-GALLIPOLI, APULIA, ITALY - JULY 17, 2025: Activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition gathered at Gallipoli Port in Italy’s Apulia region on Thursday, July 17, as they prepared to sail to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid with its new vessel "Handala." The activists met with local supporters and civil society groups in a show of solidarity ahead of their planned departure. The flotilla aims to draw international attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. The group emphasized that their mission is peaceful and rooted in international law, aiming to bring much-needed relief supplies while demanding unrestricted access for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Freedom Flotilla Coalition set sail on Sunday, July 13, toward Gaza with its new vessel "Handala" from Siracusa, Italy. "Just weeks after Israeli forces illegally seized our boat ‘Madleen’ and abducted 12 unarmed civilians in international waters, we continue — with global solidarity — to challenge Israel’s illegal and deadly siege," the coalition announced on X. The coalition noted that they aim to break the blockade "for the children of Gaza," carrying humanitarian aid and a message of "solidarity." Although the number of activists is not exactly known yet, with estimations up to 18, two members of the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party are also expected on board. The British-flagged vessel Madleen had departed Sicily, Italy, on June 6, bound for Gaza, attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of the enclave. Israeli forces seized the Madleen on June 9 and detained its 12-strong crew. Reporting by Valeria Ferraro // Writing by Mustafa Tuncer