TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) – The Israeli military has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship, detaining 21 international activists and journalists while seizing all cargo aboard, including baby formula, food, and medicine, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition on Sunday.
The coalition operates the vessel named Handala, which they reported was “violently intercepted” by the Israeli military in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles from Gaza. This interception occurred just before midnight on Saturday, during which the military allegedly cut off cameras and communication from the ship.
In a statement, the coalition emphasized that all cargo was civilian, non-military, and intended for distribution to a population facing a severe humanitarian crisis characterized by deliberate starvation and medical collapse due to Israel’s blockade. While the Israeli military had no immediate comment, Israel's Foreign Ministry shared on X early Sunday that the Navy had stopped the vessel and was bringing it to shore.
This incident marks the second time in recent months that Israel has thwarted a mission by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to deliver aid to Gaza. Concerns over famine risks in the territory have been increasingly highlighted by food experts. Notably, activist Greta Thunberg was among 12 activists aboard another ship, Madleen, which was seized by the Israeli military in June. Furthermore, the coalition's civilian aid ship, Conscience, endured a drone attack off Malta in May, which left the vessel disabled and unable to carry out its mission.
The interception of the aid ship comes amid growing international criticism directed at Israel regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Addressing rising hunger levels in the territory amidst strict Israeli restrictions on aid, various human rights organizations, including a regional group called Adalah, condemned the raid on the vessel as a violation of international law. They have called for the immediate release of the 21 detained activists, who include lawmakers and human rights advocates from 10 different countries.
Adalah stated that the Handala had arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod but that access for the vessel's lawyers to the detained activists has been denied. According to their statement, “The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so; it was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognized under international law.” They argue that Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters in which the vessel was operating.
Additionally, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reached out to his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, discussing the fate of the two Italians aboard the vessel. Sa'ar reportedly indicated that should these individuals refuse to leave the country voluntarily, they would face forced repatriation within the next three days. Among the detained activists are seven U.S. citizens, including a human rights attorney, a Jewish American war veteran, and a Jewish-American activist, as per the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
