Handala ship is approaching Gaza coast in bid to break stifling Israeli siege on territory
Israeli officials threatened on Saturday to seize an aid ship bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip if it fails to heed warnings to change course.
“If the ship refuses to alter its course and move away from the shores of Gaza, the navy’s elite Shayetet 13 commando unit will intervene to seize it and tow it to Ashdod Port,” an unnamed official said in comments carried by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
The Handala ship, which set sail from Italy days ago with several foreign activists onboard, is now approaching the Gaza coast in a bid to break a stifling Israeli siege on the territory.
Last month, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Madleen aid ship in international waters off the coast of Gaza, detaining and deporting its 12 international activists, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan.
Earlier this week, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organizes the Handala ship, reported a two-hour loss of communication with the aid boat, during which several drones were seen circling the ship.
Although contact was later restored, the group said the drone activity heightened fears of a possible intervention.
The Handala departed the Italian port of Syracuse on July 13 and later completed final preparations at Gallipoli between July 15 and 20.
The ship, carrying baby formula, food, and medicine, resumed course on July 20 with 21 civilians aboard, all unarmed and acting under international maritime and humanitarian law.
