It was not expected that Israel would allow the international British-flagged ship “Madleen”, carrying Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and other celebrities, to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip. But what was expected—and what actually happened—was the interception of the ship by the naval, air, and commando units of the Israeli Occupation Army, and the detention of the activists. The aim was to redirect their solidarity toward Israel instead, so that none of those who set out on the ship to deliver goods to Gaza would be able to stand with Palestinian justice.
Those onboard the ship chose to overcome the inaction of Western governments through a demonstration that has moved the world since the ship departed from Italy toward Gaza. They served as important delegates, exposing the extent of Israeli brutality and hostility to human civilisation, all while Israel claims to be “the only oasis of democracy in the Middle East.” The owner of the region’s most advanced military fears moral condemnation in the face of a small ship carrying a few supplies—supplies that are still far from enough to feed the starving population of Gaza. But Israel does not realise that by seizing the ship and returning the activists to their countries, each one of them has now become an ambassador for the just cause of the Palestinian people.
This will not be the last ship, nor the last voice, to try to expose the perpetrators of famine, destruction, and the mass killing of children. Though the ship was not allowed to help the people of Gaza, it has nonetheless achieved a significant goal: drawing the world's attention to the extent of brutality exercised by Israel in its humanitarian blockade—a brutality that has revealed itself to be far outside the traditions, values, and civilisation of the twenty-first century.
Madleen is a small ship carrying a powerful message—her sympathisers promise billions in support, and the number of people worldwide who condemn what Israel has done to the ship and to Gaza continues to grow, along with their influence.
The activists of the world—those who rebel against the inaction of governments in meeting even the minimum needs of Gaza—will not stop launching initiatives that expose the so-called “oasis of democracy” for what it is. The ship set out and has succeeded in delivering its message: that Israel will block all humanitarian and civilisational initiatives of a global nature, and invites only military partnerships to aid in the killing of innocent people in Gaza. Without doubt, Madleen has succeeded in embarrassing the rest of the world, which has failed to respond to one of the fiercest wars against humanity, civilians, and children. Madleen is only the beginning of a solidarity movement that will not end—with Gaza, and with its people.
Yousef Ramadan is the Ambassador of Palestine to Bangladesh
