Rome, July 10 (RHC)-- The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has said it will launch “Handala,” a civilian boat, towards Gaza to challenge Israel’s deadly and illegal blockade of the Palestinian territory.
FFC said on Wednesday that “Handala” will depart from the Italian port of Siracusa for the besieged enclave on July 13th. It stated that the vessel is named after the Palestinian cartoon figure “Handala,” a 10-year-old refugee boy who has come to symbolize the Palestinian struggle, and that “this mission is for the children of Gaza.”
“The children of Gaza, who make up over half the population, have been living under a brutal blockade and siege for their entire lives. Since October 2023, over 50,000 have been killed or injured, tens of thousands orphaned, and nearly a million forcibly displaced and homeless. All now face famine, disease, and trauma few of us can imagine,” FFC said.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), all five major regions of Gaza are experiencing level four famine, which indicates a severe food crisis characterized by widespread food consumption gaps, leading to high levels of acute malnutrition and excess mortality.
Volunteer community organizers, journalists, lawyers, medics, and social justice activists are expected to be on board the vessel. This mission comes weeks after the Israeli forces intercepted “Madleen,” another ship launched by FFC, about 185 km (100 nautical miles) from Gaza, in international waters.
Among the 12 abducted crew members of “Madleen” were Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad, climate activist Greta Thunberg, Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, and other activists.
On May 2, 25 kilometers off the Malta coast, another FFC aid ship called the “Conscience” was struck twice by Israeli armed drones while preparing to set sail for Gaza. The vessel was significantly damaged in the attack, forcing the 30 activists to desperately throw out water to prevent the ship from sinking. Four people were injured.
Since October 7, 2023, when Israel began its campaign of genocide in Gaza, it has massacred over 57,000 Palestinians and wounded nearly 137,000, according to estimates by the health ministry of Gaza.
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV and NEWS AGENCIES ]
