Activist boat Handala seized off Gaza brought to port of Ashdod
Activists were on a peaceful mission to break through Zionists' illegal blockade on Gaza
TEL AVIV: Zionist forces brought the pro-Palestinian activist boat Handala into the port of Ashdod on Sunday, after seizing the vessel in international waters and detaining the crew, an AFP journalist saw. Campaigners from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition had attempted to breach a Zionist naval blockade of the Palestinian territory of Gaza, but were intercepted late Saturday.
The legal rights center Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had been allowed to speak to 19 members of the 21-strong international crew, which included two French parliamentarians and two Al-Jazeera journalists. The remaining two of those detained were dual US and Zionist citizens and had been transferred to police custody, Adalah said. 'After 12 hours at sea, following the unlawful interception of the Handala, Zionist authorities confirmed the vessel's arrival at Ashdod port,' said the group, set up to campaign for the rights of Zionist entity's Arab population.
'Adalah reiterates that the activists aboard the Handala were part of a peaceful civilian mission to break through Zionist entity's illegal blockade on Gaza. The vessel was intercepted in international waters and their detention constitutes a clear violation of international law.'
Earlier, the Zionist foreign ministry said the navy stopped the Handala to prevent it from entering the coastal waters off the territory of Gaza. 'The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Zionist entity. All passengers are safe,' it said. Just before midnight local time on Saturday, video streamed live from the Handala showed Zionist troops boarding the vessel. An online tracker showed the ship in international waters west of Gaza. The ship had been on course to try to break a Zionist naval blockade of Gaza and bring a small quantity of humanitarian aid to the territory's Palestinian residents. The Handala's crew had said before their capture in a post on X that they would go on a hunger strike if the Zionist army intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. On board were activists from 10 countries, including two French MPs from the left-wing France Unbowed party, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala. There are also American, European and Arab activists among those detained.
A previous boat sent by Freedom Flotilla, the Madleen, was also intercepted by the Zionist military in international waters on June 9 and towed to Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The activists were eventually expelled by Zionist entity. – AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
11 hours ago
- Arab Times
35 Years On: Kuwait Remembers The 1990 Iraqi Invasion And Its Path To Liberation
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 1: On Friday, August 2nd, Kuwait commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Iraqi invasion—an event that not only marked a dark chapter in the nation's history but also rallied the international community in a unified effort to liberate the country from occupation. The brutal invasion by Iraqi forces in 1990 drew widespread global condemnation, with many nations denouncing the act as a grave violation of international law and a heinous assault on Kuwait's sovereignty. The aggression resulted in widespread death, destruction, and human suffering for the peaceful people of Kuwait. Those who lived through the invasion vividly recall the chaos unleashed by the Iraqi military—major roads were blocked, infrastructure was destroyed, and homes and properties were ravaged, leaving civilians to endure unimaginable hardships. Yet, amid this turmoil, Kuwaitis stood resilient. Citizens rose in defiance, forming resistance movements to fight back and support their homeland's liberation. Kuwaiti women played a vital role in this resistance, delivering supplies and weapons, and even participating directly in military operations alongside men. Both Kuwaitis and expatriates joined forces in forming underground networks that provided essential services, resisted the occupiers, and helped maintain a spirit of unity and determination. While the resistance unfolded on the ground, Kuwait's leadership—under the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah—worked tirelessly on the international stage to rally support for the country's liberation. On August 2, 1990, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 660, condemning the invasion and demanding Iraq's immediate and unconditional withdrawal. The resolution also called for urgent negotiations and endorsed efforts by the League of Arab States to resolve the crisis. Following the resolution, Arab and international leaders convened in Saudi Arabia to form a coalition, which successfully liberated Kuwait in February 1991. Kuwait's longstanding reputation as a peaceful and generous nation since gaining independence helped garner widespread global support for its cause. Today, as the country reflects on its past, it also honors the resilience of its people, the sacrifices made by countless individuals, and the enduring value of international unity in the face of aggression.
Kuwait News Agency
17 hours ago
- Kuwait News Agency
Jordan welcomes joint int'l statement to recognize independent Palestinian state
AMMAN, Aug 1 (KUNA) -- Jordan welcomed the joint statement issued by foreign ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Luxmbourg, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal and San Marino on recognizing an independent Palestinian state. The recognition will be signed in September during the meeting of the UN General Assembly. It was also previously signed by Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Spain and Slovenia. In a statement on Friday, spokesperson of the Jordanian Foreign Ministry Ambassador Sufian Qudah said the international stance shows the world's desire to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine. It provides big support for the international efforts to implement the two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. (end)
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
President steps up calls for Hezbollah to disarm
MARJAYOUN: This picture taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun, shows smoke rising from the area of Al-Dimashqiyeh following a Zionist airstrike on July 31, 2025. – AFP BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stepped up his calls for Hezbollah to disarm on Thursday, suggesting failure to do so would give Zionists an excuse to continue attacks and saying the issue would be on the agenda of a cabinet meeting next week. The comments reflect mounting pressure over the issue of Hezbollah's arms, which has loomed over Lebanon since the Iran-aligned group was pummeled in a war with Zionist entity last year. Washington wants Hezbollah disarmed - a demand echoed by the Beirut government as it aims to establish a monopoly on weapons. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Wednesday that calls for its disarmament served only Zionist entity. In a speech to army officers, Aoun said the government would next week discuss Lebanon's amendments to a US roadmap to disarm Hezbollah, deemed a terrorist group by Washington. Lebanon's counter proposal demands an immediate halt to Zionist attacks, its withdrawal from positions held in the south, the establishment of state control over all Lebanon and the disarmament of armed groups including Hezbollah, he said. Aoun urged all parties 'to seize this historic opportunity ... and push for the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the army and security forces'. He said the government would set a timeframe to implement the steps. Shiite Muslim Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, was the only Lebanese group allowed to keep its weapons at the end of the 1975-90 civil war on the grounds it needed them to fight Zionist troops who occupied the south but withdrew in 2000. Hezbollah's arsenal has long divided Lebanese, with critics saying it has undermined the state and dragged Lebanon into conflicts. Washington has been pushing Lebanon to commit to disarming Hezbollah before talks can resume on halting Zionist military operations, Reuters reported earlier this week. Hezbollah has so far refused, though the group has been considering scaling back its arsenal. Addressing Hezbollah and its followers but without naming them, Aoun called on those who 'have faced the aggression' to 'rely solely on the Lebanese state'. 'You are too honorable to risk the state-building project, and too noble to provide pretexts for an aggression that wants to continue the war against us,' he said. Zionists killed many Hezbollah commanders and thousands of its fighters last year, while also destroying much of its arsenal. The US proposal delivered in June would require Hezbollah to disarm within four months in exchange for the withdrawal of Zionist troops occupying several posts in south Lebanon, and a halt to Zionist airstrikes. Hezbollah had already relinquished a number of weapons depots in southern Lebanon to the Lebanese army in line with a US-brokered truce designed to end last year's war. Aoun said the proposals to be discussed next week include seeking $1 billion annually for 10 years to support the army and the security forces and plans for an international conference to later in the year to support reconstruction efforts.- Reuters
