The Freedom Flotilla Coalition organization, which rented the Madleen humanitarian ship to head Gaza with the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on board, said today that the boat was seized by the Israeli army. «Communications with Madleen have been interrupted. The Israeli army seized the ship, “said the organization on Telegram by claiming that the crew was” kidnapped by Israeli forces “.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Madleen has been diverted and is about to dock in Israel from where its passengers will have to “return to their countries”. The sailboat “is heading safely to the coast of Israel. It is expected that passengers return to their countries, “said the dicastery.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) accused Israel of having “intercepted with the strength” the Madleen and of having acted in “total impunity”.
At 3.02 Italian time, the ship was “illegally abroad, its unarmed civil crew was kidnapped and its life -saving load, including powdered milk, food and medical supplies, confiscated” reads a note.
“Israel does not have the legal authority to retain international volunteers aboard the Madleen,” said Huwaida Arraf, organizer of Freedom Flotilla. “These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for having provided aid or contested an illegal block: their detention is arbitrary, illegal and must end immediately”.