Israeli Forces Board Gaza-Bound Freedom Flotilla Ship Madleen

Israeli naval forces intercepted and boarded the British-flagged yacht Madleen, which was attempting to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid despite Israel's longstanding naval blockade aimed at restricting weapons to Hamas. The blockade has been in place since 2007 following Hamas's takeover of Gaza and has significantly contributed to the dire humanitarian situation, with the UN warning of famine and Gaza's health ministry reporting extensive casualties. The Madleen, carrying activists including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, departed from Sicily and was intercepted in international waters, where Israeli forces used drones and sprayed an irritant on the ship before boarding. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz justified the action as necessary for national security, dismissing the mission as propaganda by Hamas supporters and warning the activists not to proceed. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition lost communication with the ship following the boarding, sharing images and videos of the crew complying with soldiers' orders. This incident highlights the tension between humanitarian efforts to Gaza and Israel's enforcement of its blockade amid ongoing conflict and high casualties on both sides.