THE Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) is preparing to launch another civilian aid boat to Gaza after their last attempt was halted by Israeli military forces.
Named Handala after a “symbol of Palestinian resistance”, the boat will depart from Siracusa, Italy on July 13 in a new attempt to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
The vessel will carry humanitarian aid to Palestinians currently under siege by Israeli forces.
The mission follows a recent Israeli attack on another FFC boat, the Madleen, which was intercepted in international waters.
Onboard were 12 unarmed civilians, including a member of the European Parliament, a physician, and several journalists.
All were detained, interrogated, and deported by Israeli forces for attempting to deliver food to Gaza, where the population faces mass starvation due to aid supplies being denied entry and mass shootings being carried out at food distribution centres.
Despite this, FFC insists it will not back down, saying “We are not governments. We are people,” calling out the global community’s failure to act.
More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since October 7 2023, more than half of whom were women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
The coalition has also condemned deadly aid distributions managed by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, calling it a "death trap masquerading as aid."
Handala has already visited ports across northern Europe and the UK.
Aboard the boat are volunteer medics, lawyers, activists, and journalists. Their goal to deliver aid, raise awareness, and call for an end to a genocidal blockade.
“This mission,” says the coalition, “is for the children of Gaza.”
