GAZA: The Israeli Navy has intercepted and seized the aid ship Maidelene, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, while it was en route to Gaza carrying humanitarian supplies.
According to Arab media sources, the ship was halted in international waters and surrounded by Israeli naval forces before being taken under control. All individuals onboard were detained.
Reports indicate that Israeli forces jammed the ship’s communications, ordered all passengers to switch off their phones, and cut off the live broadcast that was streaming from the vessel. The communications blackout raised immediate concerns among humanitarian organizations monitoring the mission.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that Israeli forces used drones to spray a white chemical substance that caused skin irritation among those onboard.
In an official statement, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the seizure of the vessel, stating that the Maidelene has been redirected to Ashdod Port for inspection.
The ship had set sail from Sicily on June 6, 2025, and carried 12 international activists, including prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg and European Parliament member Rima Hassan. The mission aimed to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza amid ongoing humanitarian concerns due to the blockade.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and renewed global attention to the blockade on Gaza.
