This Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Israeli army intercepted the ship “Al-Dhamir” and eight other boats from the “Mille Madelines” humanitarian initiative, arresting 145 activists, including Tunisian activist Ali Kanis, more than 120 miles from Gaza, as they tried to reach the Gaza Strip to provide humanitarian support.
Prior to the interception, participants reported being attacked by an Israeli military helicopter, while boats of the “Mille Madelines” initiative were simultaneously neutralized by Israeli forces.
The ship “Al-Dhamir” left the port of Toronto in Italy on September 30, 2025, carrying 92 volunteers including doctors, journalists and activists from 42 countries with the aim of breaking the blockade imposed on Gaza and transporting aid and humanitarian materials.
Among the activists present was Ali Kanis, a Tunisian activist who had already participated in the Land Resistance Flotilla in June 2025, and engaged in several humanitarian and solidarity initiatives within the Resistance Flotilla movement from Tunisia.
This interception highlights the persistent tensions in the Mediterranean around humanitarian convoys heading towards Gaza. Israeli authorities maintain strict control over maritime access to the Gaza Strip, often to the detriment of international humanitarian initiatives.
The Freedom Flotilla and the “Mille Madelines” initiative are part of a tradition of international solidarity, aiming to alert the world community to the living conditions in the Gaza Strip and to break the isolation imposed by the blockade.
