The Foreign Ministry confirms that the Israeli Navy has taken over the Handala activist boat attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, stressing that everyone on board is safe.
In a statement, using the original name of the vessel, the ministry says the forces “stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza.”
“The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe,” it adds.
“Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.”
The IDF itself is yet to issue a statement on the matter. Live footage from the vessel earlier showed Navy troops reaching the Handala and boarding it.
Handala is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which also dispatched a previous boat that was stopped, the Madleen, on a mission to reach Gaza.
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s website, the Handala is carrying 19 activists as well as two Al Jazeera journalists.
The boat will be towed to Ashdod Port by the Navy, and the activists will then be deported from the country.
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