'Carrying baby formula': Israel intercepts food aid boat ‘Handala’ on its way to Gaza; 'kidnaps' 19 activists, 2 journalists

Israeli forces intercepted a vessel attempting to breach the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip on Saturday night and escorted it to Ashdod Port. The boat, Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set sail from Sicily earlier this month, aiming to deliver a small humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.Handala was carrying 19 activists along with two Al-Jazeera journalists and was intercepted around 50 km from the Egyptian coast and 100 km west of Gaza as per an online tracking tool, reports the Times of Israel.“Handala’ was illegally boarded by the Israeli military in international waters, around 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza,” said the coalition through a post on X.One FFC activist stated in a social media post that the boat was transporting baby formula to Gaza.“The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe,” said Israel’s foreign ministry. “Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.”FFC said that Handala’s crew, comprising 19 activists and two journalists from countries including Australia, France, the UK, and the US, have been “kidnapped” by Israeli forces, reported BBC. The Navy towed the vessel to Ashdod Port, after which the activists were scheduled for deportation.Freedom Flotilla Coalition previously announced it was changing course toward Egypt after Israeli Navy ships and a drone approached the vessel at sea.“At this time, the Handala does not intend to enter Egyptian waters but plans to sail parallel to the coastline. Should the threat from Israeli authorities escalate, the crew will attempt to contact the Egyptian Coast Guard to request emergency entry based on the threat to their lives,” the Coalition said.A previous FFC mission, which departed from Sicily intending to deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza, was also intercepted by Israeli authorities. The vessel, Madleen, carried 12 activists, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.Greta Thunberg, as well as 11 other volunteers, were detained and their vessel, which carried baby formula, food, and medical supplies meant for civilians, was also seized in international waters.The Israeli foreign ministry had dismissed Madleen as a publicity stunt, calling it a “selfie yacht.”Gaza is experiencing critical shortages of food and essential supplies, with the United Nations and aid organizations warning that famine is imminent. Israeli authorities said on Saturday that they airdropped humanitarian aid “as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip,” reports AFP. A total of seven packages were delivered, containing flour, sugar, and canned food as per the military.