Gaza Aid Vessel Departs Italy to Break Israeli Blockade
(MENAFN) A vessel carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza set off Sunday morning from Gallipoli, a port in southern Italy, with the goal of breaking Israel’s enduring blockade on the Palestinian territory.
“This mission is for the children of Gaza,” declared the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group behind the operation.
“In the face of genocide and deliberate starvation, every act of solidarity matters. As long as Israel enjoys impunity, violence will continue.”
The ship, named Handala, is a converted Norwegian fishing trawler dating back to 1968. It is loaded with medical supplies, food, and essential aid destined for Palestinian children living in Gaza.
The crew includes approximately 20 international activists, lawmakers from Europe, journalists, and human rights advocates.
The launch, originally planned for Friday, was delayed until Sunday to complete “final technical and logistical preparations,” according to organizers. The vessel is expected to travel roughly one week across the Mediterranean Sea, covering about 80 kilometers to reach Gaza’s waters.
This mission follows the June attempt by the ship Madleen, which was intercepted by Israeli naval forces before it could arrive in Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition insisted that “intimidation and arrests will not stop this global wave of support for Palestinians.”
Among those aboard Handala are French parliamentarians Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala from the France Unbowed (LFI) Party, Palestinian-American activist Huwaida Arraf, and American labor leader Chris Smalls.
“We are fully aware of the risks, but they are nothing compared to what children in Gaza endure every day. We stand for peace and international law,” MEP Fourreau said ahead of departure.
This humanitarian effort emerges against the backdrop of a dire crisis in Gaza, where over 20 months of war and a comprehensive blockade have devastated the region.
Since October 2023, Israeli military operations have resulted in nearly 59,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, the majority being women and children. The campaign has left the enclave in ruins, its healthcare system collapsed, and widespread food shortages have taken hold.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
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