News - Middle East: The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned the Israeli regime’s act of “piracy” after its forces seized the solidarity vessel Madleen in international waters to prevent it from reaching the besieged and war-wracked Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces attacked Madleen Gaza-bound aid ship and adducted the crew as the vessel approached the coastal waters of the besieged Palestinian territory early Monday.

“Hamas condemns in the strongest terms the Zionist occupation forces’ act of maritime piracy in seizing the solidarity ship Madleen in international waters, forcibly preventing it from reaching the Gaza Strip, diverting it to the port of Ashdod, and detaining the international activists on board—individuals who had embarked on a humanitarian mission to break the siege and expose the crime of starvation,” Hamas said in a statement on Monday.

It emphasized that the seizure and the obstruction of the symbolic aid delivery to a people facing full-scale genocide constitutes “organized state terrorism,” a flagrant violation of international law, and an assault on civilian volunteers driven by humanitarian motives.

The movement also praised the courageous solidarity of free-thinking activists from diverse nationalities, describing them as the living voice of humanity’s conscience against the “fascist occupation.”

“Through their steadfast resistance to threats, these volunteers have once again proven that Gaza is not alone and continues to be supported by freedom-loving people worldwide,” it added.

“We demand the immediate release of all detained activists and hold the occupying regime fully responsible for their safety and well-being,” the Gaza-based movement asserted. “We call on the United Nations and international bodies to condemn this crime and take urgent action to end the blockade on Gaza.”

It underscored that the seizure will not silence the voices of the free, but will instead amplify the global wave of solidarity with Gaza and further expose the criminal face of the Zionist regime to the world’s nations.

During the attack, activists aboard the ship said Israeli drones dropped an unknown white chemical substance onto the Madleen. The exact nature of the substance remains unclear.

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who was on the phone with the Madleen crew when they were detained, said in a post on X that “Madleen must be released immediately.”

“Breaking the siege is a legal duty for states and a moral imperative for all of us,” Albanese added.

“Every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable.”

Greta Thunberg slams Israel for ‘kidnapping’ Madleen crew

Climate activist Greta Thunberg denounced Israel for “kidnapping” her and 11 others aboard the Madleen, according to a video released by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).

Thunberg appealed for urgent international support, urging “all my friends, family, and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli foreign ministry announced that the Madleen’s crew were being taken to the occupied lands after Israeli commandos seized the vessel.

The Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail from Sicily last week carrying urgent humanitarian supplies for Gaza, including baby formula, flour, rice, desalination kits, medical aid, and children’s prosthetics.

This marks the FFC’s second attempt to deliver vital aid to Gaza since May, after Israeli drones attacked their previous vessel, the Conscience, in international waters near Malta.

UN agencies and major aid groups have warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in.

They say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians amid the Israeli genocide.

Source: Press TV