A new humanitarian aid ship named Handala departed from Sicily on Sunday as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s (FFC) continued efforts to challenge Israel’s illegal naval blockade on the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Handala vessel—carrying life-saving medical supplies, food, and essential humanitarian aid—is headed for Gaza with the aim of delivering relief to a population devastated by months of bombardment, starvation, and displacement. The ship’s mission is especially dedicated to the children of Gaza, who now make up the majority of the besieged population and continue to bear the brunt of Israel’s ongoing assault.

The launch comes just over a month after the Madleen aid ship—another FFC vessel—was violently seized by Israeli occupation forces in international waters just kilometers from Gaza’s coast. That operation sparked international outrage and a war crimes complaint filed by a Spanish passenger, citing Israel’s illegal interception and aggressive tactics.

Symbolic Name, Powerful Message

The latest flotilla is named Handala (حنظلة), in tribute to the iconic Palestinian cartoon character created by political artist Naji al-Ali in 1969. Handala, the barefoot child who turned his back on the world until Palestine is free, has come to symbolize Palestinian defiance and the enduring struggle for justice and freedom.

“This boat carries his spirit, and that of every child in Gaza who has been denied safety, dignity, and joy,” the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement.

A Mission for Gaza’s Children

Over the past two years, the Handala ship has sailed to ports across Europe and the United Kingdom, where it has raised awareness, engaged communities, and built solidarity through press events, public art installations, and political education. Now, it heads directly toward Gaza with a clear mission: to break both the humanitarian blockade and the silence surrounding the genocide of the Palestinian people.

“The children of Gaza—who make up over half the population—have been living under a brutal blockade their entire lives,” the coalition said. “Since October 2023, over 50,000 have been killed or injured, tens of thousands orphaned, and nearly a million left homeless. This mission is for them.”

International Delegation Onboard

Among those sailing aboard Handala are high-profile activists and solidarity figures, including:

Chris Smalls, founder of the first Amazon labor union in the U.S., who joined the ship in solidarity with Gaza’s besieged civilians.

Gabrielle Cathala and Emma Fourreau, elected members of France’s La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party, who are set to board the ship during its stop in Gallipoli, Italy, on July 18. “This is a mission to break the summer silence on the genocide in Gaza,” Cathala stated.

Vigdis Bjorvand, a 70-year-old Norwegian activist who has supported the Palestinian cause since 1978.

In addition to them, a diverse group of doctors, lawyers, journalists, and human rights activists from around the world are also aboard Handala, representing a global civil society movement stepping in where state institutions have failed.

“We are not governments. We are people taking action where institutions have failed,” participants said in a collective statement from the deck.

Legal and Political Pressure Mounts

The flotilla’s departure comes amid growing legal challenges to Israel’s conduct. A Spanish citizen who was aboard the Madleen has filed a war crimes complaint over Israel’s June 8 attack on the aid vessel, which occurred in international waters. Human rights groups say such actions highlight Israel’s violation of international maritime law and the Geneva Conventions.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition emphasized that Handala's voyage is peaceful and civilian-led, with its sole mission being to deliver urgently needed aid to Gaza and to spotlight the suffering of its children under siege.

As Handala sails across the Mediterranean, the world watches once again, as ordinary people mobilize to defy a blockade that has transformed Gaza into what human rights groups describe as "the largest open-air prison on Earth." (ILKHA)