THE Freedom Flotilla Coalition's (FFC) latest aid ship is currently on its way to Gaza, where campaigners hope to deliver much needed aid to the besieged territory.
The Handala, named after a Palestinian cartoon figure, left its final stop at Gallipoli on Sunday, carrying 21 people on board.
It comes just weeks after the FFC's last aid ship, the Madleen, was intercepted by Israel while sailing in international waters.
The Madleen was carrying 12 people onboard, including Swedish climate and social justice campaigner Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan.
The ship was seized by Israeli forces on June 9 and the crew were taken to Israel, where they were detained before eventually being deported.
The Handala ship is bigger than the Madleen, carrying 19 citizens and two Al Jazeera journalists.
Among those on board Sergio Toribio, a Spanish engineer and environmental activist who was also part of the Madleen crew.
There are several politicians and human rights activists on board, as well as British-French citizen Chloe Fiona Ludden, a former UN staff member and scientist.
The crew members come from 11 different countries, although some hold dual citizenship: France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Morocco, Palestine, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Australia.
The ship – which is registered under the name Navarn – appears to be flying a Red Ensign flag, meaning it is under UK jurisdiction.
See the full list of crew members below.
Who is on the Freedom Flotilla Handala ship to Gaza?
- Ange Sahuquet (France): Engineer and human rights activist
- Emma Fourreau (France / Sweden): French MEP and human rights activist
- Gabrielle Cathala (France): French parliamentarian and former humanitarian worker
- Justine Kempf (France): Nurse with "médecin du monde"
- Antionio La Picirella (Italy): Climate and social justice organiser
- Antionio Mazzeo (Italy): Teacher, peace researcher and journalist
- Santiago Gonzalez Vallejo (Spain): Economist and human rights activist
- Sergio Toribio (Spain): Engineer and environmental activist
- Bob Suberi (United States): Jewish US war veteran
- Braedon Peluso (United States): Seasoned sailor activist
- Christian Smalls (United States): Founder of the Amazon Labor Union
- Jacob Berger (United States): Jewish-American activist and creator
- Waad Aal Musa (United States): Al Jazeera journalist
- Dr Frank Romano (United States / France): International lawyer and actor
- Huwaida Arraf (United States / Palestine): Human rights attorney, Freedom Flotilla Coalition steering committee member
- Chloe Fiona Ludden (United Kingdom / France): Former UN staff member and scientist
- Vigdis Bjorvand (Norway): Grandmother and human rights activist
- Hatem Aouini (Turkey): Trade unionist and internationalist activist
- Mohamed El Bakkali (Morocco): Al Jazeera journalist
- Robert Martin (Australia): Human rights activist
- Tan Safi (Australia): Filmmaker and human rights activist
Freedom Flotilla tracker
You can track the progress of the Handala in real-time via the FFC's online tracker.
The tracker is available here.
The FFC will also be sharing regular updates on their social media channels.
