Hind Rajab Foundation files “war crimes” complaint against Israeli forces over raid on Freedom Flotilla Vessel Madleen

Hind Rajab Foundation files “war crimes” complaint against Israeli forces over raid on Freedom Flotilla Vessel Madleen

The Hind Rajab Foundation has formally filed a war crimes complaint with the Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit (Counter Terrorism Command, SO15) concerning the Israeli naval raid on the British-flagged humanitarian vessel Madleen, which took place in international waters on 8–9 June 2025.

The complaint targets the Shayetet 13 unit that executed the attack and Vice Admiral David Saar Salama who is the commander in chief of the Israeli Navy.

The Madleen, sailing as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was carrying medical supplies, food, and baby formula to civilians in Gaza.
The ship, legally considered an extension of UK territory, was over 60 nautical miles off the coast when it was intercepted and boarded by Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 naval commandos.

Shayetet 13 operates under the Israeli Navy, commanded by Vice Admiral David Saar Salama, and is known for its maritime interdiction operations.

The Hind Rajab Foundation strongly calls on the United Kingdom to fulfil its legal responsibilities and immediately intervene to secure the unconditional release of the abducted activists who remain unlawfully detained in Israel.

Their freedom is a matter of urgent humanitarian and legal concern.

Criminal Complaint Filed Under UK and International Law

The complaint, filed under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957, the International Criminal Court Act 2001, and Section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (on torture), accuses Israeli forces of grave breaches of international humanitarian law, war crimes, and violations of UK jurisdiction.
Key allegations include:

• The unlawful use of chemical irritants from drones;

• Forcible detention and incommunicado confinement of 12 unarmed civilians;

• Denial of legal and consular access;

• Confiscation of humanitarian aid and personal belongings;

• Degrading and inhuman treatment.

Among the passengers were high-profile activists and humanitarians, including Greta Thunberg and MEP Rima Hassan. Eyewitnesses report that passengers were physically assaulted, exposed to choking white substances sprayed from drones, and denied communication with the outside world.

READ ALSO: Israeli soldiers hijack Gaza-bound aid ship, kidnap Greta Thunberg, journalist, other activists

Parallels to the 2010 Mavi Marmara Incident

The filing draws clear legal parallels to the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, referencing the UN Human Rights Council report (A/HRC/15/21) that found Israel’s conduct during that operation unlawful. The same legal framework applies to the Madleen: unlawful military action in international waters, against a civilian ship conducting humanitarian operations, resulting in arbitrary detention, confiscation of property, and interference with humanitarian relief.

Violation of Binding ICJ Orders and Maritime Law

The complaint underscores that the Madleen was operating in compliance with three binding International Court of Justice orders (January, March and May 2024) requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. Israel’s blockade enforcement against the ship violates:

• Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention;

• Rules 55 and 56 of the ICRC Customary IHL;

• Article 92 of UNCLOS on exclusive flag state jurisdiction;

• And peremptory norms (jus cogens) of international law.

Legal Basis for UK Jurisdiction

As a UK-flagged vessel, the Madleen is under British criminal jurisdiction even outside territorial waters. Crimes committed aboard the vessel are deemed to have occurred on British territory. The UK has an international legal obligation to investigate grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, torture, and war crimes, particularly when they occur within its legal jurisdiction.

Hind Rajab Foundation’s Call for Action

The Foundation has requested that UK authorities:

• Open a criminal investigation against the Israeli naval and political officials responsible;

• Interview and collect testimony from the Madleen passengers;

• Refer the case to the CPS for legal action and arrest warrants;

• Monitor suspects who may enter UK territory;

• Coordinate with Interpol, the ICC, and relevant UN Special Rapporteurs.

Next Steps

The Hind Rajab Foundation is currently compiling supporting documentation, including passenger testimonies, media coverage, video evidence, and expert legal analyses. These will be submitted to support the UK investigation.
This filing is part of the Foundation’s broader mission to end impunity for war crimes and uphold international law, especially in the context of the ongoing siege of Gaza.

The Madleen case marks a watershed moment in holding perpetrators accountable for attacks on humanitarian missions.

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