Madleen, the humanitarian aid vessel aiming to break the Israeli blockade, has sailed off the Egyptian coast and is expected to reach Palestinian waters within a day.
Swedish climate activists Greta Thunberg, French-Palestinian member of the European parliament (MEP) Rima Hassan and 10 other international activists are on board the ship launched by Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
In a post shared on Instagram, Rima Hassan stated, “In 24 hours, we will arrive in Palestinian waters, illegally controlled and occupied by Israel.” She urged European governments to guarantee the vessel’s safe passage, warning that any interception would violate international humanitarian law.
German activist Yasemin Acar, speaking to AFP, confirmed that the group was sailing off Egypt’s coast and that all members were in good health.
The International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza, a flotilla coalition member, said it was in contact with legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of those aboard. The committee warned that interference with the vessel would constitute a breach of international law.
Israel has declared that it will prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, labelling it a security threat. Past flotilla attempts to break the blockade on Gaza have typically been intercepted within approximately 100 nautical miles of the coast.
Despite the risks, Hassan and the other activists remain committed to delivering humanitarian aid and drawing attention to the blockade. “Targeting this mission would be a flagrant violation of international law,” Hassan said.
The vessel is expected to approach the interception zone by Monday.
The vessel aiming to break Israel’s blockade
Named after Gaza’s first and only female fisherwoman, Madleen departed from Catania, Sicily, on June 1. Its voyage began just a month after another FFC ship, Conscience, was struck by Israeli drone attacks off Malta, forcing it to abort its mission.
Launched in response to Israel’s near-total ban on aid into Gaza since March 2, Madleen’s mission highlights the growing humanitarian disaster in the besieged enclave. Aid agencies report that over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are suffering from severe food insecurity, with dozens of children reported dead from starvation.The Madleen is expected to cover its 2,000km (1,250-mile) journey in about seven days, assuming it encounters no interruptions.
To ensure transparency and safety, the vessel’s location is being tracked in real time by Forensic Architecture and a Garmin GPS device installed onboard. As of June 4 at 04:00 GMT, the ship was located roughly 600km (375 miles) from Sicily.
On Tuesday night, a surveillance drone was spotted circling the vessel around 68km (42 miles) from Greek territorial waters. The drone was later identified as a Hellenic Coastguard Heron, which has since moved away from the area.
Gazans at risk of famine
Roughly one in five Palestinians in Gaza is now experiencing starvation, as Israel’s total blockade of the territory enters its third month.
According to the latest findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), nearly 1.95m people—accounting for 93 percent of Gaza’s population—are suffering from severe food insecurity.
The IPC warns that the ongoing restrictions could cause “further mass displacement” both within Gaza and across its governorates, as essential resources required for survival continue to run out.
Efforts to address the crisis have faltered. A US-backed Israeli initiative known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was launched in May to manage aid delivery. However, its central distribution hub collapsed into disorder just hours after opening on May 27, and the situation has since worsened following fatal shootings near food aid sites.
Israel stands accused of deliberately drawing Palestinians to these distribution points before opening fire. More than 100 people have reportedly been killed in such incidents over the past eight days.
The humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign, which has, since October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians.
Madleen’s crew
As FFC continues its course toward Gaza, the 12 individuals onboard the Madleen are preparing for a potential standoff with Israeli forces, who have announced their intent to intercept the vessel.
The ship’s diverse group includes:
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Rima Hassan, French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament representing the La France Insoumise party.
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Omar Faiad, a French journalist with Al Jazeera, reporting on the voyage.
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Yanis Mhamdi, a reporter with French independent outlet Blast, also documenting the journey.
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Pascal Maurieras, a French activist and veteran of previous flotilla missions.
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Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian political activist and journalist, known for nearly 20 years of outspoken support for the Palestinian cause.
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Baptiste André, a French medical doctor onboard to provide care in the event of injuries during any confrontations.
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Yasemin Acar, a German activist of Kurdish heritage, who serves on the FFC’s steering committee.
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Reva Viard, a climate activist from France.
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Suayb Ordu, an activist from Turkey.
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Sergio Toribio, a Spanish crew member affiliated with the marine conservation group Sea Shepherd.
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Marco Van Rennes, a Dutch student of marine engineering, serving as part of the ship’s crew.
Past attempts to break Gaza blockade highlight risks facing Madleen
Over the years, several vessels have attempted to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza, often facing interception or violence:
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SS Liberty and Free Gaza (2008): In a historic first, two wooden ships from the Free Gaza Movement reached Gaza’s port in August 2008, marking the first foreign docking in over four decades. The 44 activists aboard delivered hearing aids for children.
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Mavi Marmara (2010): On May 31, 2010, Israeli forces raided this Turkish-led aid flotilla in international waters. The operation left nine activists dead, including one with dual U.S.-Turkish citizenship. A tenth later died from injuries.
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Marianne (2015): The Israeli navy intercepted and boarded the Marianne roughly 100 nautical miles off Gaza on June 29, 2015, preventing its arrival.
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Akdeniz (2024): This ship was grounded in Turkey after its flag registration was reportedly revoked under diplomatic pressure. It had planned to carry 5,000 tonnes of aid and included participants from 40 countries, among them Mandla Mandela.
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Conscience (2025): Earlier this year, drones struck the Conscience before departure. The attack damaged the vessel’s engine and hull, halting the mission in Malta. Notably, Greta Thunberg was among those due to board.
These incidents underline the high political and physical stakes for the Madleen and its crew as they attempt to reach Gaza.
