Freedom Flotilla ship 'Handala' prepares to sail for Gaza at Gallipoli port

(Reuters) – A ship carrying activists to Gaza prepared to set sail from Italy’s Gallipoli port on Sunday in order to try and break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip once more.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC)'s "Handala" carrying civilian activists including lawyers, doctors and journalists was later seen departing Gallipoli toward Gaza.

The activists who posted a video of themselves on Telegram before launching the ship said they were carrying toys for the children of Gaza and the FFC website said they were also planning to bring "life-saving humanitarian aid and a message of solidarity from people around the world."

During a previous flotilla mission by the Madleen last month, also operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Israeli naval forces boarded and seized the vessel carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

Israel and Hamas are engaged in indirect talks in Doha aimed at reaching a US-proposed 60-day ceasefire and a hostage deal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, though there has been no sign of any imminent breakthrough.