The Handala aid ship, carrying essential supplies and a crew of 19 activists and two journalists, encountered harassment from suspected Israeli drones as it sailed toward Gaza to defy Israel’s blockade, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) reported on Saturday.
At least 16 drones were observed hovering above the vessel within a 45-minute period, some circling directly overhead, raising fears of an imminent attack.
The ship, which set sail from Italy on July 20, is loaded with food, medicine, and baby formula to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where Israel’s blockade has plunged millions into starvation.
French parliamentarian Gabrielle Cathala, aboard the Handala, warned:
We are united, in full solidarity, and prepared. Drones have begun to appear. If Wi-Fi is cut, strange things can happen. Do not worry about us. Think about the Palestinians. They are suffering. The genocide they are enduring is far worse than any risk we face here.
The FFC reported a two-hour loss of contact with the crew on Friday, during which drones were spotted, heightening concerns of an Israeli interception.
Israel’s blockade, intensified since October 2023, has obstructed vital aid and enabled the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, criticized for militarizing aid distribution, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed at its sites since May.
The Handala’s diverse crew, including human rights defenders and journalists from 12 countries, seeks to deliver a message of global solidarity against Israel’s actions, which the FFC condemns as war crimes.
The blockade has caused 123 hunger-related deaths and left 17,000 children malnourished, with Gaza’s death toll surpassing 59,676 since October 2023, likely higher due to uncounted victims.
The FFC called on supporters to urge governments to protect the unarmed mission, operating legally under international law, as Israel’s drone harassment underscores its efforts to block aid and deepen Gaza’s suffering.