The Flotilla tries again, the IDF blocks it.

The Handala vessel, the Freedom Flotilla's 37th mission in 18 years, approached Gaza waters, triggering the Israeli maritime security blockade that evening. Live footage showed soldiers boarding and beginning to identify those on board. "The IDF is enforcing a maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip and is prepared for a range of scenarios," the army stated.

On board, the 21 activists of 10 nationalities from the pro-Palestinian NGO, including two Italians, awaited the inexorable trap of interception and arrest by the IDF, into which they voluntarily and alone entered, doing—here the NGO's accusation—what "the international community should do." The 21 activists announced that, once the arrest is made, they will collectively go on hunger strike, not only to protest Israel and the "genocide" in Gaza, but also "the governments of the world who have failed to uphold international law," who "have abandoned the Palestinians" and "failed humanity," demanding that they be "held accountable," as a dramatic post by the Handala crew published on X reads. The Handala is asking the governments of the 10 countries of origin for "protection and safe conduct for their citizens on board," who "are doing what governments should do," namely: providing humanitarian aid to "break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza."

Also on board are Italian skipper Tony La Piccirella, from Bari, and Sicilian blogger Antonio Mazzeo. "If they stop us," La Piccirella said, speaking by phone with ANSA, "it will be because governments failed to protect the mission and allowed an illegal operation in international waters, violating all international rights and laws. If they take us to Ashdod, it will be against our will; we will be kidnapped, with the IDF taking control of the vessel in armed military form."

A former Norwegian fishing vessel, the Handala departed from Syracuse on July 13th, stopping on the 18th in Gallipoli, Puglia, where it also picked up two French activists with a symbolic cargo of food, medicine, as well as powdered milk and toys for the children of Gaza. In the afternoon, the vessel passed the point where the previous Flotilla mission, the sailing vessel Madleen, was intercepted and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod on June 9th. The vessel carried MEP Rima Hassan and, most importantly, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was described as an "anti-Semite" by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. "We," says La Piccirella, "are only certain of our intentions. There are 21 of us: there are doctors, nurses, journalists, human rights activists. It's a diverse group, with people from as far away as the United States, Canada, France, and Tunisia."