The Handala is the second ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that Israel has prevented in recent months from delivering aid to Gaza. View on euronews

The Israeli military has violently intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship seeking to break Israel's "illegal, genocidal" blockade of the Palestinian territory, "abducting" 21 international activists and journalists and seizing all cargo,

The aid flotilla has reportedly already made it closer to the Strip than the Madleen flotilla that was stopped by Israeli forces last month. Activists aboard the Handala ship said on Saturday that they are approaching the coast of the Gaza Strip and have already passed the point where the Madleenflotilla was stopped last month.

The ship launched from Italy five days ago carrying humanitarian aid desperately needed by Gaza’s starving population.

It was the second ship operated by the coalition that Israel has prevented in recent months from delivering aid to Gaza, where food experts have for months warned of the risk of famine.

The vessel Handala was seeking to break the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory. Israeli military detained 21 international activists and journalists and seized all cargo.