sergio Toribio 🇪🇸 Thiago Ávila 🇧🇷 Yanis Mhamdi 🇫🇷 Blast journalist Yasemin Acar 🇩🇪 **Madleen Tracker** Don’t lose the Madleen. Track her journey for safety, accountability, and solidarity." Forensic Architecture has created an online "Madleen Tracker" to keep an eye on her perilous journey to bring Aid to the besieged Gaza: [https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-tracker/](https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-tracker/) **Gaza Flotilla statement** *Catania, Sicily, Italy | June 1, 2025 – Today at 16:00 GMT+2 the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) launched the Madleen, a civilian ship now sailing toward Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and international human rights defenders in direct defiance of Israel’s illegal and genocidal blockade. Named after Gaza’s first and only fisherwoman in 2014, Madleen symbolizes the unyielding spirit of Palestinian resilience and the growing global resistance to Israel’s use of collective punishment and deliberate starvation policies. Her launch comes just one month after Israeli drones bombed Conscience, another Freedom Flotilla aid ship, in international waters off the coast of Malta—underscoring both the urgency and the danger of this mission to break the siege on Gaza. On board are volunteers from multiple countries, among them Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, and climate justice activist Greta Thunberg. The ship is carrying urgently needed supplies for the people of Gaza, including baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, women’s sanitary products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and children’s prosthetics. Fifteen years ago, Israel carried out an unlawful and deadly attack on the Mavi Marmara, in which ten humanitarian volunteers were killed while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. This mission is a continuation of that legacy—a refusal to surrender to silence, fear, or complicity. The siege on Gaza is maintained not just by Israeli firepower, but by global inaction. Despite the risks, we believe that direct, civil resistance still matters —that active solidarity, can shift the moral compass of the world. That is why Madleen sails. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition emphasizes that this is a peaceful act of civil resistance. All volunteers and crew aboard Madleen are trained in nonviolence. They are sailing unarmed, united by the shared belief that Palestinians deserve the same rights, freedom, and dignity as all people. **The Freedom Flotilla Coalition calls on:** - Governments to guarantee safe passage for Madleen and all humanitarian vessels - Media outlets to report on this mission with accuracy and integrity - People of conscience everywhere to reject silence and take action for Gaza We will not be deterred. We will not be silenced. **Voices from the Madleen** *“I am aboard Madleen because silence is not neutrality—it is complicity, The Palestinian people in Gaza are being starved and slaughtered, and the world watches. This ship is not just carrying aid, it is carrying a demand: End the blockade. End the genocide.”* Rima Hassan *“We are seeing a systematic starvation of 2 million people. The world cannot be silent bystanders, Every single one of us has a moral obligation to do everything we can to fight for a free Palestine.”* Greta Thunberg **Chronology of the event** On June 3, reports from the Madleen Freedom Flotilla, sailing to break the US-Israeli siege on Gaza and deliver aid, that a drone appeared at the ship a short while ago and hovered over it. It has now moved on, but the passengers are still alert and concerned. On June 8, Madleen vessel was experiencing heavy GPS and network jamming. The Israeli Army has sent three ships toward it On June 9, around 01:00, while the Madleen is approaching to the Gaza coast, Franceska Albanese, write on X "BREAKING!!! - 11:18PM UK time; I am with the flotilla online. They have just been reached by the Israel speedboats - 5 vessels circling the flotilla. The captain is instructing the team to stay calm and seated, with their passports and life jackets on. I hear them speaking with Israeli soldiers as I type... telling they are carrying humanitarian aid and go in peace. For the time being they are just circled. I am with them, recording everything." At 1:50, the Israeli boats that were encircling the flotilla had left. It was the first step of an intimidation process. Their GPS devices was dammaged by a white substance thrown on the boat. At the same hour, Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt writes on X "I just spoke again with the Flotilla, incl its Comm Room in Catania. All looks calm and safe now. Speedboats watching; but the flotilla continues its sailing. It will be a long night. And as they say and we say, "we are together"." At 2:37 Franceska Albaneses writes on X : "Two drones over the Madleen. They say they are quadcopters, the dangerous ones. TEAM IS TAKING COVER." At 3:00. Israeli speedboat reached Madleen. "At the time the boat was intercepted no one is wounded" the captain asked me to record. I heard the soldiers speaking while the captain was on the phone with me. I lost connection with the captain as he was telling me that "another boat is approaching". At 