Leeds Green Party condemns the Israeli state’s alleged commandeering of the Madleen, a yacht from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and the apparent unlawful detention of the international crew of twelve humanitarians, including a French diplomat, while en route to deliver aid to besieged civilians in Gaza.
Madleen was on a peaceful mission and symbolically only carrying one tonne of food, baby milk formula, medical supplies, prosthetics and life-saving essentials. It was sailing under a British flag and protection was requested and due from the UK government. Yet over the course of their threatened journey, the boat dangerously had its GPS signals jammed, was surveilled by quadcopters (drones) and a white chemical irritant was sprayed over the deck and crew.
It was ultimately intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters, an action which appears to contravene established principles of international maritime law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law Of The Sea, as well as the broader moral and legal imperatives to protect humanitarian relief efforts in times of crisis.
The crew of Madleen had made their journey as a clear message of peace, repeating the line “break the siege” and documenting their route over social media in an attempt to secure safer-passage. Activists and observers remain mindful of the killing of nine Turkish civilians by Israeli commandos while they were on a similar mission, delivering aid on the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010. The hostile response from Israeli forces yet again shows another objection to any efforts that may bring peace to the region.
As a city with a proud tradition of international solidarity and as members of a political movement committed to peace, justice, and ecological wholeness, we cannot remain silent while such acts of aggression are normalised under the guise of security. This is not only a legal violation, but a moral failing that underscores the urgent need for a just and lasting peace in the region.
Leeds Green Party joins international human rights observers, legal scholars, and citizens of conscience in calling for:
- An independent investigation into the seizure;
- Lifting the blockade on Gaza, which the United Nations has repeatedly warned constitutes a form of collective punishment, which is illegal under international law;
- A renewed international commitment to diplomacy, justice, and the protection of civilians in all occupied territories.
Jennifer Norman, co-chair of Leeds Green Party and candidate for Wetherby ward writes:
“This endeavour was more than just a symbolic mission to deliver some much-needed sustenance; it is also part of a wider movement of like-minded humanitarians to complete missions over land and sea routes to break through the blockade and bring life-saving aid to the people of Gaza…
“…Our eyes are now upon the security of the Steadfastness Convoy, travelling from Tunisia, via Libya and Egypt to Rafah. Our own friends and peers are among those joining the convoy. The fences must come down.”
In this time of violence and polarisation, it is all the more vital that we stand for self-determination, the rule of law, the right of all people to live in dignity and peace, and the protection of those who risk their lives to bring aid to those most in need.
We invite residents of Leeds and beyond to stand with us in solidarity and in hope for a future where human life is valued above political expediency.