Israeli Navy Seizes Activist Vessel Handala in International Waters, Sparks Outcry
Israeli naval forces intercepted and seized the pro-Palestinian activist vessel Handala late Friday night in international waters off the coast of Gaza, escorting it to the port of Ashdod early Saturday, reported by Daily Hurriyet News. The boat, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s campaign to challenge Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, carried 21 international crew members, including two French lawmakers and two Al Jazeera journalists.
The interception—widely condemned by rights groups—occurred about 12 hours into the ship’s voyage. Live-streamed footage captured Israeli troops boarding the Handala under cover of darkness. Online maritime tracking placed the vessel squarely in international waters at the time of the raid, west of the besieged enclave.
The legal rights organization Adalah, which represents Palestinian citizens of Israel, confirmed its lawyers were present at Ashdod port and demanded access to the detainees. “Despite repeated requests, Israeli authorities have denied us access to provide legal counsel,” the group stated.
Adalah emphasized that the Handala’s mission was peaceful and humanitarian in nature, aimed at challenging what it called Israel’s “illegal blockade” of Gaza. “The detention of these activists in international waters violates international law,” the group asserted.
The Israeli military has not publicly commented on the legal basis for the operation. No charges have been announced against the detained passengers.
This is not the first such intervention. On June 9, the Israeli navy similarly seized another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Madleen, which included high-profile activists such as Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The passengers were detained, then expelled from Israel days later.
As tensions mount over humanitarian conditions in Gaza and international criticism of Israel’s blockade grows louder, the seizure of the Handala is likely to intensify diplomatic scrutiny and legal challenges against Israel’s enforcement of its naval perimeter.
