July 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
| Blockade of the Gaza Strip |
|---|
| Crossings |
| 2004–2009 |
| 2010–2022 |
| 2023–present |
| Groups involved |
The July 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla is a civilian maritime mission organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. The ship Handala departed from Syracuse, Italy, on 13 July 2025, carrying a diverse group of activists, medics, lawyers, journalists, and humanitarian supplies.[1][2][3][4] It is making a stop in Gallipoli between 15 and 18 July, before heading to Gaza.[5][6]
Background
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is an international network of grassroots organizations that has organized multiple missions to Gaza since 2010, aiming to break the Israeli blockade and draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.[3] The July 2025 mission follows the interception of the coalition's previous vessel, Madleen, by Israeli forces in June 2025, during which volunteers including a member of the European Parliament and journalists were detained and deported.[2][3]
After the October 7 attacks and during the ensuing Gaza war, Israel intensified its blockade on the Gaza Strip, labeling it as a total blockade denying the entry of food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity,[7] causing high risk of famine and a humanitarian crisis that scholars have described as genocide.[8] Due to Israeli checkpoints into Gaza which predate the October 7 attacks, the Israeli government and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have controlled the entrance of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with aid delivery disrupted multiple times over the years, either via Israeli government blockades or Israeli civilian protests.[9] Additionally, since March 2, 2025, very little humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza, with concerns about famine in Gaza being raised by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).[10][11] Israel has announced that any action that leads to breaking the siege of Gaza will be met with failure.[12]
The flotilla is named Handala after the iconic cartoon character created by Naji al-Ali, symbolizing Palestinian resistance and the right of return for Palestinan refugees.[2][3][13]
Mission and objectives
The Handala mission has the three primary objectives of breaking the blockade by sailing directly to Gaza in defiance of the Israeli naval blockade, which has been in place since 2007; of delivering aid such as food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies to Gaza's besieged population; and of showing solidarity by amplifying the voices of Palestinians and highlight the role of international actors in sustaining or challenging the blockade.[2][3][14]
The FFC states: "We are not governments. We are people, taking action where institutions have failed. This mission is for the children of Gaza."[3]
Participants and support
On board the Handala are 18 members from multiple countries,[15] including volunteer medics and health professionals, lawyers and human rights advocates, journalists and media workers, and social justice activists and community organizers.[3]
| Participant | Occupation | Previous activity |
|---|---|---|
 Yasemin Acar |
Madleen | |
 Robert Martin |
Activist | Freedom Flotilla III |
 Huwaida Arraf |
|
2010 mission |
 Caoimhe Butterly |
Activist | |
 Gabrielle Cathala |
MP | |
| Emma Fourreau |
MEP | |
| Chris Smalls |
Labor organizer | |
| Tania Safi |
Journalist | |
 Yazan Eissa |
||
| Frank Romano |
Lawyer | |
| Bob Suberi |
Activist | |
 Vigdis Bjorvand |
Cook | |
| Jacob Berger |
Actor | |
 Mohammed Mustafa
|
Medical doctor | |
  Ge Yipeng
| ||
| Sources:[5][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] | ||
The mission is supported by a coalition of NGOs, trade unions, and advocacy groups, and has received endorsements from prominent international figures and organizations.[3]
See also
- Gaza Freedom Flotilla and the raid on it (2010)
- Freedom Flotilla II (2011)
- Welcome to Palestine (activists' flights planned for 2011/2012)
- Freedom Flotilla III (2015)
- Women's Boat to Gaza (2016)
- 2024 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
- Humanitarian aid during the Gaza war
- Global March to Gaza, mid-June 2025 march to enter Gaza from Egypt
- June 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla (Madleen mission)
References
- ^ "Freedom Flotilla Sails Again to Gaza". Republic Palestine. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Freedom Flotilla to sail for Gaza again on July 13". Dawn. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Freedom Flotilla to Dispatch 'Handala' Ship to Gaza Next Week". MINA. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Freedom Flotilla Coalition to launch new aid ship to Gaza". The National. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b Aubry, Manon [@manonaubryfr]; (11 July 2025). "Le 18 juillet, un nouveau bateau de la #FlotilleDeLaLiberté prendra la mer pour briser le blocus illégal de Gaza" (in French). Retrieved 11 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ Chironi, Andrea (15 July 2025). "Da Gallipoli a Gaza, la nave Handala sfida l'embargo sugli aiuti". Quotidiano di Puglia (in Italian). Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Gaza 'soon without fuel, medicine and food' - Israel authorities". BBC News. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ "Top genocide scholars unanimous that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza: Dutch investigation". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ ברוך, חזקי. "מאות ניסו למנוע סיוע לעזה וחסמו את נמל אשדוד". ערוץ 7 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ "Gaza population faces critical risk of famine, global hunger monitor says". Reuters. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ Shih, Gerry; Brown, Cate; Parker, Claire; DeYoung, Karen (23 May 2025). "Sweeping overhaul of Gaza aid raises questions of morality and workability". Washington Post.
- ^ Yoon, John; Kershner, Isabel (10 June 2025). "Israel Says Gaza Aid Boat Passengers Are Being Deported". New York Times.
- ^ "Σαλπάρει το «Handala» για τη Γάζα: Νέα αποστολή του Freedom Flotilla - «Αυτή η αποστολή είναι αφιερωμένη στα παιδιά της Γάζας» | Το Κουτί της Πανδώρας" ["Handala" sets sail for Gaza: New mission of the Freedom Flotilla – "This mission is dedicated to the children of Gaza"]. www.koutipandoras.gr (in Greek). 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Freedom Flotilla Ship Will Attempt to Break Israeli Blockade of Gaza | The Libertarian Institute". The Libertarian Institute. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b Ávila, Thiago [@thiagoavilabrasil]; (10 July 2025). "Almost one year since we had to stop our mission due to a mechanical failure on the engine of the Handala it's finally out of port again to continue its journey to Gaza to break the Siege and create a humanitarian sea corridor!". Retrieved 10 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Handala seiler igjen for å bryte blokaden - for barna i Gaza". Ship to Gaza Norway (in Norwegian). 7 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Berger, Jacob [@jacobbergeractor]; (10 July 2025). "Happy to announce i will be heading to Gaza with the @gazafreedomflotilla". Retrieved 10 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ Acar, Yasemine [@yaseminacr_]; (10 July 2025). "HANDALA has finally set sail to Syracuse on it's way to Gaza. FREE PALESTINE". Retrieved 10 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ Senecal, Audrey (11 July 2025). "Flottille de la Liberté : qui sont les deux députées LFI en route vers Gaza ?". Le Journal du Dimanche (in French). Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Berger, Jacob [@jacobbergeractor]; (10 July 2025). "Happy to announce i will be heading to Gaza with the @gazafreedomflotilla". Retrieved 10 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ Martin, Robert [@robert_martin_palestine_]; (9 July 2025). "I'm almost in Syracuse where I'll be joining everyone from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition @gazafreedomflotilla standing in solidarity and supporting in every and every way I can. I'm proud to be representing Australia, follow and support them here @gazafreedomflotilla". Retrieved 12 July 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ Butterly, Caoimhe [@caoimhebutterly]; (14 July 2025). "With brave, profoundly committed medics @beastfromthe_middleeast & @yipeng.ge & their prosthetic limb, en route to Gallipoli, then Gaza". Retrieved 14 July 2025 – via Instagram.
