In the face of destruction, displacement, and despair, one woman’s story has emerged as a symbol of hope and defiance. Her name is Madleen Kulab — Gaza’s first fisherwoman — and today, her name sails across the Mediterranean, etched into the hull of a vessel determined to defy the siege on her homeland. The “Madleen,” part of the Freedom Flotilla, carries more than just humanitarian aid. It carries her story — one of courage, loss, and an unshakable connection to the sea.
Born and raised along the embattled coastline of Gaza, Madleen Kulab’s love for the sea began at the tender age of five. By thirteen, after her father fell ill, she had already taken the reins, braving Israel’s naval blockade to fish — often sailing as close to the line of gunboats as she dared — in order to feed her family and sustain their livelihood.
“I used to read the waves and the wind to know when and where to fish,” she recalled. “Like all fishermen in Gaza, our lives revolved around the sea and home.”
But her story is not only one of resilience — it is one of profound sacrifice. When Israel’s war on Gaza escalated in late 2023, Madleen’s life was torn apart. Her father, the man who first introduced her to the sea, was killed in an airstrike near their home. Pregnant and grieving, Madleen was forced to flee Gaza City, making a desperate journey through Khan Younis, Rafah, Deir el-Balah, and Nuseirat — all while carrying a child in her womb.
Eventually, she gave birth in a makeshift hospital setting, without pain relief or proper care, surrounded by displaced relatives in a crowded apartment. “It was a difficult, brutal birth,” she said. “There were no beds because of the overwhelming number of wounded. I had to leave the hospital immediately after giving birth.”
Now a mother of five, Madleen has returned to the ruins of her Gaza City home. Her fishing boat, her nets, and her tools — all gone. Her savings, her independence, and the salty joy of fresh sardines ten times a week — vanished. What remains is a shell of the life she once knew, and a determination that refuses to be extinguished.
That spirit of endurance is what moved the crew of the Freedom Flotilla to name a vessel after her.
“They contacted me personally to ask for my blessing,” she said. “They told me their mission was peaceful — to carry supplies like rice, flour, and medicine to Gaza. I told them not to endanger themselves, but I’m so grateful for their courage. It meant so much to know they chose my name.”
To Madleen, the ship is more than a tribute. It is a lifeline.
“In our isolation, that ship was a sign of solidarity,” she said. “It told us that free people around the world still stand with us.”
Madleen's legacy is a quiet revolution — not one fought with weapons, but with nets, recipes, and determination. As a skilled cook, her fish dishes — especially her signature sardine meals — earned her a loyal clientele. She turned the sea’s bounty into sustenance, and her father’s legacy into her own livelihood.
Now, with the fishing industry in Gaza decimated, Madleen stands as a voice for her community. “We’ve lost everything,” she says. “Not just income, but identity. The sea was our life — and the war tried to take even that.”
But thanks to a ship that bears her name, her story now sails on the horizon of global consciousness.
The Madleen is not just a boat. It is a declaration: that dignity lives on in Gaza. That amid the hunger and humiliation, one woman’s journey — from five-year-old fishergirl to the symbol of a flotilla — continues to inspire the world.
Full Statement from Madleen Kulab:
"They told me their mission was peaceful. They were carrying supplies like rice, flour, and medicine. They promised to avoid engaging in anything dangerous. I’m grateful to these activists who have devoted themselves, left their lives and comforts behind, and stood with Gaza despite all the risks. I had hoped the ship would reach Gaza’s port, not just for the aid it carried, but for the message it would send — that Gaza is not alone. In our isolation, that ship was a sign of solidarity. It told us that free people around the world still stand with us."