Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announced that it had lost contact with the “Handala”, a ship carrying humanitarian aid in Gaza as part of the group’s mission to break the blockade of Israel.
“All communications with the Handala crew have been blocked,” the coalition said in a press release published on its official telegram channel.
“We have lost contact with our crew, and there are several drones near the ship,” he said, “which means that they could have been intercepted or attacked.”
The coalition urged its supporters “to put pressure on the safety of the crew”, calling on people to contact their representatives and the local media to “put pressure on Israel to let ‘Handala’ go and guarantee a safe passage to Gaza”.
No other details were available regarding the precise location of the ship, the status of its crew or the confirmation of an Israeli intervention.
The incident follows previous clashes.
Read: Israel kills 25 Palestinians, including 13 help seekers from dawn
On May 2, MV conscience, a ship belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and the transport of aid to Gaza, was attacked by drones while it was in international waters near Malta, causing fire and structural damage.
On June 9, Israel intercepted another aid vessel, Madlene, in international waters off the coast of Gaza, later holding and expelling its 12 international activists, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and the French deputy for the European Parliament Rima Hassan, under the condition that they do not try to return.
Israel announces a military break
The Israeli army announced on Sunday a break in military activity in three designated areas of Gaza, shortly after declaring that it had taken several measures to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
The break will take place daily in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City, from 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) until further notice, the army said.
The part of our current efforts to increase the magnitude of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip and in accordance with the directives of the political level, a local tactical break in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, from today … pic.twitter.com/z9y4a3tku
– Cogat (@Cogatonline) July 27, 2025
Designated secure routes will also be permanently in place from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., he added.
Israeli president Isaac Herzog praised recent military decisions to implement humanitarian breaks in Gaza, calling them “major stages” to improve the delivery of aid and protect civil life.
“I am delighted with the major stages announced by Israeli leaders and soldiers to strengthen and improve the humanitarian response to Gaza – in particular the decision to implement humanitarian breaks,” said Herzog in a statement published on X.
I am delighted with the major stages announced by Israeli leaders and soldiers to strengthen and improve the humanitarian response to Gaza – in particular the decision to implement humanitarian breaks to protect civil life and allow the provision of aid aid.
I am delighted with the major stages announced by Israeli leaders and soldiers to strengthen and improve the humanitarian response to Gaza – in particular the decision to implement humanitarian breaks to protect civil life and allow the provision of aid aid.
In coordination with …
– יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@isaac_herzog) July 26, 2025
Find out more: UNRWA Belittle Gaza AID AIRIDROPS
Mass hunger
International aid organizations claim that mass hunger has now arrived among the 2.2 million people in Gaza, the actions that are exhausted after Israel cut all the supplies on the territory in March, then reopened in May but with new restrictions.
The Israeli army said on Friday that it had agreed to leave the countries airy to Gaza. Hamas rejected it as a blow.
“The Gaza Strip does not need a aerobatical steering wheel, it needs an open humanitarian corridor and a constant daily flow of aid trucks to save what remains of the life of besieged and hungry civilians,” Reuters Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Govern Government Office, managed by Hamas, told Reuters.
Gaza medical authorities have said that nine other Palestinians died in the last 24 hours of malnutrition or famine. Dozens have died in recent weeks while hunger is getting worse.
Israel says that he has left enough food in Gaza and accuses the United Nations of not distributing it, in what the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry called on Friday “a deliberate ploy to defame Israel”. The United Nations indicates that it works as effectively as possible in the context of Israeli restrictions.
The United Nations agencies said that supplies would run out of specialized therapeutic food in Gaza to save the lives of children with acute seriously malnutrition.
The head of the United Nations, Tom Fletcher, also demanded that Israel provide evidence of his accusations that UN staff. The Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office has been affiliated to Hamas, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
Gaza ceasefies
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas could be finalized “any day now”, citing stable progress in the current negotiations by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, according to Al Jazeera.
“They have made a lot of progress, and they are close,” Rubio told Fox News, adding that Witkoff has been working “day and night for weeks”.
Rubio said that the proposed agreement would include the release of at least half of the hostages, including the deceased, the remaining captives that should be released at the end of a 60 -day period.
“All the Americans have now come out. We care about all the hostages,” he said, referring to those who are always held in Gaza.
“There is a very simple solution to what is happening in Gaza. Release all the hostages, put your arms and the war ends for Hamas,” he added.
The War of Israel against Gaza
The Israeli army has launched a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing at least 58,667 Palestinians, including 17,400 children. More than 139,974 people were injured and more than 14,222 are missing and presumed dead.
Last November, the International Criminal Court published arrest mandates against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Yoav Gallant Minister of Defense for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for his war against the enclave.
