The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has said it will attempt to break the Israeli siege of Gaza with another ship. Last month, the FFC vessel ‘Madleen’ was seized by Israeli forces before it could reach the starving people of the Strip.
A statement on the organization’s X account announced that the next ship will set sail from Italy next week: “We are setting sail again. On July 13, 2025, our boat Handala will depart from Siracusa [Syracuse], Italy, to break Israel’s illegal blockade. This mission is for the children of Gaza.” It continued, “Just weeks ago, Israeli forces illegally seized our boat Madleen and abducted 12 unarmed civilians aboard her in international waters.”
We are setting sail again. On July 13, 2025 our boat #Handala will depart from Siracusa, Italy to break Israel’s illegal blockade. This mission is for the children of Gaza.
Just weeks ago, Israeli forces illegally seized our boat #Madleen and abducted 12 unarmed civilians aboard… pic.twitter.com/G4LjtpQg7Q
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) July 6, 2025
In June, the FFC’s Madleen attempted to deliver baby formula to Gaza in spite of the siege, carrying 12 crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. That ship was seized by Israel on June 9, with some crew members detained for a week.
Since the vessel was prevented from reaching Gaza, multiple newborns in the Strip have reportedly died from starvation. According to the UN’s children’s agency, UNICEF, more than 5,100 Gazan children aged between 6 months and 5 years were treated for acute malnutrition in May alone – a 50% increase over the previous month.
The FFC has dispatched multiple ships to Gaza since Israel turned the densely populated region into an open-air prison. Tel Aviv has used lethal force to prevent ships from delivering aid to the malnourished people in Gaza, while another FFC vessel, the ‘Conscience,’ was bombed by an Israeli drone in international waters in May.
The FFC’s latest statement stressed that action is needed as the Palestinians are starving to death. “Since March, more than 6,572 Palestinians have been killed, over 23,000 injured, and hundreds shot while waiting for food. The children of Gaza now face famine, disease, and trauma few of us can imagine.” It added, “We are not governments. We are people taking action where institutions have failed. We are not backing down.”
At least 750 Palestinians have been killed in just over a month as they attempted to reach aid distribution sites in Gaza. Tel Aviv is only allowing the US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to bring a limited amount of aid to the territory, but the agency’s operations are insufficient and disorganized. Amnesty International has labeled the GHF a tool of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
