Israeli forces intercepted the Handala aid flotilla in international waters on Saturday, preventing it from reaching Gaza. The 21-member crew, including two French parliamentarians and Al Jazeera journalists, were detained and brought to Ashdod port. Adalah, an Israeli legal group, secured access for lawyers to meet with most of the detainees. Israel justified the interception as maintaining its maritime blockade, citing security concerns, while activists argued the blockade is illegal and causes humanitarian suffering in Gaza. This incident follows previous attempts to deliver aid to Gaza, highlighting the ongoing conflict and its impact on the civilian population.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.