By Mohamed Ghani
PARIS/RABAT – Farida Amrani, a prominent French-Moroccan lawmaker and Member of Parliament for Essonne, was intercepted and detained by the Israeli navy in the early hours of Wednesday, October 8, 2025, while participating in an international humanitarian flotilla headed for the Gaza Strip.
Ms. Amrani, who serves as Vice-President of the France–Morocco Friendship Group and is a member of the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party, was sailing aboard the vessel named «Thousand Madleens». The operation resulted in the detention of nearly 120 individuals of various nationalities across nine vessels attempting to deliver aid through the Israeli blockade.
According to a statement received by the publication Yabiladi, the interception took place in international waters, more than 200 kilometers off the coast of Gaza.
Violation of International Law Alleged
The humanitarian mission had departed from Catania, Sicily, carrying essential medical and food supplies intended for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a territory described by organizers as being under continuous Israeli siege since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.
The source accompanying the humanitarian mission vehemently denounced the action, characterizing the interception as «a blatant violation of international law and a new infringement on freedom of navigation by the far-right Israeli government.»
Before joining the flotilla on September 24, MP Amrani had already alerted French authorities to the potential risks involved. She had formally requested diplomatic protection for all French and dual nationals participating in the mission, anticipating the likelihood of confrontation with Israeli forces.
Global Scale of the Mission
The interception highlights the ongoing tension surrounding maritime access to Gaza. Before her departure, Ms. Amrani had emphasized the global scope of the mission, noting that «more than 50 ships with hundreds of participants from 45 countries, including many French and Moroccans from around the world,» had initially joined or supported the humanitarian effort.
The statement concluded with an urgent appeal to the French government and diplomatic bodies. It called for the immediate release of Farida Amrani and all detained flotilla participants, the swift return of the confiscated humanitarian aid, and the establishment of guarantees ensuring its safe and unhindered delivery to the civilians in Gaza.
