Tel aviv: Israeli soldiers have raided the Handala, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition vessel which was sailing toward the Gaza Strip, making it the third humanitarian ship attacked in international waters since May. The Israeli regime’s forces attacked the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Handala vessel in international waters and kidnapped 21 activists aboard, who were carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Handala was 40 nautical miles from Gaza when it was attacked by Israeli forces late on Saturday, who kidnapped all activists on board. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (F.F.C.), a global group highlighting the inhumanity of the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza, stated that the unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized. The interception occurred in international waters outside Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, in violation of international maritime law.
The F.F.C. also mentioned that the supplies carried by 21 activists representing a dozen countries included baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine. All cargo was non-military, civilian, and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation and medical collapse under Israel’s illegal blockade. The Handala’s crew members, including representatives of European parliaments and artistic and media figures, declared they would go on an indefinite hunger strike if detained by Israeli forces.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, described the attack on Handala as piracy and a new crime of terrorism, and an obvious challenge to human conscience. Praising the courage of the international activists on board the ship, Hamas stated that their message of solidarity has reached the people of Gaza and the world, and that the global public opinion has become increasingly aware of the crimes of the occupying regime.
The Gaza Information Office condemned the attack as a new act of maritime piracy by Israeli soldiers. It called on the international community and the United Nations to take immediate and decisive action against Israel, according to Qatar’s Al Jazeera media network. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine also strongly condemned the raid, noting that this new act of maritime piracy adds to the Israeli aggression against international activists supporting Palestine.
The attack on Handala marks the third violent act by Israeli forces against Freedom Flotilla missions this year, the coalition reported. In May, Israeli drones bombed the civilian aid ship Conscience in European waters, injuring four people and disabling the vessel. In June, the Israeli regime’s forces seized Madleen and abducted 12 activists, including a Member of the European Parliament.