Israel’s navy on 26 July seized the Handala, a Norwegian-built trawler repurposed by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, boarding the vessel in international waters roughly 100 kilometres west of the enclave. About twenty civilians from a dozen countries, including French lawmakers Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala and two Al Jazeera journalists, were detained during the operation. The Handala was carrying a modest cargo of baby formula, diapers and 3-D-printed prosthetic limbs for children, according to organisers. Live video from the ship was cut minutes after commandos took control, but Israel’s foreign ministry later said the vessel was being escorted to an Israeli port and that all passengers were unharmed. Activists condemned the interception as a breach of maritime law and an effort to silence criticism of the 18-year blockade of Gaza, which UN agencies warn has pushed the territory to the brink of famine. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the crew would begin a hunger strike if held, while French opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon urged Paris to secure the lawmakers’ release. Israel has pledged to enforce the naval cordon, arguing that unauthorised sailings are “dangerous and unlawful.” Saturday’s operation came six weeks after Israeli forces halted another coalition vessel, the Madleen, in similarly contested waters, underscoring the growing confrontation between international activists and the Netanyahu government over access to the besieged strip.