Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announced that it has lost contact with the “Handala,” a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of the group’s mission to break Israel’s blockade.
“All communications with the Handala’s crew have been jammed,” the coalition said in a statement posted on its official Telegram channel.
“We lost all contact with our crew, and there are multiple drones near the vessel,” it said, “which means that they could have been intercepted or attacked.”
The coalition urged its supporters “to pressure for the safety of the crew,” calling on people to contact their representatives and local media to “pressure Israel to let ‘Handala’ go and guarantee a safe passage to Gaza.”
No other details were available regarding the ship’s precise location, the status of its crew, or confirmation of an Israeli intervention.
The incident follows previous confrontations.
On May 2, the MV Conscience, a ship belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and transporting aid to Gaza, was attacked by drones while in international waters near Malta, causing a fire and structural damage.
On June 9, Israel intercepted another aid ship, the Madlene, in international waters off the coast of Gaza, detaining and later deporting its 12 international activists, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, under the condition they not attempt to return.
Israel announces military pause
The Israeli military announced on Sunday a pause in military activity in three designated areas of Gaza, shortly after it said it was taking several steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
The pause will take place daily in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, from 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) to 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) until further notice, the military said.
Designated secure routes will also be in place permanently from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., it added.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed recent military decisions to implement humanitarian pauses in Gaza, calling them “major steps” to improve aid delivery and protect civilian lives.
“I welcome the major steps announced by the Israeli leadership and military to strengthen and upgrade the humanitarian response in Gaza — particularly the decision to implement humanitarian pauses,” Herzog said in a statement posted on X.
I welcome the major steps announced by the Israeli leadership and military to strengthen and upgrade the humanitarian response in Gaza — particularly the decision to implement humanitarian pauses to protect civilian lives and allow the safe delivery of aid.