3:10 The Israeli army has the Madleen passengers at direct gunpoint At 3:14 Israeli forces have boarded the Freedom Flotilla and the crew were arrested. The boat was in the international waters. **On June 10**, 8 activists are still detained by Israel in Givon detention facility in Ramla for ‘illegal residents’ including MEP Rima Hassan for refusing to sign a document requiring them to acknowledge having entered Israeli territory illegally, a condition imposed by Israel for their release. As a reminder, their arrest took place in international waters not in “Israel’s territory” and they were heading towards Gaza which is not part of ‘Israel’. Suayb Ordu (Turkey) Mark van Rennes (The Netherlands) Pascal Maurieras (France) Reva Viard (France) Rima Hassan (France) Thiago Avila (Brazil) Yanis Mhamdi (France) Yasemin Acar (Germany) Approximately 24 hours after contact was lost with the Madleen, Adalah lawyers were able to meet with 10 of the 12 activists abducted by Israel from international waters. Two, Omar Faiad (Al Jazeera) and Yanis Mhamdi (France), are represented separately by private counsel. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirmed that four have been deported: Baptiste Andre (France) Greta Thunberg (Sweden) Sergio Toribio (Spain) Omar Faiad (France) The remaining eight activists—including journalists and human rights defenders from France, the Netherlands, Brazil, Turkey, and Germany—remain in Israeli detention, refusing to sign deportation papers and awaiting a tribunal. All 12 deny any illegal entry, asserting their mission was humanitarian and that Israel’s actions are unlawful under international law. The FFC calls their detention arbitrary, politically motivated, and part of a broader system that silences humanitarian resistance. They emphasize solidarity with Palestinians, who face daily imprisonment and systemic abuse under occupation, with over 10,400 currently detained by Israel, including children and thousands held without trial. **Israel Foreign Ministry statement** @IsraelMFA *With recent reports of a “celebrities yacht” heading to Gaza, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to clarify the following: The maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law. The yacht is claiming that it is delivering humanitarian aid. In fact, it is a media gimmick for publicity (which includes less than a single truckload of aid) - a “selfie yacht”. Humanitarian aid is delivered regularly and effectively via different channels and routes, and is transferred through established distribution mechanisms. Over the past two weeks, more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. The Gaza maritime zone remains an active conflict area, and Hamas has previously exploited sea routes for terrorist attacks, including the October 7th massacre. Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts. We call on all actors to act responsibly and to channel humanitarian aid through legitimate, coordinated mechanisms, not through provocation* Other Israel Foreign Ministry statement @IsraelMFA *"The “selfie yacht” of the “celebrities” is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries. While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies. The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the “celebrities” will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels." **French European deputee Rima Hassan statement:** *Israel once again violates international law — with complete impunity. By intercepting a humanitarian ship in international waters, Israel once again tramples on maritime and humanitarian law. This illegal act is carried out by an army committing genocide, under the command of a Prime Minister subject to an international arrest warrant. But instead of taking responsibility, Israel opts for grotesque theater: after an illegal nighttime interception, its forces stage a media farce by handing out water and sandwiches to detained civilians. A pathetic attempt to cover up what is, in truth, an act of state piracy. This strategy is nothing new. This week, thanks to the “selfie yacht” of the Freedom Flotilla — which they tried to ridicule — civil society and political voices from around the world rose up. As a result, we avoided a repeat of the deadly 2010 flotilla attack, which left 9 dead. Israel has replaced drones with cameras. Even in illegality, it adapts its communication strategy. 👉 What we must remember: When states fail in their duty to act against genocide, citizens rise. And in response, Israel does not hesitate to use force, in blatant violation of international law. This arrest is illegal — and it must be condemned with the utmost firmness. (Message from Rima’s team)* ### The aftermath of the vessel arrest Adalah represents Freedom Flotilla activists and demands immediate disclosure of their whereabouts. 09/06/2025 **Adalah Center Update (June 9, 10 PM, Jerusalem time):** *All detained volunteers from the Madleen Freedom Flotilla are being held at Ashdod Port and are currently undergoing processing. They will be handed to immigration authorities. Those who refuse immediate deportation will be sent to the Ramleh detention facility. Authorities say volunteers who agree to deportation might fly out from Tel Aviv tonight, but the terms, such as signing documents or waiving rights, are unclear. Adalah is demanding access to the volunteers before any transfer or deportation takes place.