Israel thwarts a new attempt at provocation by a leftist ship toward Gaza

The Israeli Navy intercepted the Handala, a ship operated by pro-Palestinian activists that sought to violate the maritime blockade of Gaza under the pretext of delivering "humanitarian aid".

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the operation was carried out without incident, that all passengers are unharmed, and that the vessel, whose official registration is Navarn, was transferred to the port of Ashdod, where the activists will be deported.

"The attempt to illegally enter the maritime zone of Gaza was stopped. The ship is safely heading toward Israel. All passengers are safe. Unauthorized attempts to violate the blockade are dangerous, illegal, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts," the official statement said.

Israel recalls that the maritime blockade is completely legal and is intended to prevent the smuggling of weapons and materials for Hamas, which governs Gaza and continues to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel.

The Handala, which departed from Syracuse (Italy) on July 13, carried on board 19 activists of different nationalities and two Al Jazeera journalists, including lawyers and self-described human rights defenders.

The organizers, members of the Freedom Flotilla coalition, have been accused in the past of using these expeditions as propaganda maneuvers, without providing real aid to Gaza's civilians.

Israel has emphasized that any genuine humanitarian assistance can be safely and legally channeled through authorized corridors.

The activists claim that the ship was intercepted in international waters, an accusation that Israel categorically rejects.

"The maritime zone off Gaza is an area of active conflict. Hamas has used these routes for attacks in the past, including the massacre of October 7, 2023. Closing the passage to unauthorized vessels is a matter of national security", Israeli authorities emphasize.

This attempt adds to previous provocations, such as the case of the Mizfon, which in May accused Israel of damaging its vessel near Malta, or that of the Madleen, which sought publicity with the presence of activist Greta Thunberg.

Israel insists that these flotillas do not help the population of Gaza, but rather serve to politically attack the Jewish state and whitewash Hamas before international public opinion.