Freedom Flotillas are international civil society initiatives consisting of activists, journalists, and parliamentarians from around the globe. Their primary objectives are to challenge and break the naval blockade on Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged population, and raise global awareness about the humanitarian crisis and the conditions in Gaza. These missions are often nonviolent actions aimed at highlighting the situation where governments are seen as failing to act.
As the Freedom Flotilla vessel Madleen was making its way toward Gaza, it responded to a mayday call.
Live Updates
Madleen Gaza flotilla live tracker: Greta Thunberg, crew move towards Gaza
Freedom Flotilla on its way to Gaza as critics call for ship to sink
Published On 4 Jun 20254 Jun 2025
- The Madleen ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), is en route to Gaza, carrying humanitarian aid as the Palestinian enclave faces food shortages due to more than 90 days of total Israeli blockade.
- Climate activist Greta Thunberg is among the 12 activists on board the vessel to break Israel’s siege of the Strip since March 2. The enclave has already been under Israel’s land, sea and air blockade since 2007.
- The Madleen departed Catania, Sicily, on June 1, just one month after Israeli drones bombed another FFC aid ship headed for Gaza. This is the latest effort to send aid into Gaza, where more than 54,000 people have been killed in Israeli bombardment.
- The 2,000km (1,250-mile) journey is expected to take seven days, provided there are no disruptions. The ship’s location is being monitored live by Forensic Architecture and using a Garmin live tracker on board. The latest location as of June 4, at 07:23 GMT, was 70 nautical miles (130km) southwest of the Greek island of Crete.
- Multiple reports in Israeli media say that the military will not allow the ship to reach Gaza, and that the activists risk detention and the seizure of their ship if they failt to comply with the Israeli army.
‘They cannot block us,’ says activist on Madleen aid ship to Gaza
One of the 12 activists on board the Madleen has posted an update on their progress, saying the mission would not be deterred by Israel’s threats to block them.
In a video posted to X, Thiago Avila said the crew, which includes high-profile climate activist Greta Thunberg, was not intimidated by a message they had received from Israel on Thursday.
He said Israeli authorities had said that the Madleen, which is carrying food and medical supplies, would be blocked from entering Gaza – and that if they attempted to deliver them, they would come under attack.
“It’s important that we understand that Netanyahu and any other repressive regime throughout history, they actually fear the people, we do not fear them,” he said.
“We know that this is part of a global uprising much larger than this humble mission of 12 people on a small boat. It will not be through force that they will make a way to defeat us.”
A ship called Madleen: Gaza’s first fisherwoman inspires solidarity mission
Gaza City – As the Madleen sails towards Gaza to try to deliver life-saving aid to its people, little is known about the woman the boat was named after: Madleen Kulab, Gaza’s only fisherwoman.
When Al Jazeera first met Madleen Kulab (also spelled Madelyn Culab) three years ago, she had two children, was expecting her third and lived a relatively quiet life in Gaza City with her husband, Khader Bakr, 32, also a fisherman.
Madleen, now 30, would sail fearlessly out as far as Israel’s gunship blockade would allow to bring back fish she could sell in a local market to support the family.
When Israel’s war on Gaza began, the family was terrified, then heartbroken when Israel killed Madleen’s father in an air strike near their home in November 2023.
They fled with Madleen nearly nine months pregnant to Khan Younis, then to Rafah, to Deir el-Balah and then Nuseirat.
Now, they are back in what remains of their home in Gaza City, a badly damaged space they returned to when the Israeli army allowed displaced people to head back north in January.
A ship called Madleen: Gaza’s first fisherwoman inspires solidarity mission. Story by Maram Humaid, Simon Speakman Cordall, Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera, 6/5/2025
unflinching 