Beirut - Saba:
Hamas has condemned what it described as a "crime of piracy" committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the solidarity ship "Madeleine" after it was intercepted in international waters while en route to the Gaza Strip.
The movement said in a press statement on Monday that Israeli naval forces escorted the ship to the port of Ashdod and detained the international activists on board, noting that these activists were on a "humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip and exposing the crime of mass starvation."
Hamas considered this action to constitute "organized state terrorism, a clear violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers motivated by humanitarian motives."
The movement praised the steadfastness of the activists, who belong to multiple nationalities, and considered them an example of continuing global solidarity with Gaza, stressing that "the voice of humanity remains alive in the face of the occupation."
The statement indicated that the "Madeleine" ship, along with the convoys The land crossings that reached the Gaza border from countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, and Jordan are evidence of the failure of what it described as the "Zionist propaganda machine" and the expansion of popular solidarity with the Gaza Strip.
At the end of its statement, Hamas demanded "the immediate release of the activists and held the occupation fully responsible for their safety." It also called on the United Nations and international organizations to condemn what it described as a "crime" and to take urgent action to end the blockade imposed on Gaza.
It emphasized that "the blockade is a crime that does not expire with a statute of limitations," while calling for continued international initiatives to break it.
The statement emphasized that the detention of the Madeleine will not halt the growing wave of solidarity with Gaza, but will rather increase Israel's isolation.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (an organization that launched a campaign against the blockade on Gaza and attempted to break the blockade by boat) said that "the Israeli occupation army boarded its ship, the Madeleine, which was heading to Gaza, and contact with it was lost."
In a statement issued Monday morning, the coalition accused the occupation forces of "kidnapping the volunteers on board the Madeleine." Radio The Israeli occupation army, citing a military source, said, "The Madeleine ship is being taken to Ashdod port after being seized."
The Israeli occupation army released footage of the moment all the foreign activists on board the Madeleine were arrested.
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