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Israel intercepts humanitarian boat. “Lay down your weapons!”
On the bags: “Rice” and “flour”
The humanitarian ship Madleen, which had set out from Italy for Gaza, was ultimately intercepted by the Israeli navy on 9 June. The ship's crew, which included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan (GUE/NGL, left), was apprehended and taken ashore in Tel Aviv for deportation. Some members, including Thunberg, have already agreed to be deported from the Jewish state.
The ship was chartered by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a solidarity movement aimed at “lifting the blockade on Gaza”. Its interception by the Israel Defence Forces in international waters has been criticized as a violation of international law. Since March 2025, Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza – including of external humanitarian aid. That decision has been described as an “injustice” by the United Nations.
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