Daijiworld Media Network- Gaza
Gaza, Jun 10: A new storm has erupted over the interception of the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen, after reports surfaced linking the mission’s organiser to Zaher Birawi — a British-Palestinian journalist long accused by Israel of ties to Hamas.
The Madleen, which carried 12 international activists including renowned climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, set sail on June 1 under the banner of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Its goal was to challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid including baby formula and essential food grains.
However, the mission was cut short after Israeli naval forces intercepted the ship. While passengers aboard called the move an “act of piracy in international waters,” Israeli officials maintained that the blockade is a necessary security measure given Hamas’ presence in Gaza.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Zaher Birawi — head of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza and founding member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition — played a significant role in organising the voyage. Birawi was present at the ship’s launch and lauded those aboard for their courage.
Although Birawi has not been charged with any criminal activity in the UK or the US, both of which recognise Hamas as a terrorist organisation, he has been flagged by Israel since 2013 as a Hamas operative operating from Europe. In 2021, Israeli authorities even designated his NGO, EuroPal Forum, as a terrorist entity.
Birawi has repeatedly denied these claims, stating that no court in any country has ever found him guilty of terrorism or related crimes. “I have never been involved in any illegal acts,” Birawi asserted following a past legal dispute in which he won compensation after being wrongly listed in a terrorism database.
The issue gained fresh political attention after Labour MP Christian Wakeford used parliamentary privilege to label Birawi “a serious national security risk,” accusing him of having obtained British citizenship using fake documents — a claim that Birawi has dismissed as “baseless and defamatory.”
Despite growing scrutiny, no formal legal action has been taken against him by British or American authorities.
Greta Thunberg’s presence on board the Madleen added an international spotlight to the voyage. Although she has yet to comment publicly on Birawi’s alleged ties, her inclusion in the mission has fuelled debate about the risks and politics surrounding activist-led flotilla efforts.
Thunberg, known for her outspoken climate activism and social justice advocacy, had joined the mission to highlight what she described as the "humanitarian crisis in Gaza."
The Madleen carried non-lethal supplies and intended to deliver humanitarian relief directly to Palestinians in Gaza — a territory under Israeli blockade since Hamas took control in 2007. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition and associated organisations like the EuroPal Forum maintain that their mission is peaceful and humanitarian in nature.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has justified its interception citing security threats, especially in the wake of the deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
As tensions in the region remain high, the incident has once again brought into sharp focus the complexities of humanitarian activism, geopolitics, and allegations of terror links — all under the shadow of one of the world’s most enduring conflicts.