Under the blazing Mediterranean sun, a dedicated group of activists is currently navigating by sea to one of the most perilous locations on the planet.
What is their destination? Gaza.
What is their goal? To “break the siege and create a humanitarian corridor for the people.”
This modest sailboat, named the Madleen, carries 12 volunteers from across the globe, including climate advocate Greta Thunberg.
“When you witness people dying from hunger, you bring them sustenance,” Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila shared with RTÉ News from the vessel, which departed from Sicily last Sunday and plans to reach Gaza by Monday morning.
“We do not fear them. They can’t intimidate us,” Ávila asserted.
“We’re delivering food, medicine, crutches, prosthetics for children who have lost limbs, and water filters,” he stated, recognizing it is merely a “drop in the ocean” compared to what is truly needed.
“Our small boat of 18 meters carries the hopes of millions.”
Nonetheless, the Madleen encounters considerable challenges on its journey.
In a statement to RTÉ News, Israel’s Defense Forces announced plans to enforce a “security naval blockade” on Gaza and are “prepared for various scenarios.”
Despite this, Thiago remains resolute.
“We do not fear them. They can’t threaten us. Ultimately, we know that the social majorities of the world stand with us.”
The Madleen is the latest vessel launched by the FFC (Credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition).
The launch of the Madleen in Italy last weekend garnered international media attention.
It was attended by several Irish supporters, including activist Caoimhe Butterly, actor Liam Cunningham, and Senator Lynn Ruane.
Hope Greta and her friends can swim!
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 1, 2025
However, the mission has attracted criticism due to some onboard views.
Thiago Ávila attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last year, expressing to Lebanese paper L’Orient-Le Jour that he respected Nasrallah’s speeches addressing “injustices and violations perpetrated by the Zionist entity against Lebanon and Palestine.”
Supporters of Israel have publicly denounced the Madleen, including US Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who faced backlash on social media for posting: “Hope Greta and her friends can swim!”
What is the Freedom Flotilla Coalition?
The Madleen was launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which identifies itself as a “grassroots people-to-people solidarity movement aimed at ending the blockade of Gaza.”
The Coalition has been organizing flotillas since 2010 with the goal of breaking the Israeli maritime blockade on Gaza.
The FFC has emphasized that all volunteers and crew aboard the Madleen have been trained in non-violence and are sailing “unarmed in a peaceful act of civil resistance against Israel’s actions in Gaza.”
Damage to a previous FFC ship
Last month, another vessel operated by the Coalition, the Conscience, caught fire just before it was set to depart for Gaza.
The ship was headed to Malta to pick up a large group of activists, including Greta Thunberg, when the incident occurred in the early hours of May 2.
The FFC reported that the fire was initiated by an Israeli-operated drone.
“While it was 14 nautical miles from Malta’s coast in international waters, it came under attack,” stated Huwaida Arraf, a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla.
“A drone launched two missiles at the front of the ship, igniting a fire and compromising the hull.”
Israel has not responded to inquiries for comment.
Images shared online by the FFC depict damage to the ship’s hull.
The Maltese government confirmed that its Vessel Traffic Services received a mayday call from the Conscience shortly after midnight on May 2, “reporting a fire on the bow while outside territorial waters.”
A tugboat arrived and initiated firefighting efforts, confirming the safety of all crew members.
After two weeks at sea, the ship was cleared to dock in Malta, allowing the crew and passengers to disembark safely.
Irish involvement in prior flotillas
Since the establishment of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in 2010, Irish citizens have participated in several attempted operations.
Five Irish activists were detained in Israel when soldiers took control of the MV Rachel Corrie, which was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza in 2010.
This vessel followed a flotilla of aid boats that had been raided by Israeli forces the previous week.
Nine people were killed and thirty wounded in the incident. Both sides accused each other of instigating the tragic violence.
All passengers on the MV Rachel Corrie returned home safely.
The following year, in 2011, an Irish ship named MV Saoirse was damaged while docked at a Greek port—an event described by activists as “deliberate sabotage.”
Some crew members attempted another crossing on the Saoirse, which was later intercepted by the Israeli Navy in what they described as a “violent and dangerous” operation.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy (then a Socialist Party MEP) and former Irish rugby player Trevor Hogan were among the 14 Irish activists detained in an Israeli jail for several days.
Reflecting on the incident, Trevor Hogan said: “Initially, we were very hopeful that we might actually get through, and then on the fifth morning, we saw the naval ship on the horizon, and it just escalated from there.”
“We were essentially chased down and kidnapped while still in international waters.
They wanted us to sign a document stating that we had entered Israel illegally, which was completely false.”
Despite the tense and difficult encounter, Trevor stated he remained committed to the mission’s objectives.
“In that moment, you don’t feel too afraid, because you know you’re doing the right thing—you’re standing up for justice.”
Now, almost 14 years later, he expresses admiration for the courage of those aboard the Madleen, noting: “To me it’s even more courageous to venture out there now.”
He emphasizes the importance of global unity in rejecting and holding accountable the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, where Palestinians face “horrendous starvation.”
He hopes that the efforts of civil society groups like the Freedom Flotilla can provide some small measure of support to the Palestinians and press global governments to “actually respond and impose sanctions.”
“Even these small actions can make a difference.”
