Ankara: Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus described the Israeli forces’ attack on the Madeleine ship as a terrorist act and a despicable assault on human dignity in international waters. Kurtulmus said in a post on the X platform on Monday: “The terrorist operation by the Israeli military forces against the Madeleine ship is a despicable assault on human dignity, not just on a humanitarian relief mission.”
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Kurtulmus emphasized that the Madeleine ship aimed to draw attention to the genocide in Gaza, with only civilians on board attempting to break the blockade on the Strip. He stressed that Israel’s policy of systematic punishment, genocide, and blockade against the Palestinian people lacks legal or humanitarian legitimacy. Kurtulmus highlighted that obstructing humanitarian aid is a clear crime under international law, indicating that the current situation demonstrates the broken scales of justice in the global system, where the strong overpower the weak.
The Speaker of the Turkish Parliament urged the international community to voice opposition against this violation of the law, uphold humanitarian values, and support the Madeleine and the principles it signifies. He reiterated Ankara’s support for Gaza, the Madeleine ship, and the cause of justice, peace, and human dignity.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced that the Israeli army had detained the international activists aboard the Madeleine ship, which was headed to Gaza to challenge the prolonged blockade, after storming the vessel. The coalition stated via Telegram: “The Israeli army kidnapped the volunteers aboard the Madeleine ship, and all contact with the boat was lost from the moment of the storming.”
In a related development, the newspaper Israel Hayom reported that the Israeli army arrested the 12 activists on board the ship “Madeleine” in preparation for their deportation. The raid occurred hours after Israeli warnings against the ship reaching the Gaza Strip shores, labeling it an “illegal” attempt to breach the naval blockade, as stated by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz had previously instructed the army to prevent the ship from reaching the Gaza Strip. Notably, the Madeleine was carrying 12 individuals, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham.
Another attempt to break the siege on Gaza involved the “Conscience” ship, which was attacked by an Israeli drone last month, resulting in damage to its hull and a fire on board.