GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) A drone flew over the Madleen, a humanitarian ship from the Freedom Flotilla coalition, as it sailed toward the Gaza Strip in an effort to break the Israeli blockade and deliver aid amid ongoing genocide.
French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, one of 12 international activists on board, confirmed Tuesday night that a drone hovered above the vessel, raising concerns of an imminent Israeli attack.
The Madleen departed from the southern Italian island of Sicily on Sunday, aiming to defy the siege and provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza. The mission follows a failed attempt in early May, when another aid ship was reportedly targeted by two drones launched by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) near Malta.
In a separate interview with Al Jazeera earlier Tuesday, MP Hassan warned that the activists are preparing for a range of possible threats, including drone or submarine strikes, sabotage from below the ship, or arrest by IOF.
“What we might face is dangerous, but it is nothing compared to what Palestinians have endured for decades—not just since October 7, 2023,” Hassan said.
The Madleen is the 36th ship organized by the Freedom Flotilla coalition. Israel has consistently threatened to use force against any vessels attempting to reach Gaza.
In 2010, IOF attacked the Mavi Marmara—another Freedom Flotilla ship—off the coast of Palestine, killing ten Turkish citizens and detaining dozens of activists.
