Above photo: Dr. Yipeng Ge on the Handala. Dr. Yipeng Ge / X Credit: Dr. Yipeng Ge / X.
The Handala left on the final leg of its journey to break the blockade of Gaza on July 20.
NOTE: The Handala was invaded by Israeli Occupying Forces today, and the volunteers and crew were kidnapped. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reports:
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirms that its civilian vessel Handala, en route to break Israel’s illegal, genocidal blockade on Palestinians in Gaza, has been violently intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters about forty nautical miles from Gaza. At 23:43 EEST Palestine time the Occupation cut the cameras on board Handala and we have lost all communication with our ship. The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized. The interception occurred in international waters outside Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, in violation of international maritime law.
Handala carried a shipment of critical humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, including baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine. All cargo was non-military, civilian, and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation and medical collapse under Israel’s illegal blockade.
The Handala carried 21 civilians representing 12 countries, including parliamentarians, lawyers, journalists, labor organizers, environmentalists, and other human rights defenders.
“Israel has no legal authority to detain international civilians aboard the Handala,” said Ann Wright a member of the Freedom Flotilla’s steering committee. “This is not a matter of internal Israeli jurisdiction. These are foreign nationals operating under international law in international waters. Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end.”
I spent the past week with the Handala freedom flotilla team. I was planning on supporting and sending off the Handala boat from Siracusa, Italy. Last minute, I was offered the opportunity to join the Handala boat as it sailed from Siracusa, Italy to Gallipoli, Italy. Spending time with the crew and ground team was incredibly inspiring and hopeful. It was the honour of a lifetime and I made memories that I will treasure forever. We held each other in our collective grief, sorrow, and rage for Gaza and for Palestine. We were actively translating this into action and solidarity work for Gaza and for Palestine.
The Handala is the 37th boat being sent to Gaza organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Boats have been successful in bringing humanitarian aid into Gaza in 2008. Boats have also been violently attacked over the years including the Israeli military illegally boarding a boat in 2010, shooting and executing 10 activists onboard. The boats are a form of nonviolent resistance and international solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, to affirm their right to life, dignity, and self-determination. This action is legal under international law to bring in humanitarian aid with civilian boats through international waters to sovereign Palestinian waters and territory.
The boats challenge the illegal Israeli siege and blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, because states and countries have repeatedly failed to act over the years to end the illegal Israeli occupation. The boats bring attention to the complicity and active involvement of our own countries and states in Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the occupation, apartheid, and genocide of Palestinians. The boats bring attention to the right of return for all Palestinians in the diaspora. These boats show what is possible and what is within our power to do.
When you have privilege in this world, you must use it to at least try to make this world better for everyone, including Palestinians. When we stop trying, that is when we have not only given up on Palestinians, but then we have also given up on our collective humanity and responsibility. When the world allows for the dehumanization and genocide of Palestinians, we affirm their right to life and dignity. I met people who fundamentally know that our lives are not more valuable or precious than a Palestinian’s life in Gaza. This is why people of conscience from around the world have been doing this solidarity work since 2008 to send boats to Gaza. We do this as volunteers, and we all come from all walks of life and corners of the world, offering skills and expertise to do something incredible together. We show what is possible when people are organized and persistent.
Part of activism work is about making it a sustained and sustainable practice. We all do what we can from where we are. We do what is within our power, and we do everything we can within our power. Having met and befriended the incredible people both in front of and behind the scenes has me hopeful in the face of bearing witness to unimaginable suffering in Gaza as consequence to Zionist settler colonialism and the ongoing Nakba. There are 21 beautiful humans onboard the Handala freedom flotilla sailing to Gaza right now. They are supported by hundreds and thousands of people who have organized tirelessly to make this possible. There are more boats being planned, because if the illegal Israeli siege and blockade on the Gaza Strip remains, there will be people who will challenge it to see the day that Palestine is free.
