Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege
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The vessel has departed Sicily just weeks after "Israel's" controversial interception of the Madleen, another aid vessel.
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The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025 (AFP)
A Gaza-bound vessel from the international Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the Handala, departed from the Sicilian port of Siracusa today as it embarks on a mission to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory.
The boat, organized as part of the ongoing #BreakTheSiege campaign, will make one final stop before heading toward Gaza. On board is Dr. Yipeng Ge, a Canadian physician, who joined the mission to help deliver urgently needed medical supplies, especially for children impacted by the ongoing war.
The @GazaFFlotilla boat #Handala left the Sicilian port of Siracusa today, on the way to one last stop before continuing onwards to #BreakTheSiege & blockade of #Gaza. Canadian Dr. @yipengGe was on board, helping to bring much-needed medical aid #ForTheChildrenOfGaza pic.twitter.com/0kGwO2WbNa
— Canada Boat to Gaza (@CanadaBoatGaza) July 13, 2025
Supporters have flooded social media with the hashtags #Handala, #ForTheChildrenOfGaza, and #BreakTheSiege, urging governments and civil society to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and allow unrestricted humanitarian access.
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Last month, the Israeli occupation intercepted the Madleen, a humanitarian aid vessel en route to Gaza in international waters.
Activists like French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila were detained and placed in solitary confinement.
The Madleen incident highlights escalating tensions over humanitarian missions in Gaza and "Israel’s" enforcement of its naval blockade. International observers continue to debate the legality of the interception and are calling for diplomatic intervention.