* **Abdalah Center statement on June 9:** *(...) According to available information, the ship was sailing in international waters when it was intercepted at 3:00 a.m., after being surrounded by the Israeli Navy and drones. It did not enter Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so. Rather, the Madeleine was en route to the territorial waters of the Palestinian state, as recognized under international law. Accordingly, Israel has no legal jurisdiction to intercept the ship or arrest those on board*. *The interception of the ship and the arrest of the unarmed civilian activists seeking to deliver humanitarian aid constitute a flagrant violation of international law. The blockade of Gaza is an illegal siege, used as a military weapon to starve the civilian population, constitutes collective punishment prohibited under international humanitarian law, and violates the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the genocide case (South Africa v. Israel).* *Testimonies indicate that Israeli forces towed the ship to the port of Ashdod, where all activists were transferred into detention without any official announcement of their whereabouts or legal status, and without allowing them access to lawyers*. *Accordingly, Adalah demands immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of the 12 activists, their legal status, and the guarantee that they have access to the legal representation necessary to present their cases before the courts. Adalah affirms that it will take legal steps in the coming days to secure their release.* **The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint in the UK** against elite unit Shayetet 13, under the command of Vice Admiral David Saar Salama over Israel’s illegal raid on the British-flagged aid ship #Madleen and the abduction of 12 people. For more info read. **The Spanish National Court opens a criminal investigation on Augustus 8:** According to Jaume Asens (@Jaumeasens) Member of the European Parliament & Advocat, the Spanish National Court informed that it is opening a criminal investigation for war crimes and crimes against humanity against Netanyahu, his Foreign Minister, and several high-ranking Israeli military officials. The court ruling considers that the assault on the Madleen ship, on June 1st en route to Gaza, constitutes a criminal offense. The investigation covers the use of drones, tear gas, and the illegal detention of 12 activists, including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan. The European deputee, Jaume Asens, filed the complaint on behalf of Spanish citizen Sergio Toribio and the Committee for Solidarity with the Arab Cause. 📌 Based on the principle of universal jurisdiction 📌 Requests cooperation with the International Criminal Court 📌 Denounces the assault in the context of genocide in Gaza *"This is a major step in the fight against Israel's impunity. When states fail to fulfill their obligations, it is up to civil society to activate justice as an ethical, legal, and political tool against horror. We now hope this initiative spreads to other countries, so that Netanyahu cannot set foot in Europe without facing justice".*

On May 2, 2025, in the early hours of the night, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) reported that one of its ships, part of a convoy aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, caught fire and issued a distress signal following an Israeli drone attack near the coast of Malta. - The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a coalition of nonviolent activists campaigning to end the Israeli siege on Gaza by organizing maritime missions to deliver aid, challenging the Israeli blockade. The ship, which set sail shortly before the attack, carried at least 16 people from several countries, including “prominent figures.” - The FFC said they organized the mission under a media blackout “to avoid any potential sabotage.” Such missions have historically been contentious and have led to confrontations in the past. - An Israeli drone struck, twice, the ship carrying humanitarian aid to the war-torn and besieged Gaza Strip while it was in international waters near Malta. - The vessels is the 'CONSCIENCE' (IMO: 7211440), a Passenger Ship and is sailing under the flag of Palau. Her length overall (LOA) is 68.4 meters and her width is 10 meters. - The coalition claims the vessel was targeted by a drone, resulting in a fire onboard. "At 12:23 a.m. Maltese time, a ship from the Freedom Flotilla was attacked by a drone. The bow of the boat was hit twice," the NGO stated on the social network X. - According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organized the mission, the attack appeared to deliberately target the ship’s generator, sparking a fire and causing a “substantial breach in the hull” that left the vessel in danger of sinking. - The ship's crew sent out an SOS, and rescue operations were initiated by Cyprus but ignored by Maltese officials. - The Maltese government stated that the vessel and its crew were rescued in the early hours of the morning after a nearby "unidentified" tug assisted with firefighting operations : *"Shortly after the strikes, an unidentified tugboat arrived but initially offered no assistance. Despite repeated requests from the Conscience crew to help fight the fire, the tugboat circled the burning ship for approximately an hour before finally activating its water hose. The fire took nearly two hours to extinguish. The tugboat repeatedly urged the crew to abandon the ship. However, doing so would have rendered the vessel, together with the humanitarian aid on board, vulnerable to seizure, further jeopardizing our ability to continue our effort to sail and break the siege of Gaza. This may have been the intended outcome."