Israel may still have the Madleen aid boat. But organizers are already planning their next journey to Gaza

The Madleen, a boat seized by Israeli forces while en route to Gaza, might still be stuck in a port off the coast of Israel. But the activists who piloted it are busy planning their next attempt — albeit with a different boat.

Named after a famous fisherwoman in Gaza, the Madleen set sail from Italy, aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid and draw attention to the plight of the enclave, which has been devastated by 20 months of war. It was the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC)'s 36th such expedition since 2008. 

But while the group waits to hear from officials on the boat's status, Zohar Chamberlain Regev, an FFC member, is in Sicily, fixing up a different boat for another expedition to Gaza. 

The group had attempted to sail this vessel, called the Handala, from Norway to Gaza in 2024. That trip ended early in Malta, as they felt the boat was too old to make the journey. But they'll soon attempt it again, from Sicily.

"Our … main goal is to send a message of solidarity and encouragement to the Palestinian resistance, to the millions of people under occupation," Regev told CBC News.

Over the years, many of the FFC's boats have been seized by Israeli forces. Getting them back involves time in court — and even then it isn't guaranteed. 

The Madleen is the third boat for which Regev will have to appear in court. The Frankfurt-based Israeli citizen, who is its registered owner, says she hasn't yet heard anything from authorities.

"But whenever they do [reach out]," she says, "I'll tell them that this boat was on its way to Gaza; they had no business taking it."

The group's first five expeditions, which were all in 2008, were the only ones to successfully make it to Gaza and sail back out. From 2009 onwards, Regev says no boat has been able to reach the enclave's shores. 

"Some boats were rammed at sea and then rescued; some boats were returned by the occupation to their owners."

She says the group has reused the boats that have been returned, or sold them to fund future activities. 

The aid on board typically doesn't make it into Gaza, either, the FFC says. Regev says she has no information on the supplies aboard the Madleen. 

Israeli authorities did not respond to CBC's requests for comment on the aid. But they previously told Reuters that it would be sent to Gaza through what they called "real humanitarian channels."

Despite the many unsuccessful attempts, Regev says she is steadfast in the pursuit of the coalition's goals.