Israeli forces intercepted and seized the pro-Palestinian aid ship Handala on Saturday night in international waters off the coast of Gaza, detaining all 21 activists aboard and towing the vessel to the Israeli port of Ashdod by Sunday morning.
The ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was on a mission to break Israel’s long-standing naval blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.
Among those detained are two French parliamentarians from the France Unbowed party, two Al Jazeera journalists, and other activists from 10 countries across Europe, North America, and the Arab world.
Live-stream footage captured Israeli troops boarding the vessel under cover of darkness. According to marine trackers, the Handala was still in international waters at the time of the interception.
The legal centre Adalah condemned the seizure as “a clear violation of international law” and criticized Israeli authorities for denying their lawyers access to the detainees.
“This was a peaceful civilian mission,” Adalah said in a statement, demanding immediate legal consultation and the release of those on board.
Israel’s foreign ministry defended the navy’s actions, stating the interception was necessary to uphold the maritime blockade of Gaza and prevent unauthorized entry into the coastal enclave. “All passengers are safe,” the ministry added.
The Handala is the second vessel in recent weeks to be seized by Israel. On June 9, the military similarly intercepted the Madleen, which carried climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others. That group was detained and later expelled from Israel.
Activists aboard the Handala had pledged to go on a hunger strike if detained — a move that may escalate international attention on the legality of Israel’s blockade and its handling of peaceful civil disobedience campaigns.
Calls for transparency and international scrutiny are mounting as diplomatic pressure builds, especially with European lawmakers among the detainees.
