Activist on board Handala aid boat threatens hunger strike if Israel attacks
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Bjorvand said those on board are looking forward to reaching the shores of the besieged enclave.
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Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Boat carrying pro-Palestine activists captured off Gaza, brought to Israel
Israeli forces brought the pro-Palestinian activist boat Handala into the port of Ashdod on Sunday, after seizing the vessel in international waters and detaining the crew, an AFP journalist saw. Campaigners from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition had attempted to breach an Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian territory of Gaza, but were intercepted late Saturday. The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had been allowed to speak to 19 members of the 21-strong international crew, which included two French parliamentarians and two Al Jazeera journalists. The remaining two of those detained were dual US and Israeli citizens and had been transferred to police custody, Adalah said. "After 12 hours at sea, following the unlawful interception of the Handala, Israeli authorities confirmed the vessel's arrival at Ashdod port," said the group, set up to campaign for the rights of Israel's Arab population. "Adalah reiterates that the activists aboard the Handala were part of a peaceful civilian mission to break through Israel's illegal blockade on Gaza. The vessel was intercepted in international waters and their detention constitutes a clear violation of international law." Earlier, the Israeli foreign ministry said the navy stopped the Handala to prevent it from entering the coastal waters off the territory of Gaza. "The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe," it said. Just before midnight local time on Saturday, video streamed live from the Handala showed Israeli troops boarding the vessel. An online tracker showed the ship in international waters west of Gaza. The ship had been on course to try to break an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and bring a small quantity of humanitarian aid to the territory's Palestinian residents. The Handala's crew had said before their capture in a post on X that they would go on a hunger strike if the Israeli army intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. On board were activists from 10 countries, including two French MPs from the left-wing France Unbowed party, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala. There are also American, European and Arab activists among those detained. A previous boat sent by Freedom Flotilla, the Madleen, was also intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters on June 9 and towed to Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The activists were eventually expelled by Israel.
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel attacks 'safe-zone' despite military pause in the area
Israel bombed an area in Gaza City it designated earlier on Sunday as a "safe-zone". According to Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary, a bakery was targeted in the attack, killing and wounding a number of Palestinians.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Israeli troops seize Gaza-bound activist boat
The Israeli foreign ministry has confirmed that troops boarded a boat that the pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla had been sailing towards Gaza. "The Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza," the Israeli foreign ministry posted on X. "The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe." The ship had been on course to try to break an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and was carrying a small quantity of aid for Palestinians in Gaza. Israel blocked all aid to Gaza in March. A limited amount of aid began entering in May, with food now being distributed by a private US foundation whose operations have been marred by violence. Israel on Saturday said it had air dropped aid for the first time. In a message on social media, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition declared: "'Handala' has been intercepted and boarded illegally by Israeli forces while in international waters," using an alternative name for the boat. The Handala was carrying 19 activists, including European politicians, and two Al Jazeera journalists, who were able to broadcast from the vessel until shortly before its interception. The broadcast showed them sitting on deck, holding their hands up and whistling the Italian anti-fascist song "Bella Ciao", as the soldiers took control of the vessel. Two French lawmakers were among those detained, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala. Their party leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon of France Unbowed (LFI), condemned Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Handala's crew said in a post on X that they would go on a hunger strike if the Israeli army intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. The last boat sent by Freedom Flotilla, Madleen, was intercepted by the Israeli army in international waters on June 9 and towed towards the port of Ashdod. Aboard the boat were 12 campaigners, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The activists were eventually detained and expelled by Israel. The Handala was intercepted about 50 kilometres from the Egyptian coast and 100 kilometres west of Gaza, according to an online tracking tool.
