The military operation against the Madleen is part of Israel’s genocidal actions against Gaza.

In the early hours of Monday, the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas condemned the assault on the Madleen, a humanitarian vessel of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), adding that its seizure constitutes an act of “organized state terrorism.”

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“We strongly condemn the act of piracy committed by the Israeli occupation forces by intercepting the Madleen solidarity ship in international waters as this is an act of state-sponsored terrorism,” Hamas said.

“We salute the activists of different nationalities who affirmed that Gaza is not alone. The Madleen and upcoming land convoys from Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, and elsewhere are living proof of the failure of Zionist propaganda.”

These statements came shortly after the Israeli occupation forces boarded the Madleen and kidnapped its crew and the activists on board.

“The Madleen is currently under assault in international waters. Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white irritant. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio,” the FFC denounced on social media, posting a photograph of the crew members with their hands raised as Israeli forces occupied their ship.

Hamas demanded the release of the activists who were on board the vessel at the time and asked the United Nations to condemn the seizure of the humanitarian vessel.

“The seizure of the Madleen will not silence the voice of the free nor stop the growing global solidarity with Gaza,” the Palestinian resistance movement stated.

The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement also condemned Israel’s seizure of the Madleen, calling it an “act of international piracy” and a “flagrant violation of all international norms and laws.”

It demanded the Israeli government immediately release the crew, who “risked their lives in response to freedom of conscience, morality, and the human values” that Israel is violating in Gaza.

The group urged people around the world to continue organizing events and convoys that express global awareness in support and solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday night, it was confirmed that the Israeli navy boarded the Madleen ship and kidnapped its crew and the activists on board. In the last message shared on the FFC’s Telegram channel, its members reported: “The connection has been lost on the Madleen. The Israeli Army has boarded the ship.”

This is a serious assault and violates international law, as it was carried out in international waters and against an entirely civilian vessel carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

The volunteers intended to break the Israeli blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid amid the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians due to incessant Israeli attacks. The military operation against the Freedom Flotilla is part of Israel’s genocidal actions against the Gaza Strip.

On June 1, the Madleen departed from the Italian port of Catania toward the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to break the siege imposed by Israel on more than 2 million Palestinians living in the territory devastated as a result of 20 months of Israel’s genocidal war.

This ship is carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, and nine others traveling with barrels of humanitarian aid in “limited, albeit symbolic, quantities.”

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Al Mayadeen – Al Jazeera

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