Amid the Ongoing Genocide in Gaza: The “Madelene” Ship Defies the Siege as the Free Word Sails Toward Freedom

In the face of the inhumane siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007, and amid the genocide inflicted on the Palestinian people before the eyes and ears of the world, the International Union of Journalists and Writers – Free People of the World declares its full support for the “Madelene” ship, which has sailed from a European port in a renewed effort to break the brutal blockade on over two million people.

“Madelene” is not just a name; it symbolizes an innocent Palestinian child whose life was taken by the Israeli war machine. She has become an icon of stolen innocence and a stark representation of the daily injustices suffered by Gaza’s children. Today, the ship that bears her name – the 36th vessel in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s efforts – sails with the conscience of the free world on board, carrying a message of human solidarity, led by activists, journalists, and human rights defenders from across Europe.

This ship carries no weapons. It carries the free word, a living conscience, and a will that refuses to submit to silence or surrender to injustice. It raises the banner of truth in a time of darkness, reaffirming that solidarity with the oppressed needs only moral courage and a responsible human stance.

The ongoing suffocating blockade of Gaza, the prevention of food and medicine, the deliberate starvation of civilians, and the daily bombardment that erases entire families, constitutes a crime against humanity, a documented war crime, and a global moral failure.

For this reason, the International Union of Journalists and Writers and The International Shield Organization – Free People of the World affirm that supporting the “Madelene” ship is an act of standing for justice and freedom, rejecting media oppression, and upholding the role of the free word in exposing crimes and liberating the truth from the chains of distortion.

We call on all free people – journalists, writers, media institutions, and global citizens – to support this courageous initiative by all available means, and to cover its progress with professionalism and courage. The time has come for the camera, the microphone, and the pen to stand with the victims, not with the killers.

We believe that the free word cannot be silenced,
And that the Ship of Truth will reach its shore,
No matter how long the journey takes.

International Union of Journalists and Writers
 Brussels
 June 8, 2025