TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli military has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship, the Handala, which was attempting to breach the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory. The operation resulted in the detention of 21 international activists and journalists onboard, alongside the confiscation of all cargo, which included essential supplies such as baby formula, food, and medicine. This information was confirmed by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition on Sunday.
According to the coalition, the Israeli military executed a "violent interception" of the ship approximately 40 nautical miles from Gaza in international waters just before midnight on Saturday. The military reportedly cut off communication and camera feeds during the operation.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition emphasized that all the cargo aboard the ship was civilian in nature and designated for direct distribution among a population facing severe conditions due to what they termed "deliberate starvation and medical collapse" under Israel's blockade, which they describe as illegal.
The Israeli military did not provide an immediate comment on the interception. However, Israel’s Foreign Ministry made a post on social media platform X early Sunday, confirming that the Navy had stopped the vessel and was in the process of bringing it to shore.
This interception marks the second incident in recent months where a ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has been hindered from delivering aid to the Gaza region, where experts have been raising alarms about a potential famine. Notably, activist Greta Thunberg was among 12 activists on the vessel Madleen when it was seized during a similar military operation in June.
The interception comes during a period of increasing international scrutiny regarding Israel's handling of humanitarian issues in Gaza, particularly with growing concerns over food scarcity amid the ongoing restrictions placed on aid. A regional human rights organization, Adalah, has proclaimed that the raid on the vessel was a violation of international law and has called for the immediate release of the detained activists, who hail from ten different countries, including lawmakers and human rights advocates.
Adalah emphasized in their statement that the flotilla did not intrude upon Israeli territorial waters and was instead headed toward the recognized territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as per international law. They argued that Israel possesses no legal jurisdiction or authority in the international waters where the vessel was intercepted.
Additionally, Adalah has demanded immediate information regarding the location and legal status of the detained activists. Nicola Fratoianni, a lawmaker from a left-wing environmentalist party, urged the Italian government to ensure the safety of the two Italian nationals who were aboard the vessel. The crew also included seven U.S. citizens, comprising a human rights attorney, a Jewish U.S. war veteran, and a Jewish-American activist, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
The ongoing situation surrounding the interception of the Handala is reflective of the broader humanitarian crisis that is building in Gaza, as calls for action and solidarity from various international voices continue to grow in light of the challenges faced by the territory’s residents.
