The Freedom Fleet coalition announced on Saturday that its latest aid vessel is nearing Gaza and is expected to reach its shores by Sunday morning, defying the Israeli blockade.
According to organizers, the ship, named “Handala” after a well-known Palestinian cartoon character, is currently just 105 nautical miles (194 kilometers) from its destination.
The Israeli Navy has stated that it will also prevent this new vessel from reaching the besieged Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by over 21 months of ongoing conflict.
A military spokesperson indicated that “the Israeli Army is enforcing a legal maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip and is prepared for a variety of scenarios, acting according to the directives of political leadership.”
The “Handala,” carrying 19 activists and two journalists from various countries, departed from Sicily on July 13 in an effort to break the Israeli blockade and deliver aid to the residents of Gaza.
The region is facing a severe lack of food and other essential supplies, with warnings from the United Nations and non-governmental organizations about the threat of famine.
The crew of the “Handala” announced on the social media platform X that they would undertake a hunger strike if the Israeli military intervened and detained the activists onboard.
On June 8-9, Israeli forces intercepted the “Madeleine,” another vessel from the Freedom Fleet, which was carrying 12 activists from countries including France, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands, approximately 185 kilometers off the Gaza coast. They were subsequently deported after some were held for several days.