ALBAWABA - Eight out of 12 activists who were on board the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's 'Madleen' refused to sign Israel's deportation papers. According to Hebrew sources, the eight activists will be forcibly detained and deported, despite holding a firm stance on their humanitarian mission for Gaza.
Madleen (also known as Madeline) set sail for Gaza from Italy's Sicily on June 1, 2025. However, just before reaching the Strip's shore, Israeli forces surrounded the boat, interrupted its journey with drones, and showered it with a white chemical substance.
On board the humanitarian boat were 12 activists, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, French-Palestinian EU parliament member Rima Hassan, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, Al-Jazeera France's Omar Faiad, and many more.
8 'Madleen' activists refuse to sign Israeli deportation papers
Their mission was to raise awareness about the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, and to demand that Israel lift its siege to allow humanitarian aid like food supplies into the Strip.
According to Anadolu, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the activists arrived at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and will be sent to their home countries.
Among the activists who refused to sign the papers was French-Palestinian EU parliament member Rima Hassan. The eight individuals will be detained for 96 hours since Israel deemed them "illegal residents" if they don't sign the legal documents, as reported by several Hebrew sources.
On the contrary, Greta Thunberg agreed to sign the papers and is on her way back to her home country.
Security footage of the moment Israel detained the 12 activists on board the 'Madleen' (Israel DFA)
A statement was also released for the eight activists who refused to sign the papers. It read, "Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation."
The statement added, "Consuls from the passengers’ home countries met them at the airport."
