(July 27, 2025 / JNS) The Israeli Navy intercepted and boarded the vessel Handala late on Saturday night, preventing it from entering the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza, according to an official statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Authorities said the operation was conducted safely and confirmed that all passengers aboard the vessel—which had departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13—were unharmed.

The ship was towed to the port of Ashdod in southern Israel and the activists were set to be deported.