Palestinian rights group Adalah has confirmed the deportation of six activists from the Madleen aid ship by Israel. These individuals were detained as they sought to shed light on Israel’s blockade of Gaza, considered illegal by many international observers.
Among the deported individuals were two French citizens, including Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, as well as nationals from Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, and Turkiye. Adalah stated that these activists had left Israel while two more French nationals remained in custody awaiting deportation.
“While in custody, volunteers were subjected to mistreatment, punitive measures and aggressive treatment,”
Adalah reported. They also mentioned that
“two volunteers were held for some period of time in solitary confinement.”
Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament with a history of supporting boycotts against Israel due to its occupation of Palestinian land, found herself at odds with Israeli authorities once again. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the aid boat as a “selfie yacht
” and later confirmed the deportation through a photo posted online.
The ordeal didn’t end with deportation for those involved. German citizen Yasemin Acar was among Thursday’s deportees and highlighted ongoing issues in Gaza upon her return to Germany. She emphasized the continuous suffering caused by the blockade: “
The siege of Gaza is still ongoing … People are still starving.
”
Reflecting on her activism, she voiced determination: “
We will not stop.
” This sentiment echoed throughout discussions surrounding humanitarian efforts in Gaza and calls for political accountability.
All 12 passengers aboard the Madleen have been banned from entering Israel for 100 years – a severe consequence for their attempt to bring attention to Gaza’s plight.
The situation in Gaza has reached critical levels according to UN warnings about “
catastrophic hunger” among its population after prolonged conflicts and restricted supplies due to blockades like those imposed by Israel. Recent attempts at aid distribution have been met with violence resulting in significant casualties among aid seekers.
Israeli forces’ actions against humanitarian missions such as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s journey have drawn international scrutiny towards policies affecting civilian populations caught in conflict zones like Gaza.
The journey taken by activists on board ships like Madleen serves as a poignant reminder of ongoing struggles faced by Gazans amidst geopolitical tensions and calls for urgent action to alleviate their suffering through coordinated international efforts.
