Israeli Raid on Humanitarian Aid Ship in International Waters; All Crew Arrested

DID Press: In the early Saturday morning, July 26, 2025, Israeli military forces seized the civilian ship “Handala,” which was carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, in international waters 40 miles from the Gaza Strip.

According to reports, the ship was carrying 21 passengers from 12 different countries, including doctors, journalists, members of parliament and peace activists. The ship’s cargo included essential items such as medicine, formula milk and medical aid for the residents of Gaza.

As the Israeli boats approached the ship, communication with it was completely lost. In a short video released before the communication was lost, it can be seen that Israeli armed forces enter the deck and order the passengers to raise their hands. Shortly after, the recording stops and all the passengers are still in custody.

The international coalition “Freedom Fleet” called this action a clear violation of international maritime laws and emphasized that the ship was in open waters at the time of its seizure and did not pose a threat to any party.

This is the third such action in recent months. Previously, in May and June, two other ships, the “Conscience” and the “Madleen”, were also seized by Israeli forces. After being detained and following intense diplomatic pressure, the crew of those ships were released and returned to their countries