Israeli forces’ interception of the Madleen, a civilian aid ship carrying 12 international human rights activists — including citizens of Turkey, France, Sweden and Germany — has sparked widespread international condemnation and accusations of unlawful aggression, the Independent’s Turkish edition reported Monday.
The 18-meter sailboat, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was bound for Gaza with humanitarian supplies when it was intercepted in international waters and towed to Israel’s Ashdod port.
Israel's Act of Piracy on the High Seas (illegally storming the Madleen & kidnapping its crew) serves one purpose: To defend its right to continue unobserved and unimpeded the Genocide of Palestinians. An Act of Piracy is thus committed in the process of concluding a Genocide. pic.twitter.com/VdhuUNIZ7N
— Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) June 9, 2025
The group said communication with the vessel was cut after Israeli troops boarded it at sea and that activists were “kidnapped,” despite offering no resistance.
SOS messages to follow#alleyesonMadleen pic.twitter.com/O02sv5c1jW
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025
One of the activists, Turkish citizen Hüseyin Şuayb Ordu, urged the Turkish government to intervene for his release in a pre-recorded video.
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the raid as a blatant violation of international law, calling it a “heinous attack” that proves Israel is operating as a “terrorist state.”
The ministry emphasized that obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza — where millions face starvation — is a violation of human decency and maritime law.
Opposition lawmaker Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (DEM Party) accused the Turkish government of hypocrisy, citing continued trade with Israel and revealing that an Israeli cargo ship had docked in Ashdod after loading goods in Turkey.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş condemned the raid as a “cowardly assault on human dignity” and accused Israel of systematic genocide and blockading humanitarian relief.
Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said the attack on unarmed volunteers represented an assault not just on civilians but on humanity’s conscience, adding that Israel must be held accountable before international courts.
DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan called the seizure a crime against humanity and urged the global community to break Israel’s blockade and deliver aid to Gaza.
Islamist opposition Felicity Party (SP) leader Mahmut Arıkan proposed assembling a new international aid flotilla with one ship from each country, stating that his party was ready to lead Turkey’s contribution.
France demanded the immediate release of its six citizens onboard and said that they had been warned against participating in the mission.
The French Foreign Ministry said it was in contact with Israeli authorities and had requested consular protection for the detained nationals.
Sweden’s government said it stood by its citizens, including activist Greta Thunberg, and would offer assistance if needed.
The United Nations special rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, said she had spoken to the Madleen’s captain before contact was lost and urged the immediate release of the boat and its crew.
Albanese called on every Mediterranean port to send boats filled with aid and solidarity, stating that breaking the blockade was both a legal and moral imperative.
In an inflammatory statement on X, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the quick operation and said the activists would be shown footage of Hamas’s October 7 attack upon arrival.
Katz also repeated unfounded claims labeling Greta Thunberg as antisemitic and sympathetic to Hamas.
الخارجية تثمن جهود المتضامنين الدوليين على سفينة كسر الحصار وتطالب بحمايتهم
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciates the efforts of international activists aboard the Freedom #Flotilla and calls for their protection. pic.twitter.com/liKPNcjJWD
— State of Palestine – MFA
(@pmofa) June 8, 2025
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry praised the efforts of the activists and called for their protection.
Palestinian militant group Hamas called the raid a flagrant violation of international law and demanded the immediate release of all detainees.
#Madleen, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was seeking to bring humanitarian aid in an attempt to breach Israel’s illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip. It was carrying unarmed civilians on a humanitarian mission.
Israel interception of Madleen violates… pic.twitter.com/h5QvMeYVqk
— Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) June 9, 2025
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard said Israel had no legal right to stop the ship and was duty-bound as an occupying power to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
She added that “a genocide is ongoing” and accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon, deliberately blocking humanitarian workers and aid.
Iran condemned the raid as a form of piracy under international law.
The detention of the Freedom Flotilla is part of the Netanyahu regime's strategy to commit genocide and hide it from the world.
The Left condemns this illegal action in the strongest terms and demands that humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza.
We are proud of you @RimaHas
— The Left in the European Parliament (@Left_EU) June 9, 2025
The European Parliament’s Left Group also denounced the seizure as a clear violation of international humanitarian law and accused Israel of attempting to cover up genocide.
The group called on the EU, UN and world governments to demand the crew’s unconditional release and guarantee safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Spain summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires to protest the raid and demanded clarification.
As of Monday, all 12 activists were in Israeli custody, and the Madleen remained docked at Ashdod.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the mission aimed to break the blockade and deliver essential supplies to Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians are trapped under siege amid soaring civilian casualties and critical food shortages.
According to Palestinian authorities, more than 54,000 people have been killed and 126,000 injured since Israel launched its offensive on Gaza in October 2023.