Freedom Flotilla Coalition loses contact with assistance vessel en route to Gaza

(MENAFN) The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announced on Thursday that it has lost all communication with the aid ship "Handala," which was en route to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza as part of efforts to break Israel’s blockade.

In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the coalition said, “All communications with the Handala’s crew have been jammed.” It added that multiple drones were detected near the vessel, suggesting the ship may have been intercepted or attacked.

The group urged supporters to pressure authorities and media to demand Israel guarantee the safety of the crew and allow the ship safe passage to Gaza.

No further information was available about the ship’s exact location, the condition of its crew, or confirmation of Israeli involvement.

This incident follows earlier confrontations involving flotilla vessels. On May 2, the MV Conscience, another FFC ship carrying aid to Gaza, was struck by drones in international waters near Malta, resulting in a fire and damage. On June 9, Israel intercepted the Madlene, detaining and deporting 12 international activists aboard, including Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, on the condition they do not return.

Since October 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed over 59,500 Palestinians—mostly women and children—devastating the region’s health system and causing severe food shortages.

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. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the enclave.

MENAFN29072025000045015687ID1109856652