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Brussels / London, 9 June 2025 — 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.
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. 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:
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:
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. |
