Hezbollah denounces Israeli interception of Madleen humanitarian ship as 'piracy crime'

Hezbollah "firmly condemned the piracy crime committed by the Zionist enemy" after the interception on Monday of the sailboat Madleen by the Israeli navy in international waters as it attempted to reach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and international activists on board, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

In a statement released on Monday, the party condemned "the arrest of international activists on board" and the fact that "the humanitarian and relief aid intended for the besieged Gaza Strip" could not be delivered. It described this act as a "flagrant violation of international laws and conventions as well as human values."

The sailboat, carrying 12 French, German, Brazilian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish and Dutch activists, left Italy on June 1 to "break the Israeli blockade" of Gaza, which is facing a disastrous humanitarian situation after more than a year and a half of war triggered by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, in Israel. The Israeli military reported having "boarded" the boat without specifying the location.

According to Hezbollah, the interception of the Madleen "reflects the state of moral and political bankruptcy that this temporary entity is going through" and demonstrates "its inability to break the will of the people of Gaza and its resistance."

Expressing its "total solidarity with the brave activists on board the vessel," Hezbollah called on "the international community as well as human rights and humanitarian organizations to condemn this heinous crime" and to "intervene quickly to ensure the release of the hostages." The party also demanded that "the occupying entity be held accountable for its ongoing aggression" and forced to "allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and lift the imposed siege."

Iran, an ally of Hezbollah and enemy of Israel, also condemned the interception of the boat, calling it an act of "piracy."

Israel is facing growing international pressure to end the war that was triggered after Hamas's attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,218 Israelis, mostly civilians. In retaliation, the Israeli military launched a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip, where over 54,880 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed according to local authorities.