Eyal Weizman, Founder of 2024 Right Livelihood Laureate Forensic Architecture, has confirmed that his organisation is reviewing and compiling evidence of Israel’s interception of the UK-flagged humanitarian vessel Madleen, seized by Israeli forces at 3:02 am CET on June 9 in international waters (31.95236° N, 32.38880° E).
The Madleen, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was carrying food, water and medical supplies to Gaza. On board was 2019 Right Livelihood Laureate Greta Thunberg. According to the organisers, Israeli forces jammed communications, sprayed a white irritant and forcibly boarded the unarmed civilian ship, detaining the crew and confiscating its cargo.
The ship’s position was transparently tracked and publicly broadcast using a real-time tracker developed by Forensic Architecture. Designed to protect the crew and ensure accountability, the system now provides a digital record that may serve as legal evidence.
Eyal Weizman, Founder of Forensic Architecture, stated:
“We are reviewing the evidence, we are compiling the evidence. Nothing should be left undocumented, so the world can see that the crimes of Israel are extending from the Gaza Strip into international waters, from Palestinians to international activists and humanitarians. We believe the occupation forces need to know that the eyes of the world are on them, that whatever they do will be recorded. And we have nothing to hide. It is, in fact, their crimes that are going to be captured.”
He added:
“Activists — and particularly, I’m happy to say, a fellow Right Livelihood Award recipient, Greta — are the conscience of the world. They are the manifestation of humanity. People across the globe, standing in solidarity with millions, could follow and virtually accompany the team representing them.”
Right Livelihood Executive Director Ole von Uexkull said:
“Greta Thunberg gives a powerful example of non-violent civic action in the face of enforced starvation. We call for the immediate release of Greta and all those on board the Madleen — and for free and unconditional humanitarian access to Gaza without any delay.”
Speaking from the Madleen before its seizure, Thunberg told 2008 Laureate Amy Goodman in an interview with Democracy Now!:
“No matter what the cause of the suffering is — whether that is CO₂, bombs, state repression or other forms of violence — we have to stand up against that source of suffering.”
Two Palestinian Right Livelihood Laureates also condemned the seizure.
Issa Amro, 2024 Laureate and human rights defender, stated:
“The attack on the Madleen flotilla shows the world that the Israeli government is afraid of nonviolence… As a human rights defender, I applaud the important act of breaking the siege on Gaza to bring humanitarian aid to families being deliberately starved by the State of Israel.”
Raji Sourani, 2013 Laureate and human rights lawyer, said:
“We will not give up until the end of the blockade, the end of genocide, the end of famine, and the end of occupation.”
Since March 2, 2025, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on food, medicine and fuel entering Gaza. UN experts now describe this as the “deliberate and wilful weaponisation of humanitarian aid,” in defiance of binding International Court of Justice orders.
For media enquiries
- International media: Temis Tormo, temis.tormo@rightlivelihood.org, +46 72 923 31 82
- German media: Nina Tesenfitz, presse@rightlivelihood.org, +49 170 5763 663
- Spanish media: Nayla Azzinnari, nayla@rightlivelihood.org, +54 9 11 5460 9860
