Israeli authorities filed a formal confiscation request with the Maritime Court in Haifa on Wednesday, targeting the sailing vessel "Madleen" that was seized on Sunday during an attempted violation of the naval blockade surrounding the Gaza Strip. The intercepted ship currently remains under detention at Ashdod port.
The Judge determined that the government must submit a comprehensive and substantiated petition by June 22, after authorities initially filed only a preliminary confiscation notice without detailed justification.
The judicial decision draws upon established precedents from the "Estelle" vessel cases of 2014 and 2016, which mandate that any ship captured for blockade violations must undergo immediate judicial scrutiny. The court bears responsibility for evaluating the seizure's legality and determining the vessel's ultimate disposition.
Authorities received orders to inform the ship's owners, captain, or designated representatives by Thursday. Given that the vessel's proprietors likely reside outside Israel, specialized notification procedures were implemented to ensure proper legal service.
The pro-Palestinian flotilla initiative sought to challenge Israel's naval restrictions on the Gaza Strip. The "Madleen" carried notable figures, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and multiple European Parliament members. Israeli Shayetet 13 naval commandos assumed control of the vessel prior to its entry into Israeli waters, subsequently directing it to Ashdod port. While Thunberg and several companions executed deportation agreements, additional activists continue facing detention within Israel.
