Freedom Flotilla Aid Ship Madleen Sails From Italy to Gaza Amid Blockade

The ship Madleen, carrying humanitarian aid and a group of international activists including Greta Thunberg, actor Liam Cunningham, and EU lawmaker Rima Hassan, set sail from Sicily to the Gaza Strip to challenge Israel's naval blockade. The vessel, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aims to deliver critical supplies such as baby formula, medical equipment, and water treatment kits while drawing global attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This mission follows a previous flotilla, Conscience, which was reportedly attacked by drones near Malta, highlighting the risks involved. Activists emphasize the voyage as a peaceful, nonviolent act of civil resistance against what they call an illegal siege and collective punishment, while Israel maintains the blockade as a necessary security measure against Hamas. The supporters of the flotilla call for an end to the blockade and describe the situation in Gaza as a systematic starvation and genocide, allegations that Israel strongly rejects as political smears. The activists hope their efforts will raise international awareness and pressure governments to intervene amid ongoing high civilian casualties and severe shortages in Gaza.