Freedom Flotilla Coalition states that Israeli soldiers have ‘entered’ the ship in the night from Sunday to Monday. The contact with the Madleen has been broken, the organization added in a message on Telegram.
The Israeli navy, which is on its way to Gaza, had ordered course to change course.
On board the activist ship there are twelve people on board, including the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and the Dutch captain Mark van Rennes. The ship had relief supplies for Gaza on board.
Earlier in the night a group of boats approached the activist ship, but they seemed to leave after a while. The Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said he had ordered his armed forces to prevent the Madleen from sailing to Gaza.
The Navy demanded a change of course from the activist ship because the forbidden area was approaching, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
‘Madleen surrounded by drones’
Gaza Freedom Flotilla previously reported on Instagram that the Madleen was surrounded by drones, who “spray with a white, paint -like substance.” According to a message from the organization, the communication lines of the activist ship were also disrupted and disturbing sounds were broadcast on the radio.