GENEVA, June 3 — United Nations (UN) human rights experts have called for the safe passage of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition vessel Madleen, which departed from Italy on Sunday carrying essential medical supplies, food and children's items destined for Gaza, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
In a statement issued yesterday, the experts including UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Michael Fakhri and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese emphasised the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
They expressed grave concern for the safety of those on board the Freedom Flotilla vessel in light of repeated Israeli attacks on human rights defenders and both UN and civilian humanitarian missions. They recalled a similar vessel launched by the alliance in early May that was targeted by a drone strike off the coast of Malta.
The crew of volunteers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, set sail carrying barrels of what the group called "limited amounts, though symbolic", of relief supplies.
The statement stressed that as the flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off the coast of Gaza, Israel must abide by international law and comply with the International Court of Justice’s orders to ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The experts highlighted that the ICJ had issued provisional measures in March 2024 recognising the widespread presence of famine and starvation in Gaza.
They further condemned the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, stating that the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Relief Foundation was employing aid to displace, humiliate and detain civilians.
The experts also cited alarming figures, noting that acute malnutrition among children had risen by more than 80 per cent as of March 2025.
— Bernama-WAM
