Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
PALESTINIAN Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri has condemned a brazen act of maritime piracy by Israeli forces following the interception and seizure of the Madaleen aid ship en route to Gaza.
The vessel, carrying humanitarian supplies and a group of 12 international volunteers including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan was reportedly intercepted in international waters.
In a statement, Ambassador Almassri accused Israel of committing state-sponsored terrorism and maritime piracy and warned that such actions signal a dangerous escalation of Israel’s ongoing blockade and military campaign in Gaza.
“The Embassy of the State of Palestine strongly condemns the egregious act of maritime piracy committed by the Israeli occupation forces, which intercepted the Madaleen solidarity ship carrying vital aid to Gaza in international waters,” he said.
“This heinous act, resulting in the hijacking of the ship and the abduction of all 12 volunteers, including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, reflects the true face of the Israeli genocidal state.”
Since the ship’s interception, the Embassy reports that all independent communication with the volunteers has been severed, raising fears for their safety and well-being.
The vessel was part of a wider civil society initiative to challenge what many international observers and human rights organisations have described as Israel’s unlawful blockade of Gaza, a territory that has been subjected to what the Palestinian Authority terms a campaign of starvation warfare.
“For several months, Israel has employed starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians in Gaza, denying them access to basic necessities, including food, medicine and humanitarian aid,” Ambassador Almassri said.
“Aid distribution sites have been turned into mass slaughterhouses.”
According to figures released by Palestinian authorities, over 115 people have been killed and 1 110 injured while attempting to access aid in Gaza.
Since October 2023, the overall death toll in the enclave has risen to a staggering 540 880, with women and children comprising the majority.
At least 126 227 people have been injured, while many remain buried under rubble, unreachable by rescue teams due to ongoing hostilities.
Calling on the international community to act, Ambassador Almassri said there was an urgent need for accountability.
“The world must not remain silent in the face of such blatant aggression and terrorism. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all abductees and urge global powers to end the illegal blockade on Gaza and hold Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity.”
As global outrage builds, many now look to international institutions — including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court — to investigate the incident and determine whether the actions of the Israeli navy constitute violations of international maritime law and human rights conventions.
