Middle East — July 27, 2025
Israeli naval forces have intercepted and commandeered a British-flagged aid vessel named Handala as it sailed toward the besieged Gaza Strip, reportedly attempting to deliver critical humanitarian supplies.
The vessel, which departed from Italy, was carrying 21 unarmed passengers—including European parliamentarians, medics, and volunteers—on a mission to break the Israeli regime’s total blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007 and intensified following the outbreak of war in October 2023.
According to Israeli media and activists aboard the ship, a drone hovered above Handala before multiple Israeli navy ships approached. In response, the crew issued a distress call.
“We tried to contact the Israeli Navy – but no response was received,” said Huwaida Araf, a Palestinian-American human rights lawyer and one of the activists on board.
Emma Fourreau, a French Member of the European Parliament who was traveling on Handala, later confirmed the hijacking. “The Israeli military is here,” she said in a message shared online, as footage showed the crew donning life jackets and raising their hands in a non-confrontational gesture.
Fourreau also made a direct plea, stating: “End the genocide,” referencing the Israeli military campaign that has killed more than 59,700 Palestinians—mostly women and children—since October last year. Rights groups have condemned the war, citing not only the intense air and ground assaults but also the use of food and medicine as weapons through a tightening blockade.
The Handala was loaded with humanitarian aid, including baby formula, medical supplies, and food items—critical resources that have been largely blocked from entering Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli restrictions.
This incident marks the second such naval interception in recent weeks. In June, Israeli forces seized another Gaza-bound aid ship carrying 12 international campaigners, drawing widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations and some foreign governments.
Despite global appeals for open humanitarian corridors, Israel has maintained firm control over aid access to Gaza, prompting activists and international figures to take matters into their own hands through maritime missions like that of Handala.
The Israeli government has yet to issue an official statement regarding Saturday’s interception. Meanwhile, human rights advocates are calling for the immediate release of all those on board and the urgent delivery of the seized humanitarian supplies to Gaza’s war-stricken population.
