The activist ship Handala set sail from the southern Italian port of Gallipoli on Sunday, embarking on a bold mission to challenge Israel’s 18-year naval blockade of Gaza.

Organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a network of pro-Palestinian civil society groups, the vessel carries a multinational crew of volunteers, medics, legal experts, and parliamentarians aiming to spotlight the worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Handala, named after the iconic cartoon character created by Palestinian artist Naji al-Ali, symbolizing Palestinian resistance, departed after docking in Syracuse, Sicily. The mission is described as peaceful and symbolic, intended to protest the international community’s inaction regarding Gaza’s dire conditions, including ongoing bombardments and critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies affecting over two million Palestinians.

European Parliament member Emma Fourreau condemned the silence of international institutions, stating to Al Jazeera that “Netanyahu and his government are responsible for the suffering in Gaza, but so too is the European Parliament for its complicity.”

This voyage follows two earlier unsuccessful attempts by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition this year. In May, the ship Conscience was reportedly attacked by a drone near Malta and forced to retreat. In June, the vessel Madeleine, carrying activists including Greta Thunberg, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters, with its crew detained and deported.

Despite these challenges, organizers remain resolute. “We sail to Gaza not because we believe we will break the siege this time, but because we must keep trying,” said one coalition member.

Israel has not yet commented on the Handala’s mission, but past flotilla attempts have faced threats of interception, raising concerns for the crew’s safety.

As the Handala approaches Gaza’s coast, it carries a message of global solidarity and the enduring symbol of a barefoot child, representing Palestinian resilience in the face of adversity. (ILKHA)