OPINION: ‘Israel’ didn’t treat Madleen activists well, it treated them strategically

Had the Madleen mission gone unnoticed and undocumented, it is doubtful the outcome would have looked anything like what we have witnessed.

From the moment Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) intercepted the humanitarian boat in international waters, the situation quickly transformed into a PR opportunity, one that 'Israeli' authorities seemed eager to stage-manage.

The IOF intercepted the Madleen in international waters, waters where 'Israel' has no legal authority to enforce its blockade. The volunteers aboard were unarmed, carrying humanitarian aid, and engaging in a peaceful protest to demand an end to the siege on Gaza. Instead of protecting their right to dissent, 'Israel' detained them. But what followed next was not typical of how 'Israeli' authorities have treated activists and Palestinians.

Almost immediately after the ship’s seizure, 'Israel' released a curated stream of videos: soldiers handing out bottled water, carefully worded statements framing the detainees as being "taken care of," and an air of benevolence unbecoming of a state currently under investigation for alleged war crimes.

Why the sudden soft touch?

One answer: Greta Thunberg.

The first to be released, the most high-profile name aboard, Thunberg’s presence brought a level of media attention 'Israel' could not afford to mishandle. Had she been mistreated, it would have sparked global outrage, perhaps more than even 'Israel' is accustomed to weathering. Her swift release was not an act of goodwill. It was damage control.

Now, six more have been released, including Rima Hassan, a well-known French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, and Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, who had reportedly been placed in solitary confinement and was on a hunger and water strike. Just one day after reports of their mistreatment circulated, they were suddenly freed. Coincidence? Highly unlikely.

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It is hard not to notice the pattern: the more prominent the name, the faster the release. The more media noise around the detainees, the better their treatment. For those who were not spotlighted, like the two remaining French nationals still held in Givon Prison, release has been slower, visits from lawyers have been blocked, and updates are sparse.

This is not about justice. It is about PR.

'Israel' has an image problem. Decades of occupation, a brutal war on Gaza, and an ever-expanding list of violations have tainted its international standing. So when an opportunity arose to show the world a gentler face, caring soldiers, humanitarian restraint, procedural deportations, it seized it.

But let us not be fooled. If there were no cameras, if these activists were not connected to global movements and media-savvy organizations, the outcome would have likely been harsher. Solitary confinement, hunger strikes, delayed access to lawyers, these are not the exception. They are the rule, especially for Palestinians, who face such treatment without the world watching.

In a media environment increasingly critical of 'Israel’s' actions, this sudden shift in behavior reeks of strategic calculation. It is not that 'Israel' does not know how to treat people fairly, it simply chooses to do so when it is politically expedient.

What happened to the Madleen crew proves this.