Israeli Defamation and Incitement Against Madleen’s Ship Activists and Gaza Blockade Convoys

The Madleen ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed in early June from the Italian port of Catania. Onboard were 12 activists from various countries, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, in a symbolic effort to break the years-long naval blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Named after Gaza’s first female fisherman, the Madleen carries limited supplies of essential food and medicine—such as milk, rice, and baby diapers—as a symbolic humanitarian gesture to support the blockaded population.

According to organizers, the voyage aims to condemn the illegal Israeli blockade on Gaza and highlight the catastrophic humanitarian crisis amid the ongoing conflict. Among the activists are notable figures like French-Palestinian lawmaker Rima Hassan, British actor Liam Cunningham, and Thunberg.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition equipped the ship with an advanced tracking system to ensure the activists’ safety, improve transparency about its route, and hold any party accountable in case of an attack.

The system broadcasts the ship’s location live, enabling supporters, journalists, legal observers, and human rights groups worldwide to monitor its movements in real time. This transparency is designed to deter unlawful interference and provide a reliable way to document and investigate any violations. Tracking is a key part of the coalition’s peaceful resistance and international solidarity strategy.

As the ship neared its destination, the crew expressed concern about a possible Israeli interception and the risk of being prevented from completing their mission—especially amid rising Israeli warnings against allowing the vessel to reach Gaza’s shores, where humanitarian conditions remain dire after more than 20 months of Israeli war on Gaza.

In a post on X, the organizing committee said the ship was gradually approaching Gaza’s coast and expected to arrive within hours, warning that the coming hours would be critical.

This article by Misbar examines the main Israeli official and media narratives about the ship and its crew. It reviews the incitement and misinformation campaigns targeting the flotilla, including accusations of anti-Semitism, alleged ties to terrorism, and other efforts to delegitimize the humanitarian mission.

Israel Threatens to Intercept Madleen Ship To Prevent Gaza Blockade Break

Israeli authorities have announced they will not allow the Madleen ship to dock on the Gaza Strip’s shores, citing enforcement of the naval blockade in place since 2007.

The Israeli military said it is maintaining the blockade and is prepared for a range of scenarios if the ship approaches. Israeli media report the military plans to intercept the vessel if it does not turn back, with intentions to seize the ship, transfer it to the port of Ashdod, and arrest the activists on board for possible deportation.

Israel’s Kan Broadcasting Corporation reported that the government has decided to forcibly divert the ship to Ashdod and detain its crew. The military spokesperson added that the naval commando unit Shayetet 13 and missile boats are on alert to respond to any provocation and operate on all fronts, including at sea. Israeli officials have described the voyage as an illegal attempt to break the Gaza blockade.

Israeli Media Campaign Accuses Madleen Ship Activists of Terrorism and Anti-Semitism

An analysis of coverage on prominent Israeli outlets such as Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel Hayom, and the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, using Hebrew keywords like ספינת מדלן (Madleen ship), reveals two main media narratives: delegitimizing the flotilla and tarnishing the image of its activists.

For instance, Yedioth Ahronoth questioned the “anti-Israel motives” behind Swedish activist Greta Thunberg’s involvement and accused some activists of “cheering for terrorists,” denying the October 7 events (the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood), and expressing “anti-Semitic” views.

The outlet also cited European sources, notably the German newspaper Bild, claiming some flotilla participants hold “anti-Western ideologies” and support terrorism.

Israel Hayom highlighted statements attributed to Thunberg calling for the “destruction of Zionism” and claimed she allegedly endorses the “legitimacy of Hamas attacks.” The coverage framed the flotilla as “pro-terrorism,” labeling the activists “extremists” and “anti-Semitic.”

Some reports described the flotilla as part of an “anti-Israel media campaign,” while official Israeli media focused on military warnings about “possible provocations” connected to the ship’s voyage.

Other articles portrayed the activists from political and social angles, labeling them “far-right extremists” or “advocates of false peace,” and alleging they conceal political or ideological agendas behind a humanitarian cause.

Israeli Defense Minister Accuses Flotilla Activists of Anti-Semitism

In an official statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he has ordered the military to take decisive action to prevent the Madleen ship from reaching Gaza, stressing that Israel “will not allow any party to breach the naval blockade imposed on the territory.”

Katz criticized the flotilla’s participants, specifically targeting activist Greta Thunberg, whom he labeled “anti-Semitic,” accusing her and others of spreading “Hamas propaganda.” He warned, “Turn back. You will not reach Gaza.” Katz emphasized that Israel will oppose any attempts to break the blockade or support what he called “terrorist organizations” by sea, air, or land. His remarks mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric aimed at criminalizing the initiative and its activists.

Widespread Incitement Campaign Targets Crew of the Madleen Ship

International observers have noted pro-Israel online campaigns targeting the crew of the Madleen ship, urging violent action against them.

A report by Middle East Monitor detailed a widespread social media incitement campaign by pro-Israel accounts against activist Greta Thunberg and others after they announced their participation in the Freedom Flotilla, which aims to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

For instance, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted, “I hope Greta and her friends know how to swim!”—a remark widely seen as a veiled threat against the flotilla.

Australian Zionist researcher Arsen Ostrovsky, director of the Policy Research Center, went further by calling Thunberg “a little jihadist” on X, adding that she “is trying to enter Gaza to show solidarity with Hamas” and warning, “It would be truly unfortunate if something happened to her flotilla.”

Many observers condemned these statements as direct incitement to target the ship and its crew, reflecting a growing hostility toward those expressing solidarity with Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli war.

Israel Repeatedly Smears and Targets Convoys Seeking To Break Gaza Blockade

The Madleen ship was no exception in how Israel’s media and security forces have responded to attempts to break the naval blockade on Gaza. Since the Israeli blockade was imposed in 2007, most solidarity flotillas have faced smear campaigns and misinformation, alongside targeted actions against humanitarian convoys.

In 2010, the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of a Freedom Flotilla of six vessels bound for Gaza, was intercepted in international waters by Israel’s naval commando unit Shayetet 13 after refusing to stop. The raid led to a clash that left 10 Turkish activists dead.

In 2018, the Freedom Flotilla was relaunched in a new effort to break the blockade. Although it set sail years after the 2014 war, the Israeli navy intercepted the ships and diverted them to Ashdod port, where activists were detained and later deported. Israeli media portrayed the flotilla as politically motivated.

Israeli officials and media have consistently framed these convoys as security threats, labeling them “terrorist infiltration attempts” and portraying participants as fronts for “extremist” or “anti-Semitic” groups.

The Israeli narrative surrounding the Madleen ship, expected to arrive Monday, clearly continues this pattern. Media coverage has focused on discrediting the convoy’s goals and questioning the motives of its participants. This has been accompanied by widespread online campaigns linking activists to terrorism and branding them extremists and anti-Semites.

Aside from notable incidents like the Mavi Marmara raid, no naval convoy has succeeded in breaking the blockade since 2007. Israeli naval forces have always intercepted the vessels, while media coverage has consistently framed the flotillas as security threats rather than humanitarian efforts.

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