A vessel organized by the international nonprofit Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) departed the Italian port of Catania on Sunday, heading for Gaza in a renewed attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave.
A Mission of Resistance, Not Charity
The boat, named the Madleen, carries a volunteer crew that includes high-profile figures such as climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. While the supplies on board are limited in volume, the coalition emphasized that the mission is deeply symbolic.
Activist Greta Thunberg sits aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1 to travel to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, in this picture released on June 2, 2025 on social media. Freedom Flotilla Coalition/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.
The departure comes after a previous attempt was thwarted in early May, when another FFC-operated vessel, the Conscience, was struck by two drones just outside Maltese territorial waters. FFC has accused Israel of being behind the attack, though Israeli authorities have not commented.
At a press conference before setting sail, Thunberg said: “We are doing this because no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity.”
The FFC has framed the mission as a non-violent direct action, not a charity initiative. “This is not charity. This is a non-violent, direct action to challenge Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes,” the organization stated.
Mid-Sea Tension: Drone Causes Panic
According to a report by Al Jazeera, On Tuesday night, confusion and panic erupted aboard the Madleen after a drone was spotted circling overhead while the ship was sailing outside Greek territorial waters. The crew issued a distress signal, fearing a repeat of the earlier attack. The drone was later identified as belonging to the Hellenic Coastguard, and the Gaza-bound mission continues undeterred—despite growing tensions and last month’s bombing of another flotilla vessel.
Long Journey Ahead
A drone image captured the Madleen off the coast of Catania ahead of its journey, offering a visual testament to the coalition’s determination.
Activist Greta Thunberg and crew stand aboard the aid ship Madleen, which left the Italian port of Catania on June 1 to travel to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, in this picture released on June 2, 2025 on social media. Freedom Flotilla Coalition/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.
The voyage takes place amid what the United Nations has described as the worst humanitarian conditions in Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas began 19 months ago. While Israel recently ended an 11-week blockade, allowing limited U.N.-led aid deliveries to resume, access remains highly restricted.
On Monday, a new aid distribution initiative—the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the United States and Israel—was launched. However, U.N. agencies and international aid organizations have refused to participate, criticizing the model for lacking neutrality and for allegedly displacing Palestinians in the process.
