TEL AVIV – Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly discovered 21 units of hashish, a cannabis concentrate, on board the Handala vessel, part of the "Freedom Flotilla" attempting to breach the Gaza blockade. The seizure occurred during the IDF's interception of the ship in late July 2025, with a Norwegian woman in her 70s identified as the participant found with the illicit substance, according to a report by Israel National News (Arutz Sheva).
The incident brings into question the stated humanitarian objectives of the flotilla. As stated by Eyal Yakoby in a tweet, > "They weren’t bringing baby formula to Gaza—they were trying to get high." The IDF emphasized that the search and seizure operation was conducted with caution.
The Handala, a former Norwegian trawler, set sail from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, 2025, as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's ongoing efforts to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. The coalition stated its mission was to deliver humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, and to highlight the humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory.
This interception follows a similar incident in June 2025, when the IDF intercepted another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Madleen, which carried activists including Greta Thunberg. Israel maintains that its naval blockade is necessary for security reasons to prevent the smuggling of weapons and other materials that could be used by militant groups in Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has consistently argued that the blockade constitutes collective punishment and violates international law, while Israel asserts its right to enforce maritime security. The discovery of drugs on board a participant further complicates the narrative surrounding these high-profile attempts to reach Gaza by sea.