Israeli forces on Sunday transported the pro-Palestinian activist ship Handala to the port of Ashdod after seizing the vessel in international waters and detaining its crew, an AFP journalist reported.
The Interception
Activists from the Freedom Flotilla coalition were attempting to breach the Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian territory of Gaza when they were intercepted by Israeli forces late Saturday night. A live video feed from the Handala showed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship just before midnight local time on Saturday. A network tracker indicated the vessel was in international waters west of Gaza.
The 21-member international crew, which included two French lawmakers and two Al Jazeera journalists, were detained by Israeli forces. The ship’s mission was to deliver a small amount of humanitarian aid to Palestinian residents.
Legal Challenges and Broader Context
The Adalah Legal Center, a group advocating for the rights of the Arab population in Israel, stated that its lawyers had arrived in Ashdod but were being denied access to the detained activists. Adalah reiterated that the interception occurred in international waters, making the detention a “clear violation of international law.”
This is not the first such incident. Another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Madleen, was also intercepted in international waters on June 9 and towed to Ashdod with 12 activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, who were later deported from Israel.
The seizure comes amid a severe hunger crisis in Gaza. According to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave, more than 120 Palestinians, including over 80 children, have died from malnutrition. International pressure has mounted, with France, Germany, and the UK issuing a joint statement on July 25 demanding an immediate halt to the humanitarian catastrophe. Israel announced a “tactical pause” in fighting in parts of Gaza on July 27 to allow for aid, but the blockade remains largely in place.
The war began on October 7, 2023. Since then, the Israeli offensive has killed 59,219 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The initial Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people, with 49 hostages still held in Gaza.
