Amnesty International has issued a scathing rebuke of Israel following its interception of the Madleen, a humanitarian aid vessel attempting to break the 18-year blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The human rights organization condemned the seizure and detention of the vessel’s 12-person crew — including Swedish climate activist and Amnesty Ambassador of Conscience Greta Thunberg — as a blatant violation of international law.

The Madleen, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, was carrying critical humanitarian supplies intended for the besieged Palestinian population in Gaza. The ship was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters under the cover of night, a move Amnesty described as unlawful, dangerous, and symptomatic of Israel’s ongoing impunity.

“By forcibly intercepting and blocking the Madleen, which was carrying humanitarian aid and a crew of solidarity activists, Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations toward civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International. “This operation shows chilling contempt for the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice.”

The Madleen had become a powerful symbol of global solidarity in recent days, sailing toward Gaza amid growing calls to end Israel’s genocidal assault. Amnesty emphasized that the ship’s crew were unarmed civilian activists on a humanitarian mission and must be released immediately and unconditionally.

“They must also be protected from torture and other ill-treatment pending their release,” Callamard added.

According to Amnesty, the Madleen’s mission laid bare the failures of the international community to end Israel’s blockade or ensure basic survival for Palestinians in Gaza. Israel, as the occupying power, has a legal obligation to allow the flow of food, medicine, and life-saving supplies to civilians. Instead, it has weaponized hunger and consistently blocked impartial aid efforts.

“This is part of a calculated effort to inflict on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life designed to bring about their physical destruction,” Callamard said, noting that Israeli attacks have also destroyed agricultural lands and vital infrastructure.

Amnesty’s statement denounced the broader pattern of Israeli violations, which it says amount to crimes against humanity and genocide, made possible by unwavering Western complicity.

“Israel’s interception of the Madleen, despite global calls for safe passage, underscores the longstanding impunity it enjoys,” the statement read. “Until we see real concrete steps by states worldwide signaling an end to their blanket support for Israel, it will have carte blanche to continue inflicting relentless death and suffering on Palestinians.”

Callamard emphasized that the activists aboard the Madleen would not have had to risk their lives if international powers had acted to uphold their obligations under international law.

Amnesty International is calling on world governments to publicly denounce the seizure of the Madleen and demand the immediate release of all detained activists. The organization also demands that Israel lift its illegal blockade and allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza through all crossings.

“Now is the time to take a clear stand — through actions, not just words,” Callamard said. “States must make it unequivocally clear that they will no longer tolerate Israel blocking humanitarian aid to a population facing starvation and genocide.”

The statement ends with a stark warning: any continued inaction makes governments worldwide complicit in Israel’s grave violations of Palestinian rights.

The fate of the Madleen’s crew — which includes international human rights defenders — remains uncertain as the Israeli authorities continue to detain them following the ship’s forced diversion to the occupied port of Ashdod. (ILKHA)