* - Four individuals aboard the Conscience sustained minor injuries from the May 2 attack on the ship, including burns and cuts. - During the night, there were no official statements from the governments of Malta, Israel, or other involved parties regarding the incident. **Blattant collaboration of Maltese authorities ** - The Maltese coast guard was reportedly aware of the situation, based on recordings of phone calls, but refused to intervene. When asked by the FFC if they would provide assistance, the coast guard allegedly hung up. - Despite repeated SOS distress calls, Malta denied the Conscience permission to enter territorial waters. - On May 3 and 4, Maltese armed forces intercepted boats carrying FFC volunteers attempting to assist the damaged ship, and forced them to return under threat of arrest. - On May 3 and 4, The coast guard and Maltese authorities also blocked other aid boats—including those carrying flotilla organizers such as Thiago Ávila—from reaching the Conscience. - Injured civilians remain aboard the Conscience, which is still drifting in international waters and remains vulnerable to further attack. Maltese authorities have not given any reason for refusing to allow the ship to dock in its ports nor for preventing volunteers from delivering support. - Malta offered no official justification for denying assistance or access. **Territorial Waters and Blockade** - The FFC reported that their vessels were prevented from entering Maltese territorial waters, despite being at risk of further drone attacks if they remained in open water overnight. - This refusal came despite international maritime norms requiring states to assist ships in distress or allow others to render assistance. **International and EU Reaction** - As of late saturday, no EU leaders had issued statements condemning the attack. - Neighboring states with capacity to assist the vessel did not intervene. - The silence of the European Union and nearby governments is being interpreted by many observers as tacit complicity or indifference, particularly in light of the flotilla’s humanitarian mission and the context of Israel’s blockade of Gaza. ### **Coalition "Freedom flotilla" statements** Freedom Flotilla Attacked — Ship in Distress, Immediate Action Needed from Maltese Government Featured, News, Press releases / By Jonatan Michaneck "MALTA / INTERNATIONAL WATERS — At 00:23 Maltese time, the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship came under direct attack in international waters. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had been organizing a nonviolent action under a media black out to avoid any potential sabotage. Volunteers from over 21 countries travelled to Malta to board the mission to Gaza, including prominent figures. On the morning of their scheduled departure, the vessel was attacked. Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull. The last communication in the early morning of the 2nd of May, indicated the drones are still circling the ship." "The ship, located in international waters just off the coast of Malta, issued an SOS distress signal immediately following the attack. A vessel from Southern Cyprus was dispatched but is not providing the critical electrical support needed. The drone strike appears to have deliberately targeted the ship’s generator, leaving the crew without power and placing the vessel at great risk of sinking." "On board are international human rights activists on a nonviolent humanitarian mission to challenge Israel’s illegal and deadly siege of Gaza, and to deliver desperately needed, life-saving aid. Since March 2, 2025 Israel has barred all aid trucks from entering Gaza, deliberately starving over two million civilians in full view of the international community. Humanitarian experts estimate the population in Gaza requires at least 600 aid trucks each day to meet even the most basic needs, yet not a single truck has been allowed in for two months." "The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome advised that a tugboat has been sent out and is on the scene. Our communications with the vessel were destroyed in the attack and we are unable to confirm this. Under international maritime law and conventions Malta is obliged to act and ensure the safety of a civilian ship in distress within its proximity. The lack of response and information about the rescue efforts breaches international customary law." "Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters." We demand that: - Malta immediately respond to its obligation and ensure the safety of all on board the vessel. - The international community condemns this aggression against an unarmed humanitarian aid vessel and demand the Maltese authorities immediately