The National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI) has organized a solidarity march to welcome the vessel ‘Handala,’ which is expected to arrive in Gallipoli, Italy, in the coming days. The ship, which set off from Syracuse on Sunday, marks the latest attempt in a series of missions to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, imposed since 2007.
Two French MPs, Gabrielle Cathala and Emma Fourreau from the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party, will join the activists in Gallipoli before the Handala continues its journey toward Gaza on the 18th of this month.
Speaking to Al Manassa, Zaher Birawi, head of the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza disclosed that there are 18 international activists aboard Handala.
“They come from a variety of countries and professional backgrounds: Arabs, Americans, Norwegians, Germans, doctors, lawyers, political activists, and even members of the European Parliament.”
Among the medical personnel is Canadian doctor Yipeng Ge, who flew to Cairo to join the Global March to Gaza early June.
As part of a broader international campaign to break the siege on Gaza, the Global March saw participants from over 50 countries attempt to converge in Cairo and symbolically march to the besieged territory in early June. Their efforts were largely thwarted, however, as Egyptian authorities intercepted and deported most for lacking official authorization for the journey.
On Sunday, Israeli state media reported that security services are monitoring the current mission and efforts by pro-Palestinian groups to send another ship from Italy.
“The occupation state knows very well that these boats pose no threat,” Birawi asserted. “Instead, they aim to discredit solidarity efforts that expose Israel as a racist state committing crimes against humanity.”
He accused Israel of employing intimidation tactics specifically to deter future missions. “They want to scare solidarity groups into halting their campaigns to hold Israel accountable and demand an end to its crimes,” Birawi concluded.
Birawi described Israel’s repeated attacks on Gaza-bound flotillas in international waters as violations of international law. “This has happened not once, not twice, but multiple times,” he said. “They seize the ship, abduct those on board, arrest and intimidate them, and force some to sign pledges not to try entering the occupation state again.”
“We never sought to enter Israeli territory,” he added. “Our goal is to reach Gaza, which is occupied Palestinian land under international law. Israel has no legal jurisdiction over it.”
In May, Israeli drones targeted the Conscience, another Freedom Flotilla vessel, as it approached Maltese waters en route to Gaza.
Just last month, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla vessel Madleen, detaining 12 civilians who were attempting to deliver medical supplies and messages of solidarity to Gaza.
“The Madleen is still being held,” said Birawi. “The owners have previously filed legal complaints against Israel in British and Spanish courts, and we are exploring new legal avenues now.”
He noted a past case in which the committee won compensation after Israel seized a Swedish vessel of theirs, the Estelle. “We hope for a similar outcome,” Birawi said.
Birawi suggested that the presence of elected officials on the Handala might offer some measure of protection. “We hope the states whose citizens are aboard will rein in Israel and prevent any attack,” he stated.
However, parliamentary presence on the Madeleine flotilla previously failed to deter Israeli forces from its interception.
“We expect stronger international solidarity this time,” Birawi added. “Handala may inspire more people to join the effort. Ideally, it will be the first of many vessels to challenge the blockade and pressure Israel to allow aid into Gaza.”
According to the committee, the Handala is more than a boat – it is “a cry of global conscience against the normalization of the blockade” and “a call to action for the world to fulfill its moral and humanitarian duty.”
The 55-foot diesel-powered vessel, originally a Norwegian fishing boat named ‘Navarn’ and built in 1968, was acquired by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) in 2023 and renamed ‘Handala.’
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition emerged in 2010 following Turkish-led efforts to challenge the Gaza blockade. Its founding organizations include the Free Gaza Movement and the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza.
The most prominent mission to date remains the 2010 sailing of the Mavi Marmara, which was raided by Israeli forces, leaving 10 activists dead and dozens wounded.
The coalition named the Handala after the iconic barefoot refugee child created by Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al-Ali, who has become a powerful symbol of Palestinian resistance.
The Handala is currently carrying symbolic aid and is expected to spend a week at sea, covering 1,800 km to reach Gaza’s shores.
