Gaza (TDI): On Saturday night, Israeli Naval forces intercepted a Gaza-bound ship, Handala, that was carrying aid and activists within 70 nautical miles of its destination.
Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) is a pro-Palestinian group that was carrying aid for Palestinians by sea when their ship was intercepted by Israel in International waters.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement saying, “The Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza”.
The Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza.
The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe.
Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and… pic.twitter.com/i4AKpUBLRe
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) July 26, 2025
A spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said to the media, “The occupation has disabled our cameras and all communication has been lost”.
It is reported that a YouTube livestream showed the Israeli forces capturing the ship while the activists on the ship were wearing life jackets and holding their hands above their heads. The live stream stopped when helmeted personnel manipulated the camera streaming on deck and turned it around.
The Handala, named after a famous Palestinian cartoon, is part of FFC and has tried multiple times to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, as it leads to starvation and malnutrition in Gaza, leading to deaths of children and adults.
FFC said that Handala’s crew consists of 19 activists and two journalists from various countries, including France, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and all are “kidnapped” by the Israeli forces. Two members of the French and European parliaments are aboard, as well as Christian Small, a US trade unionist.
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The group that was on board posted a video urging people from all over the world to pressure their governments and “sanction” Israel for its aid blockade on Gaza.
“The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized,” the FFC said in a statement issued soon after the live stream ended.
The statement added that the supplies included “baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine.”
One of the crew members, Australian volunteer Tania Safi, said to the media on Saturday afternoon that “Everyone here has prepared for almost every possible scenario that Israel could put us through. If they intercept us, it would be a violation of international maritime law”.
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