the Israeli military’s attack on the ship Hanthala, carrying civilian activists in international waters, recalls the maritime piracy against the ship Madeleine. Israel aims to prevent these vessels from delivering a message of humanity to the world but must understand that more ships will continue toward Gaza until this brutal blockade is broken.
Departure and Entry into International Waters
The 18-meter ship Hanthala set sail on July 13 from Sicily, Italy, heading toward Gaza with the goal of breaking the years-long blockade.
On July 21, after departing from Gallipoli port in Italy en route to Gaza and following a temporary technical stop, Hanthala reached international waters.
The international Committee for Breaking the Gaza siege reported serious sabotage attempts against Hanthala before it left Gallipoli port. Among these efforts was a rope tightly wrapped around its propeller that was discovered prior to departure.
In addition, an inflammable chemical was found inside one of Hanthala’s water tanks causing harm to crew members on board.
Hanthala Near Gaza: Dozens of Drones Overhead
On July 26,Gabriel Katara,a French parliamentarian aboard hanthala,told Al Jazeera: ”Last night we counted 30 drones flying over this ship. We hope to reach Gaza without an Israeli military attack.”
He added: “We call upon all nations to hold protests condemning genocide in Gaza.”
A European Parliament member named Forou also said: “We are approaching Gaza’s shores and hope not to be detained by occupying forces. Tel Aviv uses starvation as a tool for Palestinian annihilation.”
Possibility of Seizure or Hijacking by Israeli Forces
Late last night Israeli media announced preparations underway for seizing Hanthala. The vessel had departed Italian shores days earlier with intentions to break Gaza’s siege.
The activists aboard reported an approaching Israeli-affiliated ship with drones flying overhead as Israel prepared its takeover operation.
An Al Jazeera correspondent confirmed that Israeli warboats were closing in on Hanthala.
Israeli Attack on Ship ‘Hanthala’
This morning Israeli forces attacked Hanthala belonging to the Freedom Fleet coalition aiming to break Gaza’s blockade.
The Freedom Fleet coalition stated that Israeli troops attacked Hanthala approximately 40 miles off Gaza’s coast while still in international waters.Based on released footage، it appearedIsraeli forces boardedHanthalawhere activists supportingPalestineweresurroundedandlive-stream cameras inside th vesٰselwere cut off./P(p)TheInternationalCommitteeforBreakingtheGazaSiegewarnedtthatIsraeliforcesar likelytransferHanthalatoneofitsportsintheoccupiedterritoriesanddetainitse occupants.p
;p
InternationalCommitteeemphasizeddespitethisattackfurthershipswouldbe dispatchedtobreaktheblockadeandstop genocidedowngoinginGaza.p
;p
پ
Israel Broadcasting Corporation reported plans are underway tomanage transportofthe vesseltoAshdodportwhereactivistswillbedetainedandre expelledfromtheoccupiedterritories.p
;p
Broad Condemnation of Zionist Maritime piracy Attacks Against ‘hanthala’/P(P())
The official officeofinformationinGazarespondingtoattackondescribeditasan “ewmaritimepiracy,”holdingtheZionistoccupiersfullyresponsibleforsafetyofthevesselspassengerscallingoninternationalcommunityandUnitedNationsimmediate decisive actionagainstthisviolation.P
TheIslamicResistanceMovement(Hamas) strongly condemnedtheattackashecalledit”adirectchallengehumanwillandexposethefraudulentnatureoftheoccupationregime,”holdingNetanyahu’sgovernmentresponsibleforthevesselactivistssecurity.Iturgedcontinuationofsailingconvoysuntilblockadeislifted.(paragraph)
ThePopularFrontforPalestineLiberationalsocalledthestatusanewcaseof maritiimepiracyaddingittoIsraelglobal recordattacksagainternationalactivstalminginternationalcommunitytostron glycondemnincidentandincreasetheeffortstobreakblockadedontimpose dGazesince…breaking.TheFreedomFleetsteeringcommittee memberAnneWrightsaid:Israelhasno legalrighttodetaininternactivistsaboard”Hant-h-ara”-foreigncitizensoperatingunderinternationalwrulesininternationalwatersDetentionsare arbitraryillegalmustend instantly。
