Israel intercepts Handala ship carrying aid for Gaza in second attempt to break blockade in two months

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed this Sunday that the Navy intercepted the Handala, the second ship to sail toward Gaza with humanitarian aid in the last two months, in an attempt to break the blockade imposed by Israel on the Palestinian enclave.

"The Israeli Navy has prevented the Navarn (official registration name) from illegally entering the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza," the ministry said on its X account.

Israeli forces illegally boarded 'Handala' in international waters, abducting 21 unarmed civilians. Demand your government end its complicity in Israeli war crimes, ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, and call for the immediate release of all crew members. pic.twitter.com/PSGDSPWznG

— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) July 27, 2025

"The ship is safely heading toward the Israeli coast and all passengers are safe," the statement added, warning that "unauthorized attempts to violate the blockade are dangerous, illegal , and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts."

The official confirmation came after the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla coalition reported on its X account that the Israeli army intercepted the Handala after midnight on Saturday into Sunday, as it was heading towards Gaza.

According to the organization, at 11:43 p.m. local time on Saturday (8:43 p.m. GMT), Israeli forces turned off the live broadcast cameras installed on board the ship, and all communication with the vessel has been lost since then.

The Palestinian organization Adala, which legally represents the group in Israel, asserted in a statement on Sunday that the Handala did not enter Israeli territorial waters nor did it intend to do so.

"The boat was heading for the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognized by international law," the NGO stated. "Israel has no jurisdiction or legal authority over the international waters through which the vessel was navigating," it stressed.

On board the Handala were 21 people from twelve different countries: six Americans, four French, two Italians, two Spaniards, two Australians, one Norwegian, one Tunisian, one French-British citizen, one Moroccan, and one Iraqi-American.

On June 9, another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Madleen, was boarded in international waters by Israel, which detained its entire crew, including activist Greta Thunberg.