News- Middle East: An international aid ship carrying life-saving supplies for children in Gaza has departed from southern Italy.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international nonprofit group, said the Handala vessel set sail from the port of Gallipoli on Sunday as part of its “mission for the children of Gaza.”

According to the organizers, medical supplies, food, and aid equipment for Palestinian children will be on board the vessel. 

“In the face of genocide and deliberate starvation, every act of solidarity matters,” the coalition said in a statement. “As long as Israel enjoys impunity, violence will continue.”

The vessel is expected to spend about a week at sea, with a 20-member crew that includes European lawmakers, human rights activists, and journalists.

French Member of the European Parliament Emma Fourreau, one of those on board, acknowledged the risks before departure but said they pale in comparison to what children in Gaza face every day.

“We are fully aware of the risks. But they are nothing compared to what children in Gaza endure every day,” she said. “We stand for peace and international law.”

Other notable passengers include Gabrielle Cathala from France’s Unbowed (LFI) Party, Palestinian-American activist Huwaida Arraf, and American labor organizer Chris Smalls.

The Handala’s departure comes over a month after Israeli forces seized another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Madleen, before it could reach Gaza in early June.

All twelve passengers aboard — including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg — were detained and later deported by Israel.

Through its blockade of Gaza, Israel has imposed sweeping restrictions on the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and humanitarian relief.

Human rights organizations say the blockade is central to Israel’s ongoing campaign of genocide in the Palestinian territory.

Source: Press TV