French journalists Yanis Mhamdi, from the independent media outlet Blast, and Omar Faiad, a reporter for Al Jazeera, who were on board the aid ship Madleen, were detained after the Israeli army intercepted the vessel during the night of 8 June 2025 in international waters. The newsrooms have had no news of the journalists since the ship was intercepted.

On Sunday, June 8, 2025, moments before contact with the Madleen’s crew was lost, French journalist Yanis Mhamdi posted on his X account: “I am a journalist and my arrest by the Israeli army is imminent. I call on all journalists to mobilise.”

Shortly after the loss of contact with the vessel, the Israeli army confirmed it had “boarded” the Madleen, and the Israeli Minister of Defence posted on X: “I commend the military for the swift and safe takeover.”

The editorial team at Blast confirmed today that it still has no news of the crew.

Yanis Mhamdi and Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad had boarded the vessel on 1 June, the day of its departure, to document the initiative, organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which aims to break the maritime blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip, and draw international attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.