Date of Publication: July 26
Freedom Flotilla Coalition campaign group issued an alarm when Israeli military drones were seen hovering overhead one of their humanitarian vessels, the Handala, which was carrying vital aid supplies for Gaza.
On July 24, the FFC reported it had lost all communication with Handala, a vessel carrying food, medical kits and baby formula. Multiple drones had been seen circling around it, raising serious concerns of interception or attack from drones (Reuters/Anadolu Ajansi/Al Jazeera).
This development comes amid rising tensions in the Mediterranean following earlier incidents. On May 2, the FFC vessel Conscience was attacked by drones off Malta, suffering damage before issuing a distress signal (AP News/Wikipedia +11; The Guardian/BBC News + 11). This escalated tensions across the region, sparking additional attacks against Libya by other vessels from within NATO countries (Reuters + 11);
Activists on board claimed the strike was carried out by Israeli drones and caused a hull breach; no injuries were reported during or as a result of it, according to Wikipedia (and PBS for that matter).
In early June, another ship named Madleen carrying supplies and activists–including climate activist Greta Thunberg–was intercepted by Israeli forces in lawful international waters before reaching Gaza, before being detained and later deported, The Guardian writes. All passengers aboard were detained before being deported for detention or further prosecution (Wikipedia +10 and TIME both contain more information).
According to a spokesperson for the coalition, disturbances aboard Handala included two hours of communication jamming during which drones could be seen hovering overhead – actions seen as possible precursors for more aggressive measures by CBS News and Anadolu Ajansi.
“All communications between the Handala’s crew and its captain have been jammed,” according to FFC Telegram reports. Multiple drones near its position suggest it might have been intercepted or attacked” according to CBS News, Anadolu Ajansi and Wikipedia sources respectively.
The Handala began its mission from Gallipoli, Italy on July 13 with the goal of providing humanitarian aid directly to Gaza and challenging Israel’s naval blockade. Carrying activists, medics, lawyers, journalists and essential relief goods–a symbolic display of international grassroots solidarity with Palestinians–this mission marks its third day. For more information please check: The Guardian +3 Wikipedia +3 The Times.
Analysts argue that recent drone surveillance and strikes reinforce Israel’s strategy to prevent maritime aid from breaching their blockade, an action driven by national security concerns in response to Hamas attacks in October 2023.
The Israeli military has not issued any public comment about the Handala incident; similar to past incidents, they either kept quiet or refused to confirm involvement, instead only providing brief statements that they monitor maritime traffic between Gaza and Israel and enforced their blockade policy.
International human rights groups and legal observers have strongly denounced both the interception of aid vessels and drone strikes, which they argue violate maritime law as well as humanitarian access obligations. Humanitarian groups and UN officials have called for uninterrupted aid corridors into Gaza in light of worsening famine conditions across its enclave (TIME, 2014).
As the Handala continues its voyage – still uncertain of its destination and out of contact – advocates are pressing for international intervention to protect crew members and deliver supplies urgently needed by Gaza.