Brussels, July 8, 2025 — The Handala Cultural Association in Belgium has expressed its full support for the upcoming departure of the ship Handala, scheduled to sail from the port of Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, 2025. The mission, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aims to break the ongoing Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The association emphasized that the ship carries a vital humanitarian and moral message, with volunteers, parliamentarians, and international figures from around the world on board. The mission seeks to challenge what the group describes as the international community’s silence in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where over two million people—among them hundreds of thousands of children—remain trapped under continuous bombardment, starvation, and deprivation.
The statement highlights that this mission follows closely after the Israeli navy’s attack on the civilian ship Madeleine and the abduction of 12 activists who were attempting to deliver medical aid to Gaza.
“The Handala ship embodies the spirit of resistance and solidarity represented by the iconic child Handala, a symbol of Palestinian steadfastness,” the association said. It called on people worldwide to support the mission, ensure the safety of the ship and its passengers, and pressure governments and international institutions to uphold their legal and humanitarian obligations toward Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has organized several previous missions challenging the blockade, which human rights organizations have long condemned as a form of collective punishment.
