In a controversial move drawing global outrage, Israeli forces on Sunday forcefully intercepted the Handala, a civilian aid ship sailing toward Gaza to break the ongoing blockade, and detained all those on board. The incident occurred in international waters, approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza,reported the Middle East Eye.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirmed that communication with the vessel was lost at 11:43 AM Palestine time, after Israeli forces cut off the ship’s cameras. The Handala, an unarmed ship carrying essential humanitarian aid, was boarded and its crew abducted by Israeli military personnel. The group has described the interception as a violation of international maritime law.
“This was an act of piracy in international waters,” the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement. “The passengers on board included 21 civilians from 12 countries — among them parliamentarians, lawyers, journalists, labour organisers, environmentalists, and human rights defenders.”
This marks the third violent Israeli attack on a Freedom Flotilla mission this year. In May, Israeli drones bombed the aid vessel Conscience in European waters, injuring four and disabling the ship. In June, Israeli forces seized another vessel, Madleen, and abducted 12 civilians, including a Member of the European Parliament.
Before their capture, the crew of the Handala had declared that if detained, they would go on a hunger strike and refuse food from Israeli forces.
Ann Wright, a member of the Freedom Flotilla’s steering committee, condemned the detention:
“Israel has no legal authority to detain these international civilians. They were operating in accordance with international law in international waters. This is an unlawful and arbitrary act that must be reversed immediately.”
In response, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas condemned Israel’s action and urged the United Nations to classify the interception as “a crime of piracy.”
“We hold the Netanyahu government responsible for the safety of the activists and call for the continuation of flotilla efforts until the brutal blockade on Gaza is broken,” Hamas said in a statement.
Meanwhile, amid rising global criticism, Israel resumed airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza on Saturday. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced a “humanitarian pause” in civilian areas and corridors to facilitate aid distribution.
This partial pause comes in the wake of alarming warnings from the Gaza Government Media Office that over 100,000 children under the age of two — including 40,000 infants — are at risk of dying due to the complete lack of baby formula and nutritional supplements in the besieged enclave.
The Handala seizure is expected to intensify global scrutiny of Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which rights groups have consistently labeled as illegal and inhumane.
