UN Official Demands Immediate Release of Gaza-Bound Aid Ship Madleen
Special Rapporteur Speaks Out
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has called for the immediate release of the Madleen, a humanitarian ship intercepted by Israeli forces while en route to Gaza.
Albanese revealed that she was on the phone with the Madleen crew at the moment of their detention. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “Madleen must be released immediately.” The ship had departed from Sicily on June 1, carrying food, baby formula, and medical supplies for Palestinians in Gaza.
She strongly condemned the interception, calling the ongoing blockade of Gaza illegal and inhumane. “Breaking the siege is a legal duty for states, and a moral imperative for all of us,” she added.
‘They Shall Sail Together—Unstoppable’
Albanese urged Mediterranean nations to take collective action in support of Gaza. “Every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza,” she said. “They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable.”
Do you support Greta Thunberg?
yes or no،🍉🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/q2vTLwGjoE— GHADA 🇵🇸 (@ghadaa231) June 8, 2025
The ship, carrying activists including Greta Thunberg and European MEP Rima Hassan, was seized by Israeli forces on June 8. The Israeli Defense Forces claimed the interception was a national security measure to enforce the blockade.
Read: “We’ve Been Kidnapped by Israeli Forces in International Waters” Greta Thunberg
However, human rights groups and legal experts have criticized the action, calling it a violation of international maritime law.
The fate of the activists and the humanitarian supplies remains uncertain, as international pressure mounts on Israel to release the ship and allow aid to reach Gaza.
The Madleen’s seizure has reignited global debate on the ethics and legality of Israel’s blockade, and whether peaceful missions like this one should be supported—or stopped.
