🚨 Documented Incident: Greta Thunberg and the Raid on Madleen
Date: June 8–9, 2025
Location: International Waters, ~185 km off the coast of Gaza
Filed by: The Hind Rajab Foundation
Complaint Filed with: UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit (SO15)
Vessel: Madleen – UK-flagged humanitarian ship
Mission: Part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition delivering aid to Gaza
Notable Passengers: Greta Thunberg, Rima Hassan (French MEP), multiple international human rights activists, medics, and media
🔴 Summary of Events
- On June 8–9, 2025, Israeli naval forces (Shayetet 13) raided the UK-flagged vessel Madleen in international waters.
- The commandos deployed chemical irritants from drones (described as a choking white powder), boarded the ship, and physically assaulted passengers.
- Activists were stripped of communication devices, forced to delete evidence, and denied consular access.
- The ship was towed to the port of Ashdod, Israel, and 12 people were detained, including:
- 🌍 Greta Thunberg (Swedish climate activist)
- 🇫🇷 Rima Hassan (French MEP)
- 🇳🇴 Torstein Dahle (Norwegian politician)
- Multiple human rights defenders and crew
📷 Eyewitness Reports & Media Documentation
- Photos and videos were captured before the raid by:
- Tan Safi (Freedom Flotilla volunteer photographer)
- International journalists on the flotilla
- HRF is compiling:
- Passenger testimonies
- Medical reports
- Legal analysis from maritime law and human rights experts
- Footage and photographic evidence
🧑⚖️ Legal Action Initiated
- HRF filed a war crimes complaint under:
- Geneva Conventions Act 1957
- International Criminal Court Act 2001
- Criminal Justice Act 1988 (torture prohibition)
- The complaint names:
- Shayetet 13 (naval unit)
- Vice Admiral David Saar Salama (Commander of the Israeli Navy)
Why the UK has jurisdiction:
- The Madleen is a UK-flagged ship, which gives the UK legal and investigative authority under international law.
🌍 What This Means
- This is a watershed case: the first war-crimes complaint linked to an attack on a British humanitarian ship since the Gaza blockade began.
- Greta Thunberg's involvement draws global attention, linking climate justice with human rights and international law.
- The Hind Rajab Foundation is demanding:
- Full investigation and prosecution by UK authorities
- Immediate release of any remaining detainees
- Global pressure for protection of humanitarian missions
💡 What You Can Do
Share Greta’s story. Raise awareness of:
- The criminalization of humanitarian aid
- The treatment of peaceful activists
- The ongoing siege on Gaza and its global implications
Support the Hind Rajab Foundation:
- 🌐 Website: www.hindrajabfoundation.org
- 🔗 Complaint reference link: bit.ly/hrf-madleen
- 📧 Subscribe to their newsletter
- 💰 Become a sponsor or make a donation
🕊️ Remember the Names
This mission was named in memory of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in January 2024. Her name now stands for justice, remembrance, and resistance.
