By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
SvennoJ on 08 June 2025
Edit Thread

Drones drop white substance on Madleen as communications blocked

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla says that quadcopters have surrounded the Madleen and are “spraying it with a white paint-like substance”.

“Communications are jammed and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio,” the flotilla said in a post on Instagram.

Israeli forces intercept the Madleen, cut off comms

Contact has been lost with the Madleen after Israeli commandos intercepted it in international waters.

They demanded that everyone on board turn off their phones, and we have lost contact with Al Jazeera Mubasher journalist Omar Faiad as well as our live feed.

International Solidarity Movement co-founder, Huwaida Arraf, confirmed that they have also lost contact with the Madleen.


‘Eyes were burning’ after white substance dropped on Madleen

Here’s more from Huwaida Arraf, the co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, which is supporting the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

“Just moments ago, communication seemed to be cut,” Arraf told Al Jazeera from Sicily. “So, we have lost all contact with our colleagues on the Madleen.”

“Before that, we know that they had two drones hovering above them that dropped some kind of chemical on the vessel. We don’t know what that chemical was,” she said.

“Some people reported that their eyes were burning. Before that, they were also approached by vessels in a very threatening manner.” So at least for the last hour, hour and a half, they have been threatened by Israeli forces.”

“The last we saw, were able to hear from them, they were surrounded… by Israeli naval commandos and it looked like the commandos were about to take over the vessel.”


Madleen crew told to throw phones over board

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has shared a video showing the crew in the moments before the ship was intercepted by Israeli forces. The crew sat wearing life vests, with their hands in the air and threw their phones in the water.

Francesca Albanese says she lost contact with Madleen

As we’ve been reporting, the support crew for the Madleen say that communications on board the ship have been cut. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese also says she has lost contact with the ship.

“I heard the soldiers speaking while the captain was on the phone with me,” says Albanese.

“I lost connection with the captain as he was telling me that ‘another boat is approaching’.”


Last edited by SvennoJ - on 08 June 2025