Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Screenshots show the progress of the Handala boat as it heads to the region in an attempt to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, on July 26, 2025. (Screenshot: Salaamedia on Youtube)
The Israeli Navy is expected to intercept an activist boat attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip in the coming hours.
The Handala boat set sail from Sicily earlier this month, weeks after Israel intercepted a different vessel that had made a high-profile attempt to reach Gaza.
Organizers of the Handala, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, claim two apparent Israeli Navy vessels and a drone are approaching the boat at sea, and as a result, they have altered course, heading south toward Egypt.
“At this time, the Handala does not intend to enter Egyptian waters but plans to sail parallel to the coastline. Should the threat from Israeli authorities escalate, the crew will attempt to contact the Egyptian Coast Guard to request emergency entry based on the threat to their lives,” the Freedom Flotilla Coalition says.
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, July 26, 2025
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