Israel prepares to confront Freedom Flotilla ship heading to Gaza

The Israeli army says it is preparing for "a range of scenarios" as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's ship, Madleen, sails toward Gaza with humanitarian aid, challenging Israel's ongoing sea and land blockade of the besieged territory.

The boat, which departed on Sunday from the port of Catania in Sicily, is carrying essential supplies including baby formula and medical items, along with a delegation of international activists. Among those on board are climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, actor Liam Cunningham, and Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan.

The journey is a direct attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where over two million Palestinians have been cut off from food, medicine, and aid.

"This is a civilian mission aimed at symbolically breaking the blockade on Gaza," Thunberg said. "If there is even a single grain of humanity left, we must fight for Palestine - for a free Palestine. I am here because it is a duty."

The Israeli military has reiterated its intent to enforce its blockade, raising fears of a possible confrontation in international waters. "We enforce the maritime security blockade on Gaza and are prepared for a range of scenarios," the Army Radio reported, citing an Israeli statement.

This is not the coalition's first attempt to break the siege on Gaza. In May, their previous vessel, Conscience, was reportedly attacked by drones in international waters near Malta.

According to the coalition, the attack breached the hull, started a fire, and left the ship stranded. No injuries were reported. Organisers suspect Israeli involvement, citing repeated threats and the deadly 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara, which killed ten activists.

"Israeli drones attacked our civilian aid ship Conscience in international waters, injuring four people, disabling the generator, setting the ship on fire, and leaving it adrift. Time and time again, we have seen Israel act with impunity," Hay Sha Wiya, a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, told The New Arab. 

"It is impossible not to expect violence from an illegal occupation committing genocide and ethnic cleansing on the Palestinian people of Gaza."

UN experts have warned Israel against interfering, reminding it of its obligations under international law. They stated that Palestinians have the right to receive aid through their territorial waters and that vessels navigating in international waters must not be obstructed.

Since 2 March, Israel has shut all border crossings to humanitarian aid, systematically starving Gaza's 2.4 million residents. With backing from the United States, Israel's military campaign since 7 October 2023 has killed and wounded more than 178,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Over 11,000 remain missing, and hundreds of thousands have been forcibly displaced.

"The Madleen is headed toward Gaza carrying essential humanitarian aid," the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement. "It aims to reach Palestinian territorial waters via international and European waters. This unarmed and nonviolent voyage is fully in accordance with international law. Any attack or interference would be a deliberate and illegal act against civilians."

The ship is expected to arrive near Gaza within a week, though there are growing concerns that Israeli forces may intercept it at sea, repeating what happened with the Al-Dameer vessel last month.