Gaza Aid Activist Denounces "Israeli Piracy" After Ship Seizure

Seizure of Aid Ship Handala

• 🚢 On Saturday night, Israeli forces raided the civilian aid ship Handala in international waters, seizing its cargo of baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine.
• আটক The ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
• ⚖️ Israeli forces detained 21 civilians, including parliamentarians, human rights lawyers, and journalists, aboard the vessel.

Activist's Account of the Raid

• 🗣️ Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian American human rights attorney on board, stated that the blockade is unlawful and constitutes a war crime.
• 🚫 Arraf repeatedly demanded that Israeli forces refrain from attacking the civilian vessel and emphasized their lack of jurisdiction in international waters.
• 📡 Communications, including GPS and VHF radio, were jammed by Israeli forces before they boarded the ship with dozens of masked, armed soldiers.

International Law and Accountability

• 🌍 Arraf criticized governments for not intervening, stating that their inaction allows Israel to deliberately starve Palestinians.
• 🏛️ She highlighted the hypocrisy of governments offering consular services only after citizens are kidnapped, legitimizing what she called "Israeli piracy on the high seas."
• 🚫 International activists refused to sign papers acknowledging illegal entry into Israel, leading to deportation proceedings.

Continued Activism and Demands

• ✊ Arraf and other released activists joined a hunger strike demanding an end to Israel's blockade and starvation campaign.
• 🚀 The Freedom Flotilla Coalition vows to continue organizing aid ships to break the blockade, emphasizing that aid must not be contingent on Israeli permission.
• 📣 The group plans further actions to expose Israel's actions and pressure governments to enforce international law and end the siege of Gaza.