Aid Ship Carrying Supplies for Gaza’s Children Sets Sail from Italy
Gallipoli, Italy – July 20 (VOM-Voice of Malaysia): An international aid ship loaded with medical supplies, food, and humanitarian equipment for children in Gaza has set sail from southern Italy as part of a renewed effort to break the Israeli blockade and deliver urgent relief to the besieged Palestinian territory.
The vessel, named Handala, departed from the port city of Gallipoli on Sunday, under the banner of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC)—a global humanitarian network committed to challenging the blockade on Gaza through nonviolent action.
“This mission is for the children of Gaza,” the coalition stated. “In the face of genocide and deliberate starvation, every act of solidarity matters. As long as Israel enjoys impunity, violence will continue.”
The ship is expected to remain at sea for about a week, carrying a 20-member crew that includes European lawmakers, human rights activists, journalists, and medical volunteers.
Among those on board is Emma Fourreau, a French Member of the European Parliament, who acknowledged the dangers involved but emphasized the moral responsibility of standing with Gaza’s civilians. “We are fully aware of the risks. But they are nothing compared to what children in Gaza endure every day. We stand for peace and international law,” she said before departure.
Other notable participants include Gabrielle Cathala from France’s Unbowed (LFI) party, Palestinian-American activist Huwaida Arraf, and American labor organizer Chris Smalls.
The Handala‘s departure follows a tense precedent. In early June, Israeli naval forces intercepted and seized another FFC vessel, the Madleen, before it could approach Gaza’s shores. All 12 people aboard—including prominent Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg—were arrested and subsequently deported by Israeli authorities.
Israel has maintained a strict land, air, and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, severely limiting the flow of food, fuel, medicine, and aid into the territory. Human rights groups say the blockade has contributed to what they describe as a campaign of systemic oppression and genocide against the Palestinian people.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says it remains committed to breaking the siege and delivering aid directly to the people of Gaza, particularly children, who have suffered disproportionately under the ongoing Israeli military campaign.
“We are not just delivering supplies,” the coalition emphasized. “We are delivering a message: the world has not forgotten Gaza.”
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