In a powerful display of gratitude and defiance, hundreds of Palestinians, mostly children, women, and families, gathered on Monday near Gaza’s port to honour the solidarity ship Madeleine, which had attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade on the besieged Strip.

Amid flying Palestinian flags and hand-painted banners, the crowd sent a heartfelt message to the international activists aboard the ship: Gaza sees you, hears you, and stands with you. The gathering, filled with songs, chants, and handwritten letters from Gaza’s children, was more than a show of support, it was a declaration of dignity from a people determined not to be forgotten.

A spokesperson for the event described the Madeleine as “a living message from the free people of the world,” affirming that Gaza is not alone, even as it remains sealed off by an 18-year blockade intensified by ongoing war. The Israeli navy's interception of the ship, including the detention and intimidation of its passengers  was condemned as an extension of the same violence being waged daily against Palestinians.

Participants, including local figures and civil society groups, called for continued global efforts to challenge the siege and protect international volunteers risking their freedom to bring aid and awareness. Rana Al-Zubda, a mother attending the event, said, “Despite the bombs, we came with our children to say thank you, you have written your names into Gaza’s heart.”

As isolation deepens, events like these remind the world that Gaza’s spirit cannot be blockaded. The children’s letters, their voices rising with hope, reached out across the sea,  a testament to resilience and the power of global solidarity.