<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/israel" rel="" target="" title="Israeli"><span>Israeli</span></a><span> forces intercepted the Handala, a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/gaza" rel="" target="" title="Gaza"><span>Gaza</span></a><span>-bound ship carrying aid and activists, within 70 nautical miles of its intended destination on Saturday night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The occupation has disabled our cameras and all communication has been lost," a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) told </span><em><span>CNN</span></em><span> in a message.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A YouTube livestream showed armed personnel boarding the ship, while the activists on the deck, all wearing life jackets, held their hands in the air in surrender.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-news-recordbreaking-rainfall-expected-in-parts-of-australia/5fb4ef5e-8dc6-4a77-b860-fb1fa39add7a" rel="" target="" title="Record-breaking rain to smash parts of Australia"><strong><span>Record-breaking rain to smash parts of Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of the helmeted personnel appears to manipulate the camera streaming on the deck, turning it around. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The stream ended soon after that.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Israel's foreign ministry confirmed in a </span><a href="https://x.com/IsraelMFA/status/1949221292336640337" rel="" target="" title=""><span>statement</span></a><span> on X that the "Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza," using the Handala's original name.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/israel-intercepts-gazabound-aid-ship-handala/6a4463bd-5654-4426-ab43-abbc962c7aa3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe," the statement continued. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unauthorised attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Handala, named for a famous Palestinian cartoon character, is part of the FFC, which has attempted numerous times to break Israel's blockade on Gaza via sea and deliver aid to Palestinians there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two members of the French and European parliaments are aboard, according to FFC, as well as Christian Small, a US trade unionist.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized," the FFC said in a statement issued soon after the live stream ended.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The statement added that the supplies included "baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A few hours before the ship was intercepted, the FFC released a statement saying that the Handala was steering towards Egypt in an effort to avoid being boarded.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The end of Handala's journey towards Gaza comes a little over a month after another ship from the Freedom Flotilla, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israel-vows-to-stop-aid-boat-with-greta-thunberg-and-other-activists-on-board-from-reaching-gaza/8452bb83-6a90-44f8-a2f1-c077696ee7fb" rel="" target="_blank" title=" the Madleen, was similarly intercepted on its way to the enclave."><span>the Madleen, was similarly intercepted on its way to the enclave.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That ship, crewed by a group that included climate activist Greta Thunberg, was also laden with aid. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Israeli authorities towed their ship to Ashdod, and all aboard were deported from Israel afterwards.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>'Violation of international maritime law'</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier on Saturday evening, crew members on the deck of the Handala were seen donning reflective life jackets after Australian volunteer Tania Safi told </span><em><span>CNN</span></em><span> in a voice note the ship was being "circled by Israeli Heron drones."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>CNN</span></em><span> is unable to verify the claim and has reached out to Israeli authorities for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Everyone here has prepared for almost every possible scenario that Israel could put us through," Safi said on Saturday afternoon. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If they intercept us, it would be a violation of international maritime law."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the FFC, four aboard the Handala are US citizens.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>CNN</span></em><span> has reached out to the US state department for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Thursday, a state department spokesperson called the activist aid ship a "selfie flotilla", dismissing the endeavor as a stunt.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The latest 'selfie flotilla' should end the stunts," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The real story is the serious people who put their lives on the line to get food and aid to the people of Gaza without it falling into the hands of terrorists."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The spokesperson added that the state department has "no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens" and referred to the government of Israel for more information.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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