Aid Ship “Madelene” Forced to Dock in Ashdod After Israeli Naval Seizure in International Waters

Watan-The aid ship “Madelene”, which was seized by the Israeli navy, docked at Ashdod Port on Monday evening under tight security measures.

Reports confirm that the ship, which carried 12 international activists attempting to break the blockade on Gaza, was escorted by Israeli warships following a nighttime maritime interception.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated via X (formerly Twitter) that the activists underwent medical checks upon arrival. According to Israeli outlet Maariv, they are expected to be transferred to a detention center ahead of deportation.

The Associated Press earlier reported that the “Madelene”, operated by the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, was spotted off Israel’s coast en route to Ashdod.

Condemnation of Israeli Piracy and Detention

Israeli rights organization Adalah condemned the seizure, stating it represents an unlawful justification of the Gaza blockade and an infringement on international activism for Palestinian rights.

The 12-member crew of the “Madelene” included notable figures such as:

• Rima Hassan (French MEP)

• Greta Thunberg (Swedish climate activist)

• Pascal Mureras (French political activist)

• Omar Fayyad (journalist at Al Jazeera Mubasher)

• Baptiste André (French doctor and activist)

• Riva Viard (French environmentalist)

• Yanis Mohamedi (French journalist)

• Yasmin Acar (German-Turkish political activist)

• Tiago Avila (Brazilian political activist)

• Süheyb Ordu (Turkish activist)

• Sergio Toribio (Spanish activist)

• Marco van Rijn (Dutch marine engineering student)

Pro-Palestinian Israeli activists gathered near Ashdod Port on June 9 to protest the seizure, waving Palestinian flags and demanding the release of the detainees.

The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza labeled Israel a “war criminal state” and reiterated that the “Madelene” was carrying symbolic humanitarian aid en route to the besieged Gaza Strip.

Details of the Seizure Operation

According to the Committee, the operation took place at dawn on Monday in international waters. Israeli naval vessels surrounded the ship, and live-streamed footage showed soldiers ordering the passengers to raise their hands.

Drones flew overhead and dropped a mysterious white chemical, captured in the broadcast. Israel’s Foreign Ministry had earlier declared the voyage an “illegal attempt” to breach the naval blockade.

This follows a similar incident on May 2, when another aid ship, “Al-Damir”, was attacked by an Israeli drone while approaching Gaza, resulting in hull damage and a fire onboard.

Ongoing Siege and Humanitarian Crisis

Since October 7, 2023, Israel—with U.S. backing—has waged what international observers describe as genocide in Gaza. The war has caused over 181,000 casualties, including tens of thousands of children and women, with more than 11,000 missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and famine claiming increasing numbers of lives.

Despite international appeals and ICJ orders, Israel continues to block full humanitarian access, making missions like the “Madelene” both symbolic acts of resistance and lifelines for a population on the brink of collapse.