Gaza – SABA:
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced on Sunday that Israeli occupation forces had transferred international activists—detained after the storming of the “Handala” ship in international waters on Saturday night—to the port of Ashdod in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a statement, the coalition said:
“After being illegally abducted, the civilian crew of the Handala ship has arrived at the port of Ashdod.”
The statement also noted that legal representatives and attorneys from the rights organization Adalah, operating within the Israeli system, are still awaiting permission to meet with the detained activists in Ashdod.
Israeli naval forces had intercepted and commandeered the Handala ship—part of the Freedom Flotilla—on its way to Gaza carrying international solidarity activists attempting to break the ongoing blockade on the coastal enclave.
Before the raid, the ship had issued a distress signal as Israeli naval units approached it off Gaza’s shores.
The Handala departed from Syracuse, Italy on July 13, made a technical stop at Gallipoli on July 15, and resumed its journey toward Gaza on July 20 with 21 activists aboard.
This is not an isolated incident. On June 9, Israeli forces seized the Maddalena ship from international waters as it attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Twelve international activists on board were detained and later deported on the condition that they not return.
Earlier, on May 2, the Al-Dhamir vessel was attacked by an Israeli drone during a similar humanitarian mission toward Gaza. The strike caused hull damage and a fire on the vessel.
These repeated assaults come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. Severe malnutrition and famine cases are arriving at hospitals in Gaza by the minute. According to recent estimates, around 900,000 children in Gaza are suffering from hunger, including 70,000 in advanced stages of malnutrition.
UNRWA has warned that malnutrition rates among children under five doubled between March and June, largely due to Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza.
With full U.S. and European support, Israeli forces have continued their genocidal campaign in Gaza since October 7, 2023, killing 59,821 Palestinian civilians—mostly women and children—and injuring 144,851 others, according to preliminary figures. Thousands remain trapped under rubble or on the streets, unreachable by emergency teams due to ongoing bombardment.