act. - All states end political, financial and military support for Israel’s illegal siege, blockade, occupation, and apartheid. - Civil society contact Maltese embassies and high commissions globally to ensure the safety of our humanitarians. For further information contact: Yasemin Acar – FFC Press Officer +49 151 62965117 Media@FreedomFlotilla.org International media contacts [contacts](https://freedomflotilla.org/media-contacts/)" ### **Responsability** - No claim of responsibility has been made by Israel - Channel 12 News confirmed at 8:34 (local hour) that it was Israeli drones that struck the ship. -CNN reported that an Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules flew toward Malta hours before the attack on the Conscience. Flight-tracking data shows that the aircraft flew at low altitude over eastern Malta for an extended period before returning to Israel. The Israeli military has declined to comment. ### Evidences of Israeli Military Surveillance Before the Strike - Drop Site News has confirmed, based on flight and maritime tracking data, that an Israeli military aircraft—a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (Reg. 545)—circled directly around the Conscience, the humanitarian aid ship, several hours before it was struck by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta. - Using ADS-B flight data, the aircraft was tracked departing Israel on May 1 and flying at a low altitude (around 4,375 feet) over eastern Malta. It conducted multiple tight loops—including directly over Valletta’s harbor—which is considered highly irregular for a transit flight and suggests a surveillance or operational coordination mission. - During these maneuvers, the C-130 circled directly around the Conscience multiple times as the ship approached Malta at low speed. The aircraft remained in the area for several hours before returning to Israel. This proximity was not previously reported by CNN, which had only noted the plane’s presence 10 hours before the strike. - The attack on the Conscience occurred at approximately 00:23 local time on May 2, when drone-fired munitions reportedly targeted the ship’s generator, disabling it and leaving a large breach in the hull. The vessel was located 14–17 nautical miles off the Maltese coast, well within international waters. - A Maltese military source, speaking anonymously to the Times of Malta, described the flight as a violation of Malta’s neutrality, noting that the Israeli military flight was unauthorized over EU territory. - Israel has not commented on the strike as of this writing. ### **Context:** This attack occurred concurrently with a war against the Houthis in Yemen, which has been justified by some states as a mission to preserve freedom of navigation. The targeted ship was carrying humanitarian aid: While Israel has completely blocked all humanitarian aid—including food, water, medicine, and other basic necessities—from reaching the population of Gaza for over two months, effectively orchestrating starvation in what appears to be a genocidal policy. While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is, since April 28, examining Israel's systematic attacks on humanitarian aid and workers in the Gaza Strip. Israel carried out the drone strike on the humanitarian vessel in international waters, a clear violation of international law. This incident is reminiscent of the 2010 attack on the Mavi Marmara, another vessel in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, where Israeli forces killed ten activists in international waters. Despite widespread international condemnation, accountability for that incident remains elusive. The lack of consequences may have emboldened further violations of international law. ### **International law violations** The Israeli drone attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla humanitarian vessel in international waters raises serious concerns under international law. Such an act may constitute a violation of multiple legal frameworks designed to protect humanitarian missions and ensure the freedom of navigation. *1. Violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):* - Article 87: Guarantees the freedom of navigation on the high seas for all states, whether coastal or land-locked. Organisation des Nations Unies - Article 88: Stipulates that the high seas shall be reserved for peaceful purposes. - Article 89: Declares that no state may validly purport to subject any part of the high seas to its sovereignty. ➡ An unprovoked military attack on a civilian humanitarian vessel in international waters contravenes these provisions, undermining the principles of freedom of navigation and the peaceful use of the high seas. *2. Potential War Crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC):* - Article 8(2)(b)(iii): Defines as a war crime the intentional directing of attacks against personnel, installations, material, units, or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under international law. - Article 8(2)(b)(i): Prohibits intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities. ➡ If the Gaza Freedom Flotilla was indeed engaged in a humanitarian mission and was attacked without provocation, such an act could be classified as a war crime under these provisions. *3. United Nations Charter* - Article 2(4) of the UN Charter: "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations." ➡ Unlawful use of force in international waters, especially against a non-combatant, non-state humanitarian mission, violates the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes and non-aggression. *4. Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols* - Protocol I (1977) Additional to the Geneva Conventions, Article 70(1): "Relief actions which are humanitarian and impartial in character and conducted without any adverse distinction shall be undertaken... subject to the agreement of the Parties concerned." - Article 71(2):"Authorized personnel participating in humanitarian relief actions shall be respected and protected." ➡ Targeting a humanitarian vessel constitutes a violation of protections granted under international humanitarian law to relief missions and personnel. *5. Customary International Law and the Laws of Peace* Under customary international law and the laws of neutrality, which apply in both war and peace: Attacks against neutral vessels—particularly those engaged in humanitarian aid—are prohibited unless they are actively taking part in hostilities or carrying contraband. ➡ A humanitarian vessel, carrying no weapons or military personnel, and operating in international waters, enjoys protected status. An attack violates both the laws of peace and neutrality. ### *Conclusion:* If the Israeli drone attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s humanitarian ship in international waters is confirmed by an independant investigation, it would constitute a violation of multiple core pillars of international law: - UN Charter (Art. 2(4)) – Prohibition of force - Geneva Conventions (Protocol I, Arts. 70–71) – Protection of humanitarian missions - Rome Statute (Art. 8) – War crimes - UNCLOS (Arts. 87–89) – Freedom and peaceful use of the high seas - Customary international law – Neutrality and protection of humanitarian efforts ➡ Such an act would not only be illegal but could amount to a war crime prosecutable before the International Criminal Court (ICC). ### **Condemnations and call for investigation from experts** The shocking attacks on the Conscience has caused reactions from many academics and experts. Collected below are quotes from prominent figures commenting on the horrific attacks: - Dr Shahd Hammouri, University of Kent *‘We live in an time where ships carrying the most advanced weaponry in the world pass freely, and ships carrying urgent humanitarian aid to a starving population burn. ‘Israel is willing to bomb humanitarian ships to maintain its policy of starving the Palestinian people as a method of warfare.”* – Franscesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Territories, on X *"Emergency: I received a distressed call from the people of the Freedom Flotilla that is carrying essential food and medicine to the starving Gaza population. I call on concerned state authorities, including maritime authorities, to support the ship and its crew as needed. I trust the competent authorities will also ascertain the facts and intervene appropriately."* – Itamar Mann, Associate Professor at the University of Haifa *“Assuming, as appears to be the case, that the attack is attributable to Israel, it signals a clear violation of the right to life, as well as a war crime. It is only lucky that the measure has not claimed lives. The location of the attack in international waters proximate to Malta, requires urgent investigation and accountability. I expect maritime safety authorities too to reexamine their relations with Israel, due to the violation of the freedom of navigation, and the risk imposed upon the seafaring community in the Mediterranean.”.* – Lamis Deek, Attorney, PAL Law Commission *“This was an attack on Europe, on Malta, on unarmed civilians and the very idea of laws for peace- and this was not an accident- it was a warning shot and open threat against all people and States- a calculated sinister act of state terrorism. It is a violation of the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute, the Law of the Sea, and the laws of peace. Today’s attack proves that Israel sees every attempt to save Palestinian life from total annihilation as an existential threat to its genocidal project- and wage war against the whole world to preserve it.* *We call on every State, every union of States, every people and every principled institution globally to rise and condemn this act and to support the rebuilding and sailing of the Flotilla at the earliest time possible. We demand that Europe, the African Union, ASEAN, Latin American States, and the Arab world assert their sovereignty- and humanity- by refusing to be intimidated into silence and complicity with lawlessness. We demand a full international investigation under the auspices of the United Nations. We demand that Malta and all coastal States take immediate protective measures. And, we call on all States to invoke universal jurisdiction, to enact arms embargoes, suspend treaties, and stop their diplomatic cover and complicity with this barbaric and rogue regime. Otherwise the bloodshed will not stop in Gaza; and it will not stop with the Flotilla. Either Israel is stopped- or the whole world will bleed at the altar of Israeli genocidal fascism.”*