Freedom Flotilla

[Badh]

Thought this might be worth its own thread. The freedom flotilla The Madleen was getting close to Gaza but seems to have made a diversion, as it was the closest boat to answer a distress call. They seem to also have four Sudanese asylum seekers on board who were trying to escape the Libyan coast patrol.

The UK and France are asking Israel for its safe passage.

The tracker is here but is in and out of action.
https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-tracker/

More details here, although the latest detour is not covered in the article.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-navy-gears-up-to-block-high-profile-protest-ship-headed-for-gaza/amp/

Safe passage to where?! They are putting on a performance show and are probably going to risk other people's lifes to rescue them.

I’m watching closely. They’re so brave and I’m full of admiration. I’ve sat for months feeling so powerless to do anything, and there they are. They’re doing something. Whatever that might be, it’s something.

@Naomival Well I was paraphrasing poorly there. In short they are asking for their safety.

Also forgot to mention that activists have already accused Israel of a drone attack while it was in Malta which caused a fire. Israel deny this.

Why do you think people will have to rescue them? Are you convinced that Israel will attack them?

Sudanese asylum seekers? How convenient.

Can’t they drop them off in Egypt?

Hopefully the Israelis aren’t as gullible as Greta and the UK and French government.

Who’s to know who these people are? I’d be very concerned in Israel’s shoes that they may not be who they say they are.

A self confessed Hezbollah supporter was already on board.

Bit odd to ask for safety from a government they are accusing of genocide, indiscriminately murdering babies and children and starving people, and also of a drone attack.

Hmmm.

Hats off to Greta for this. She’s very brave.

They're doing what is right and I hope they inspire more people to stand up for what is right.

London has so far rejected Israeli requests to prevent a high-profile activist mission sailing under a UK flag from reaching Israeli waters in the coming days, an official in Jerusalem tells The Times of Israel.

“They can act,” says the official, “but they say only will if there is a safety risk.”

The UK asked Israel to ensure the safety of the boat and its crew, says the official, calling the mission “the selfie flotilla.”

www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/london-rejecting-requests-to-stop-activist-group-sailing-under-uk-flag-from-reaching-israeli-waters-official-says/

It's sanctimony at sea with a large sprinkle of narcissism.

They only have a "symbolic" amount of aid on board, and know full well they will not be allowed to dock in Gaza. For anyone who is under the impression they are attempting to make an actual delivery of aid.

The best thing you could say about the Freedom Flotilla is that it helps to raise awareness, but the war in Gaza is already very well publicised and reported on daily. I consider it a misguided stunt which is performative and dangerous.

And what is it they are achieving? What are they going to actually do?

The Al Jazeera journalist onboard the boat has reported that they have now handed over the four Sudanese refugees to the European Coastguard, and are back on course for Gaza.

As noted by Al Jazeera, "The experience would have been confusing for the individuals who had escaped Sudan only to find themselves on a boat headed to Gaza".

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/6/4/madleen-gaza-flotilla-live-greta-thunberg-activists-to-arrive-on-june-7

I think Greta's presence shows how many of the pro Palestinian protesters are those looking for righteous cause to virtue signal....has climate change been done so is Gaza next? I do wonder if Greta's neorodiversity leads to extreme balck/white views on the conflict where others can take a more nuanced view.

The goal is to directly challenge the blockade on Gaza. It’s a non violent solidarity action. They are just 12 people who are unarmed. It also ends up getting states involved as the French and British authorities are now monitoring the situation and basically telling Israel not to harm them.

See also the Global March to Gaza which will

aim to deliver aid by land. That’s on the 15th of June.

I don’t think you could call it “performative” . Performative is the government saying they care about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and then doing little to stop it. This is a concrete action.

I wish them well. Non violent movements like this can be an effective way to create change.

@mids2019 nuanced view on genocide? All those pesky shades of grey surrounding the starvation of children? The mass burial sites? The torture? The massacre of whole family groups? So nuanced.

They have already achieved something, because people are talking about it. BBC could provide live coverage on the conflict 24 hours a day and it still wouldn’t be enough. We should never stop talking about this and raising awareness about what’s happening.

Shame on anyone who continues to justify this. Your humanity is selective and your superiority shines through. Suggesting that neurodivergence or ‘woke agenda’ is behind people supporting Palestinians. Rather than just basic humanity.

I think Greta's presence shows she is putting her money where her mouth is and actually doing something.

So many times anyone who speaks up for Palestinian rights is called performative and virtue signalling so it is unfortunate when someone puts themselves in danger and in a position to actually help the same criticism is levelled at them. It's almost like they can't win.

She is also ensuring that by using her name there is more coverage in the media.

The amount of aid is tiny yes but it is symbolic of what is needed because Israel is blocking all aid donated by other countries from entering Gaza.
"medical supplies, flour, rice, baby formula, nappies, women's sanitary products, water desalination kits, crutches and children's prosthetics"

To be honest if the Israeli government had any sense whatsoever they would leave the ship dock as that would take away all the furore surrounding the trip.

I think Greta’s presence aims largely aims to be protective.
It seems to be a particularly dangerous time. Will Israel kill or injure Greta who has global recognition and known not to be violent? Probably not. Although it is hard to say at the moment.

How has climate change been done! Climate change and Human rights are linked. So many activists will cross over between campaigns for social justice and campaigns for the environment.

If there is virtue signalling going on I can only hope more people will embrace it. Recognising the situation in Gaza is horrific and signaling that you think this is wrong can only be a good thing.

This.

To be honest if the Israeli government had any sense whatsoever they would leave the ship dock as that would take away all the furore surrounding the trip.

💯

People aren't suggesting "neurodivergence or woke agenda is behind people supporting Palestinians".

Just that it may be in this particular case - not generally.

Not one of the occupants is a UK citizen according that Al Jazeera linked breakdown of who’s on board.

Why is it sailing under the protection of a UK flag?

As If the UK isn’t enough of an embarrassment.

Why even request Israel provide ‘safe passage’ to the ‘asylum seekers’ when they hadn’t even got to Egypt who could have taken them in, and they are accusing Israel of genocide, indiscriminate killing of civilians including babies and children, and deliberate starvation (especially refugees from Sudan). Why expect they will protect asylum seekers!

This is such a blatant load of horseshit.

I think you are misunderstanding things. Nobody is asking Israel to provide safe passage to the asylum seekers. The asylum seekers were saved from the water and have since been brought to the European coast guard.

The refugees from Sudan did not expect to end up on a boat to Gaza.

It’s sailing under the UK flag because they were basically able to register it under the UK flag. It isn’t an endorsement by the UK government. Is that what you were asking?

I really admire them on this boat. So many people are watching a genocide take place and doing nothing.....well they are doing something so good on them

I hope the Palestinians know about this, it may cone to nothing but i hope they know they aren't forgotten.

They know and are waiting ❤
https://x.com/M_shebrawy3/status/1931062536205693346

Precisely what are they doing to help Palestinians? Self serving for themselves, definitely. Very little aid on the boat, so not actually useful! Expecting protection from what? Apart from talking points, and Gaza is on the news more than most crisis eg Sudan, so we l know its ongoing and all want a ceasefire. Whats needed is genuine aid that will feed people rather than a tiny token as a mere talking point, that would be better. Still they will shout the usual slogans and feel they have 'done something ' whilst actually having done nothing. Slow hand 👏.

Meanwhile, let's all hope that the ceasefire negotiators can actually achieve something tangible that will ultimately make a real difference to all.

Yep this.

Also, turn up with a couple of carrier bags to load their aid into and pass it on.