Dr. Baptiste André arrived in Paris still wearing his grimy shirt, a testament to the ordeal he endured aboard the Madleen, a charity vessel seized by the Israeli navy en route to Gaza. Greeted by a crush of reporters at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the French doctor recounted his emotional and harrowing experience — one that ended with his deportation but not without drawing global attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
André was among 11 crew members aboard the Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which aimed to symbolically break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza with a boatload of humanitarian aid. Though the boat was intercepted 100 nautical miles from Gaza’s coast, André believes the mission was a success in raising international awareness. “We played our part in a movement of solidarity,” he said.
The mission began on June 1 from southern Italy. It ended in the early hours of June 10, when Israeli forces surrounded the vessel with drones and boarded it, taking control and detaining the crew in Ashdod. Israeli authorities claim the boat entered illegally, a charge André refutes, noting the vessel was in international waters.
Onboard, André — the designated medic — was responsible for safety measures, including ensuring life jackets were worn and disposing of cellphones and kitchen tools to prevent any misinterpretations of intent. Despite rigorous daily training, he admitted, “Fear was very present.”
Most of the Madleen crew, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, have been deported. Legal advocacy group Adalah says crew members faced mistreatment and two were held in solitary confinement. Israeli authorities have not responded directly to these claims but insist detainees are treated lawfully.
The last two activists were due for deportation on June 13 but remain imprisoned due to Israeli airport closures following a military strike on Iran. According to the Freedom Flotilla, they now risk being detained for up to a month, and Adalah lawyers have yet to gain access to them.
Meanwhile, nearly 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, and the UN reports widespread malnutrition. Israel has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt, but its actions have only intensified scrutiny of its handling of international humanitarian efforts.
Swifteradio.com
