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Israel detains Americans bringing baby formula to Gaza [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-07-27

Overnight July 25-26, Israeli military boarded the Freedom Flotilla ship Handala in international waters and detained passengers and crew.

Handala carried a shipment of critical humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, including baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine. All cargo was non-military, civilian, and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation and medical collapse under Israel’s illegal blockade.

The volunteers on board could not sit back while Gazans starve, so they set out to bring a tiny amount of needed supplies to Gaza. They knew that Israel would likely try to stop passage, even with verification that supplies are humanitarian

Twenty one civilians from 12 countries were on board, including these Americans.

United States: Christian Smalls – Amazon Labor Union founder; Huwaida Arraf – Human rights attorney (Palestine/US); Jacob Berger – Jewish-American activist; Bob Suberi – Jewish U.S. war veteran; Braedon Peluso – Sailor and direct action activist; Dr. Frank Romano – International lawyer and actor (France/US).

Information is scarce one day later, but it appears that Bob Suberi has been released and remains in Israeli for possible further interrogation. All Handala humanitarians need to be free of Israeli detention.

The interception and detentions were not unanticipated. Detainees request your assistance.

Those detained expressed commitments to hunger strikes in order to bring attention to conditions in Gaza.

Veterans for Peace Chapte r 61 in St Louis stands with our fellow member Bob Suberi and all Freedom Flotilla humanitarians. Here is a portion of our statement.

On July 26, 2025, Israeli forces violently seized the unarmed civilian ship “Handala” 40 nautical miles from Gaza, violating international maritime law and court orders. Named after a Palestinian refugee symbol, the vessel carried life-saving supplies, baby formula, medicine, diapers, food for Palestinians facing "deliberate starvation and medical collapse." This marks Israel’s third attack on a Freedom Flotilla Coalition sponsored mission in 2025. The 21 abducted human rights defenders represent 12 countries including U.S. labor organizers, journalists (Al Jazeera’s Mohamed El Bakkai and Vikad Al Naka), and a 70-year-old Norwegian activist.

VFP Chapter 61 demands include:

• Immediate release of all civilians

• Proof of life for Bob Suberi

• End to Gaza’s blockade

• Accountability for Israel’s violations of international law.

Please contact your representatives and State Department officials to demand the release of all aid delivering Handala passengers and crew, as well as an end to the blockade and siege of Gaza.

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