Israeli forces detain volunteers on Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Madleen’s crew is being taken to Israel after Israeli commandos seized the vessel in international waters, Al Jazeera reports.

The Madleen ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was close to 100 miles [160km] from Gaza when it was stopped.

The ship was carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians starving because of Israel’s siege. Israel’s most recent total blockade began on March 2, and has only partially lifted under mounting international pressure.

Israel has killed more than 54,000 people in Gaza during this war after maintaining a land, sea and air blockade since 2007.

The Madleen departed Sicily on June 1, one month after Israeli drones bombed another aid ship headed for Gaza. Climate activist Greta Thunberg is among the 12 activists now being detained by Israel.