News - Middle East: The Hind Rajab Foundation has officially lodged a criminal complaint with the UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit, demanding an urgent investigation into the Israeli military's assault on the British-flagged humanitarian vessel, Handala.

The boat called Handala, led by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was roughly 100km west of Gaza during the night of July 26-27, 2025, when Israeli forces “violently intercepted” it and boarded the vessel, the coalition said in a statement.

The regime's forces also detained all 21 international crew members, including journalists and lawmakers.

According to the legal rights center Adalah, Israeli naval vessels dragged the aid ship to the occupied port of Ashdod. The incident is viewed as a serious breach of international law.

The Hind Rajab Foundation complaint, filed on Monday, was submitted under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 and the International Criminal Court Act 2001.  

The foundation calls for immediate action from UK authorities to investigate war crimes committed by Israeli forces during the operation, which was executed by the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit of the Israeli Navy, led by Vice Admiral David Saar Salama.

Among the targets of the complaint are military and regime officials who may have authorized or facilitated the assault.

The Hind Rajab Foundation is urging these individuals to be identified, questioned, and prosecuted under UK jurisdiction when warranted by the evidence.

At the time of the attack, the Handala was located approximately 49 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, carrying 21 unarmed civilians, including prominent figures such as: Chloé Fiona Ludden, a British humanitarian volunteer, Emma Fourreau, a Member of the European Parliament (France), Gabrielle Cathala, a Member of the French National Assembly, Jacob Berger, a Jewish-American activist, journalists, lawyers, and aid workers from various countries.

All passengers were detained without legal justification and forcibly taken to Israel. The humanitarian cargo on board, which included essential baby formula, medical supplies, and food, was confiscated, and communication was cut off immediately following the boarding by Israeli forces.

As a British-flagged vessel, the Handala represents an extension of UK sovereign jurisdiction, meaning the seizure and arrest of its passengers in international waters infringes upon British legal territory.

This action is a breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, as it counteracts binding orders from the International Court of Justice issued in early 2024, which mandate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Hind Rajab Foundation is requesting that UK authorities take the following actions:

Initiate a criminal investigation into the operation.

Identify and question all 21 individuals aboard, particularly British nationals.

Pursue legal action against Vice Admiral David Saar Salama, commanders of Shayetet 13, and any accountable political or military officials.

Place suspects on watchlists and prepare arrest warrants for those who may enter the UK.

Collaborate with Interpol, the International Criminal Court, and UN mechanisms to ensure global accountability.

This incident reflects a troubling trend of unlawful interceptions of humanitarian efforts, following events like the attack on the Madleen and the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid.

The Handala situation is indicative of a broader campaign to criminalize humanitarian aid and stifle civilian solidarity with Gaza under military pretenses.

The Hind Rajab Foundation remains resolute in its mission to expose and challenge any acts of illegality and brutality enforced by state power.

The assault on the Handala signifies an attack not only on aid workers and civilians but also on international law, human dignity, and the fundamental principle of accountability.

The Handala, a refurbished fishing boat, had been en route from Malmö, Sweden, to break Israel’s deadly blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid—including baby formula, nappies, food, and medicine—to Palestinian residents.

Source: Press TV