Above photo: Global Sumud Flotilla.
Mediterranean Sea – After Israeli occupation naval forces illegally intercepted vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla —a peaceful, non-violent convoy carrying food, baby formula, medicine, and volunteers from 47 countries to Gaza—hundreds of participants have been abducted and reportedly taken aboard the large naval vessel, the MSC Johannesburg. This was after they were assaulted with water cannons, doused with skunk water, and had their communications systematically jammed in yet more acts of aggression against unarmed civilians.
Additionally, several boats were reportedly stopped by a chain-like barrier in international waters where Israel has no jurisdiction, just as they have no jurisdiction over Gaza’s waters and shoreline, compounding Israel’s continued war crimes and illegal blockade.
Adalah lawyers, who represent the flotilla participants before Israeli authorities, have been given minimal updates and have not been informed on whether the estimated 443 flotilla volunteers, who were forcibly taken from their vessels, will arrive at Ashdod, where they are expected to be processed under illegal detention.
This is an unlawful abduction, in direct violation of international law and basic human rights. Intercepting humanitarian vessels in international waters is a war crime; denying legal counsel and concealing the fate of those seized compounds that crime.
We demand that governments, world leaders, and international institutions immediately intervene to secure information on the missing participants, guarantee their safety, and demand their immediate release.
Our commitment remains clear: to break Israel’s illegal siege and end the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. Every act of repression against our flotilla, every escalation of violence in Gaza, and every attempt to suppress solidarity actions only strengthen our resolve.
Mikeno, sailing under the French flag, may have entered Palestinian territorial waters according to AIS data, but remains out of contact. Marinette, sailing under the Polish flag, is still connected via Starlink and in communication, carrying a total of 6 passengers on board.
The following vessels have been confirmed to be illegally intercepted:
Free Willy – Polish Flag
Captain Nikos – Polish Flag
Florida – Polish Flag
All In – French Flag
Karma
Oxygono – Polish Flag
Mohammad Bhar – Dutch Flag
Jeannot – Spanish Flag
Seulle – Polish Flag
Hio – Polish Flag
Morgana – Italian Flag
Otaria – Italian Flag
Grande Blu – Polish Flag
Deir Yassine – Algerian Flag
Huga – Polish Flag
Aurora – Italian Flag
Yulara – Spanish Flag
Spectre – Spanish Flag
Adara – Spanish Flag
Alma – UK Flag
Sirius – UK Flag
Continued…
The following vessels lost contact several hours ago and are assumed to have been illegally intercepted:
MiaMia – Italian Flag
Vangleis – Polish Flag
Pavlos – Polish Flag
Wahoo – Polish Flag
Inana – UK Flag
Maria – Italian Flag
Alakatalla – Italian Flag
Meteque – Italian Flag
Mango – Polish Flag
Adagio – Spanish Flag
Ahed Tamimi – Polish Flag
Australe – Polish Flag
Amsterdam – Netherlands Flag
Ohwayla – UK Flag
Selvaggia – Italian Flag
Catalina – German Flag
Estrella – Spanish Flag
Fair Lady – Italian Flag
Update from the Adalah Legal Center:
The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel has sent an urgent legal letter to Israeli authorities demanding information on the whereabouts of the 12 activists forcibly detained after Israeli naval forces unlawfully seized the Madleen, a vessel sailing as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen in international waters at around 3:00 a.m. Israel time on 9 June 2025, and contact with the activists was lost. This peaceful civilian mission sought to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, enforced as part of a broader policy of engineered starvation and an ongoing 20-month-long genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Madleen carried humanitarian supplies, including medical equipment, baby formula, and clean water systems.
The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so. The Madleen was sailing in international waters, where Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority, and was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognized under international law. The ship was intercepted after footage showed drones dropping an unidentified white substance onto it and the activists.
Israel’s interception of the Madleen and the arrest of peaceful, unarmed activists delivering humanitarian aid violate international law. The siege of Gaza, an illegal blockade that deliberately starves a vulnerable population, constitutes prohibited collective punishment and flagrantly violates the ICJ’s provisional measures in the genocide case (South Africa v. Israel). Activists have a legitimate right to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza’s starving civilians, and preventing the ship from reaching Gaza while detaining its volunteers breaches Israel’s binding legal obligations.
A total of 12 people were on board the Madleen, including 11 activists and one journalist. Among them are Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, Yasemin Acar from Germany, Baptiste Andre, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi and Reva Viard from France, Thiago Avila from Brazil, Suayb Ordu from Turkey, Sergio Toribio from Spain, Marco van Rennes from the Netherlands and Omar Faiad, a journalist with Al Jazeera Mubasher, also from France.
Adalah demands the immediate disclosure of the activists’ location and legal status, and their access to legal counsel to enable legal representation before Israeli authorities and tribunals. Adalah will pursue legal actions to secure the activists’ safety and release.
