A Gaza-bound boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid departed from Sicily on Sunday, more than a month after Israel detained and deported individuals aboard a previous vessel.
The Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left the port of Syracuse shortly after 12:00 PM (10:00 GMT), according to an AFP reporter, with approximately fifteen activists on board. Several dozen supporters gathered at the port, waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyeh scarves, cheering the boat’s departure and chanting “Free Palestine.”
Mission and Supplies
The former Norwegian trawler is loaded with essential supplies, including medical equipment, food, and children’s items. The boat will sail for about a week in the Mediterranean, covering roughly 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles) in hopes of reaching Gaza’s coast.
In early March, Israel imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza amid stalled truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May. The Handala will make a stop in Gallipoli, southeastern Italy, where two members of the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) will join the mission.
Previous Mission and Challenges
This initiative follows the departure of the Madleen, another ship that left Italy for Gaza, carrying aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg, with Israeli authorities intercepting the Madleen about 185 kilometers west of Gaza’s coast.
Gabrielle Cathala, one of the France Unbowed party members set to board the Handala on 18 July, stated, “This is a mission for the children in Gaza. We aim to break the humanitarian blockade and end the summer silence on the genocide.” She expressed hope for reaching Gaza but warned that failure would represent yet another violation of international law by Israel.
Human Cost: War and Its Aftermath
The ongoing conflict began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October, 2023, resulting in 1,219 deaths, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Out of 251 individuals taken hostage that day, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 that the Israeli military reports deceased.
Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry claims that at least 57,882 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died due to Israel’s military reprisals. The United Nations considers these figures reliable, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian aid and intervention.
