Overview

• The Madleen departed Sicily on June 1 with 12 crew members from eight countries, including Greta Thunberg and MEP Rima Hassan, carrying a symbolic load of humanitarian supplies.
• Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly labeled the activists propaganda spokespeople and instructed the IDF to prevent the vessel from breaking the Gaza naval blockade on security grounds.
• Early on June 9, Israeli naval forces surrounded the yacht in international waters, jammed its communications, sprayed it with an unidentified white substance and escorted it to Ashdod where the crew was detained for deportation.
• Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the seized aid would be transferred to Gaza through established channels, while the Freedom Flotilla Coalition called the boarding unlawful and demanded the volunteers’ immediate release.
• Gaza’s 2.3 million residents face severe shortages of food, medicine and other essentials after a 20-month conflict and strict naval blockade that aid agencies warn risks widespread famine.