BERLIN, 08 Oct. - (ANA) - Last night, Israeli forces violently stopped, boarded, and seized the ships of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza in international waters, abducting their crews. Among those abducted is Amira Zayed, an activist from Cologne and a member of MERA25, who joined hundreds of other activists on a civilian mission to break the illegal sea blockade of Gaza and deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid.

 

This mission was part of the second wave of civilian aid efforts following the Global Sumud Flotilla. It demonstrates that the international solidarity movement continues to grow despite Israel’s violent assaults and cannot be silenced.

 

“We are deeply concerned for the well-being of our friend and comrade Amira,” said MERA25 North Rhine-Westphalia chair Sharareh Shahedali. “Recently deported members of the Global Sumud Flotilla reported abuse, deprivation of sleep and food – some were even brutally beaten by Israeli forces. Torture and systematic mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been well documented for years. We therefore demand the immediate release of all activists and all political prisoners in Israeli custody.”

 

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition aims to draw the world’s attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and to establish a humanitarian corridor for the suffering population. While Western governments look away or even act as accomplices, civilians are taking action – with courage, determination, and true internationalism.

 

“These activists are risking their lives to defend humanity,” continued Shahedali. “While our governments support Israel’s war of annihilation, Amira and her fellow activists are showing what real solidarity means: international, organized, and uncompromisingly against genocide.”

 

MERA25 points to recent international mass demonstrations and general strikes – such as those in Italy on September 22 and October 3 – as evidence of the growing global solidarity with the Palestinian people.

 

 

Our Demands

 

 

- The German Foreign Office must act immediately to ensure the safety and lives of all German citizens aboard the Freedom Flotilla.

 

- Germany must end its complicity in Israel’s violations of international law. Instead of silent support, the federal government must take clear action – including the suspension of all arms deliveries and military cooperation.

 

- We demand the immediate release of all activists and all political prisoners currently in Israeli custody.

 

- “Here in Germany as well, we must work to bring the country to a standstill through general strikes to change our government’s course – away from militarization, austerity, and support for an apartheid state,” said MERA25 chair Johannes Fehr.

 

 

MERA25 calls on people in Germany to organize and take action – in their unions, in pro-Palestinian solidarity groups, and within MERA25 and DiEM25.

 

 

 

 

MERA25 is the name shared by all of DiEM25’s national political parties, which let us contest elections directly. Because we’re not just a movement of radical ideas. We’re also about putting those ideas into practice.

 

These parties are very different from the old ones they were built to replace. Every major decision regarding a MERA25 party – from its foundations, to its programme, to its candidate list – is subject to a vote by all our members. Wherever they live, whatever passport they hold. It’s true internationalism in action.

 

Currently, we have three MERA25 parties: in Greece, in Germany and in Italy.   - (ANA) -

 

 

AB/ANA/08 October 2025  - - -