The ship Handala sets sail from the Italian coast toward the Gaza Strip, in a renewed effort to break the Zionist siege that has been imposed for over 17 years. It is part of a broad international solidarity movement reflecting the growing global grassroots support for the Palestinian cause.

Handala is the second vessel from the Freedom Flotilla to launch during the ongoing genocide against Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023. The first ship, Madelene, was intercepted by the usurping entity in international waters. Its crew was forcibly taken to the occupied port of Ashdod and later deported from the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Freedom Flotilla continues its mission to break the suffocating siege imposed by the usurping entity on more than two million Palestinians in Gaza, under relentless aggression that has so far killed over 55,000 Palestinians and injured more than 130,000 — part of a systematic campaign of extermination targeting both people and infrastructure.

Organizers of the Freedom Flotilla stated that the Handala voyage represents a moral and humanitarian responsibility toward the people of Gaza, who are enduring horrific and painful crimes, especially following the occupation’s violation of the ceasefire agreement on March 18, 2025, and the brutal resumption of its aggression.

Since the resumption of the assault in March, the usurping entity has killed around 6,500 Palestinians and wounded over 23,000 others, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Among the martyrs are more than 700 Palestinians, who were shot while waiting in food distribution lines operated and overseen by the occupation in coordination with the United States.

Onboard Handala are prominent activists from across the globe, including Norwegian activist Vigdis Bjorvand (70), who has been supporting Palestine since 1978, as well as European Parliament member Emma Fourreau and others from various backgrounds and nationalities. Participants have called on the international community to support their mission and stand against the occupation’s racist policies toward the Palestinian people.

The ship was named Handala after the iconic character created by the late Palestinian artist Naji Al-Ali — a symbol of resistance and dignity, and the voice of Gaza’s children who are deprived of even their most basic rights. Throughout 2023 and 2024, Handala visited several European ports as part of an effort to break the media blackout surrounding Gaza’s suffering and to build a growing global solidarity network calling for an end to the siege and accountability for the occupation’s crimes against humanity.