Meet Madleen Kulab, the woman who inspired Gaza's aid vessel

In the early hours of Monday, 9 June, Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen - the latest humanitarian vessel launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in an effort to break Israel's blockade on Gaza and deliver desperately needed aid.

At a time when the people of Gaza feel abandoned by the world, the Madleen had set sail on 1 June as a symbol of defiance. It was loaded with food and medical supplies that Israel has blocked from entering Gaza for more than three months.

The ship was named in tribute to Gaza’s only fisherwoman, Madleen Kulab, who, like so many in the besieged enclave, has lost everything in Israel's relentless assault since 7 October 2023.

Kulab, 31, spoke to The New Arab's Arabic language edition and said the vessel's crew had contacted her personally to explain their decision to name the ship after her. They were moved by her story and her lifelong connection to the sea.

"I started my journey as a fisherwoman when I was five," she said. “I used to accompany my father and took up fishing full-time when he fell ill, at just 13. Like all Palestinian fishermen in Gaza, my life revolved around the sea and home. I would read the waves and the wind to know when and where to fish."

A mother of four expecting her fifth child, Kulab said the war has stripped her of everything, just as it has for Gaza's entire fishing community.

"Our boats were destroyed, our nets torn. Everything we built - boat improvements, our savings - was swept away by the war," she said.

She explained that Gaza’s fishermen had long faced enormous challenges, not only from the dangerous nature of their work but from constant restrictions, lack of equipment, and ongoing Israeli harassment.

When the crew asked for her blessing to name the ship after her, she agreed, though she urged them not to endanger themselves.

"They told me their mission was peaceful," she said. "They were carrying supplies like rice, flour, and medicine. They promised to avoid taking risks or engaging in anything dangerous."

Kulab said she had hoped the ship would reach Gaza’s port, not just for the aid it carried, but for the message it would send - that Gaza is not alone.

"In our isolation, that ship was a sign of solidarity," she said. "It told us that free people around the world still stand with us."

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.