In the early hours of June 9, Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen ship in international waters, near the coast of the Gaza Strip. The yacht, carrying 12 activists from seven countries and humanitarian aid and food supplies, had been sailing for just over a week. Among the activists was Greta Thunberg, who has been consistently demonised and mocked by Israeli politicians and others for her support of the Palestinian struggle.

The aid on board was a symbolic quantity, and it would not have made much of a difference had it reached the starving Palestinians in Gaza. The United Nations estimates that at least 500 trucks of aid are needed daily in order to meet their basic needs. It was also expected that Israeli forces were going to stop it before it reached Gaza’s shores.

Nevertheless, the Madleen carried out an important mission. It demonstrated to the world and to governments that are refusing to abide by their international legal obligations to stop the genocide and lift the blockade that Gaza will not be forgotten.

The Madleen was organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), a grassroots group which campaigns in solidarity with the Palestinian people. In May, another of their boats – Conscience – was attacked by drones just outside of Maltese territorial waters. The damage was so significant that it was not able to continue its journey to........

© Al Jazeera