Gaza: The Gaza Strip on Sunday condemned the storming of the Handala aid ship by the Israeli military as an act of 'naval piracy,' and urged the international community to protect humanitarian convoys heading toward the besieged enclave.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Gaza Media Office stated it 'strongly condemns the crime of the Israeli occupation forces storming the solidarity ship 'Handala' while it was sailing in international waters as part of a humanitarian mission to break the unjust blockade on the Gaza Strip.' The office described the raid as 'a blatant act of aggression,' and emphasized that it 'constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and maritime navigation rules.'
The office further added that the incident 'confirms once again that the occupation behaves as a rogue force outside the law and targets every humanitarian initiative aiming to rescue over 2.4 million besieged and starving Palestinians in Gaza.' It held Israel responsible for the safety of international activists onboard the vessel and urged the UN and human rights organizations to take 'urgent and firm action' to ensure international protection for humanitarian convoys headed to Gaza.
On Saturday, Israeli forces stormed the Handala, which was carrying the activists in an attempt to break the blockade on Gaza. A live broadcast showed armed soldiers boarding the ship and ordering the activists to raise their hands. The broadcast was cut shortly after, and the fate of the ship's crew and passengers remains unknown. The Handala had sent a distress call as Israeli naval forces approached near the coast of Gaza.
The Handala had come within 70 nautical miles of the enclave, a closer distance than previous attempts by other ships, according to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza. The vessel departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13 and docked briefly in Gallipoli on July 15 to resolve technical issues before setting sail on July 20 with 21 activists on board.
Gaza is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in its history. The closure of border crossings and the ban on food and medicine since March 2 have resulted in widespread starvation and severe malnutrition among children and patients.