11th June, 2025: More than 700+ activists and concerned citizens from across India wrote to the British High Commission today through its offices in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Goa, conveying concerns regarding Madleen activists and the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
The letter was initiated by the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), a coalition of grassroots movements in India and signed by numerous other people’s collectives and concerned citizens, committed to justice and human rights. The signatories vehemently condemn the illegal capture of the Freedom Flotilla vessel Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship, by Israeli forces in international waters on 9th June, 2025, and the illegal blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. They demand the immediate and dignified release of the eight detained Madleen activists, the return of the four ‘deported’ activists to resume their peaceful mission, an end to Israel’s illegal blockade, accountability for its genocidal war crimes and immediate, unhindered access to humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Madleen carried vital aid—baby formula, food, medical supplies—for Gaza’s population facing forced starvation due to Israel’s blockade and ongoing genocide. The letter states that the British Deputy High Commission in Israel has clear legal and diplomatic responsibilities: to intervene in the defence of the UK-flagged Madleen and its detained crew, in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Article 5). This includes demanding accountability for their treatment, pressing the FCDO to act for the Madleen’s release, and supporting ICC/UN international war crimes investigations.
The signatories call upon UK to fulfil its legal and moral responsibility, and to act without delay in defence of the 12 activists who were unlawfully abducted and silenced for their solidarity. These brave activists are doing what no international body or state has effectively done: directly confronting the illegal blockade to deliver aid to Gaza’s starving population. They cannot be penalized for upholding human rights that the international community has painstakingly defined and defended since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
NAPM and all the 700 + signatories demand the British High Commission, through its offices across India and its counterpart in Tel Aviv to:
- Secure the immediate and dignified release of the 8 Madleen activists, including MEP Rima Hassan, ensuring protection from torture and clarifying diplomatic immunities.
- Recover the Madleen and its cargo for Gaza’s urgent aid delivery.
- Support the Hind Rajab Foundation’s complaint, pushing for a UK criminal investigation into Shayetet 13, Vice Admiral David Saar Salama, and other senior military commanders implicated in war crimes in the Madleen, Conscience, and Mavi Marmara incidents, holding Israel accountable.
- Demand the lifting of Israel’s illegal blockade and ensure immediate, unimpeded access to all land and sea routes for humanitarian aid, dismantling the US-Israeli militarized aid model.
- Compel the UK to lead decisive diplomatic action to end Israel’s impunity and hold it accountable for genocide, aligning with its justice commitments.
- Urge the UK to champion EU naval escorts to protect humanitarian missions to Gaza, ensuring safe aid delivery against Israel’s aggression.
The letter states that UK’s obligation to uphold international law is absolute. Israel’s abduction of the Madleen activists, unlawful detention, and prevention of aid delivery demand unequivocal condemnation and strict sanctions on Israel, both by the UK and the international community. The horrific use of starvation as a weapon of ‘war’ by Israel and bombing at aid delivery centres is condemnable.
The signatories call upon Govt of UK to initiate immediate action towards release of all those detained, uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and an urgent investigation and accountability into the genocidal war crimes of Israel. They also demand an end to the impunity being enjoyed by Israel, especially due to inaction by and complicity of the UK and other powerful governments.
See below PDF for full text of the petition initiated by National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and endorsed by 700 + concerned people’s organizations and citizens across India
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