Why the Freedom Flotilla will keep challenging Israel’s siege of Gaza - an interview with Huwaida Arraf

On 9 June, Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla's ship Madleen in international waters, illegally detaining activists and stopping them from supplying much needed aid - including baby formula -to the people of the Gaza Strip, who are now dying of famine.

However, this has not deterred activists from trying to reach the Gaza Strip by sea again with food supplies, amid growing global outrage at scenes of children starving amid Israel's continued siege.

The New Arab interviewed Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American lawyer and activist currently travelling on the ship Handala in an attempt to once again alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.

We witnessed how the Israeli army prevented the ship Madleen from reaching Gaza last time, what makes you insist on continuing this effort?

Israel has not only illegally attacked the Madleen, but it has used violence against us since 2008 - when we launched this civilian effort to confront and challenge Israeli’s illegal blockade. In 2010, Israel killed 10 of our volunteers, injured dozens and abducted nearly 700 civilians from international waters. But, we have not and will not give in to the notion that violence and military might are stronger than the rights we are fighting for. We refuse to normalize the siege. We refuse to stand by while infants starve and entire families are erased. The Madleen’s interception showed the world the extent to which Israel will go to maintain its brutal blockade. But it also reminded us that the world needs to keep resisting. Every attempt, every ship, every act of defiance chips away at the silence and complicity that have allowed this siege to go on for 17 years. We sail because we must — not because it’s easy, but because it’s right.

What motivated you to join the Handala ship?

This is not new for me. I was part of the first boats to attempt to break Israel’s illegal blockade in the summer of 2008. It’s a sad indictment on the global community that we are still doing this after 17 years. Our governments have failed miserably. They should be the ones acting to uphold international law. But, in this case, they are aiding and abetting crimes against humanity. We cannot be silent about this.

As a Palestinian-American, as a lawyer, and as a mother, I feel the weight of this moment in history. My government — the US — is enabling genocide. I joined this ship not just to bring aid, but to confront that complicity and to stand with Palestinians in Gaza who have been abandoned by the so-called international community. We are sailing for justice, dignity, and life.

We carry several urgent and interconnected messages:

To the Palestinian people - You are not alone. We see you, we hear you, and we will not abandon you. This siege is not just illegal—it is inhumane. And despite the silence or complicity of our governments, people of conscience around the world are rising. We are willing to put our bodies on the line to stand with Gaza, to break the blockade, and to say with our actions: your lives matter. Our journey is an act of human solidarity and a call to the world: Do not let another child die in silence.

To our governments: You are failing—legally, morally, and historically. You claim to represent democratic values, but you enable and excuse the collective punishment of an entire population. Your inaction and your complicity are part of this genocide and part of Israel’s decades-long colonization of Palestinian land and life. We are here to say: we will not let history forget what you’ve done. At the same time, we continue to urge you to do what is right—impose real consequences on Israel, uphold international law, and help end this siege. Until you act, we will.

To global civil society: When governments fail to uphold justice, it is up to us—the people—to intervene. We cannot live in a world where a state under investigation for genocide is allowed to decide what aid, if any, can reach the very people it is targeting. This is not just policy failure; it is moral collapse. We call on you to join us—to rise, to resist, and to confront this illegal, immoral, and deadly blockade together.

We know that the ship is carrying baby formula for the starving infants in Gaza. As a lawyer specialized in international law, what is your comment on the fact that delivering milk to infants has become such a dangerous mission? Who is responsible? And to what extent can international law be relied upon, given that it has so far failed to change the course of this war and genocide?

It is both unconscionable and criminal that delivering baby formula to starving infants has become a life-threatening act. The obstruction of humanitarian aid—especially food for children—is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions. Denying aid to civilians, particularly when it leads to starvation, is a war crime. Israel, as the occupying power, bears legal responsibility. And the United States, by financing, arming, and shielding these crimes from accountability, is also complicit.

Let us be clear: Israel has no legal authority to attack or interfere with our attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. It has no sovereignty over Palestinian waters—as reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice in its July 2024 advisory opinion—and it cannot enforce a blockade that is, in itself, unlawful. This blockade constitutes collective punishment, a war crime under international law. It causes disproportionate harm to civilians, particularly children, rendering it illegal. And most chillingly, it is being used as a tool of deliberate starvation—what international law defines as an inhumane act and a possible act of genocide.

For nearly two decades, Israel has enforced this illegal blockade with impunity. And for nearly two decades, the international community has looked the other way. The failure is not in the law—it is in the refusal to enforce it. International law is only as strong as the will to uphold it.

That’s why we, as members of global civil society, are acting. Because when states fail to protect the most basic rights to life and dignity, people of conscience must intervene. We are sailing to say: the starvation of a civilian population is a war crime. The blockade is illegal. The genocide must end. And those responsible must and will be held accountable.

5. Yes, we know the risks. Israel has a long history of using force — even deadly force — against peaceful flotillas. We’ve held nonviolence trainings. We’ve planned protocols in case of boarding. Many of us have faced threats, surveillance, or even arrest in the past. But fear will not stop us. What the people of Gaza endure every day is far more terrifying than anything we may face at sea. And not sailing to confront the blockade… accepting a world where this is allowed to happen, is way more dangerous to humanity.

We’ve heard that you are self-funded. Can you tell us more about the challenges you face, particularly financial ones? And how do you overcome them?

Yes — most of us raised money from our communities, friends, and families. There are no governments backing us, no major institutions funding this. The biggest challenge is that we are fighting against enormous powers with very few resources. But we overcome that with solidarity — with people chipping in $10, $20, whatever they can. It’s a grassroots effort, and it reminds us that this movement is powered by people, not politics.

How do you explain the continued indifference of the international community to the suffering of Gaza’s residents despite repeated initiatives?

It’s not indifference — it’s cowardice and complicity. Many governments fear political backlash or losing alliances. Others simply value Israeli power over Palestinian life. But the people are not indifferent. We’ve seen massive protests, student encampments, laboعr strikes, and flotillas like this. The challenge is getting governments to follow the will of their people, not the agendas of war profiteers or settler colonial regimes.

How do you spend your time on board the ship? Can you describe the atmosphere among the activists? What are the dominant emotions you feel as you approach the shores of Gaza?

We spend our time on board preparing — emotionally, spiritually, practically, and logistically. There’s a steady rhythm to our days: we hold regular meetings, share meals, run nonviolence drills, and discuss possible scenarios. Much of our time is also devoted to communication — sharing our message with the world, calling for support, and explaining why we are undertaking this mission.

But it’s not all logistics and planning. There is singing, storytelling, and prayer. There are quiet moments of reflection, and there are tears. We talk about the people of Gaza — especially the children — and remind ourselves constantly why we are here. The atmosphere is one of deep purpose and solidarity.

As we approach the shores of Gaza, the dominant emotions are not fear or anxiety — they are love, resolve, and hope. We carry the weight of what’s at stake, but we are also lifted by the belief that ordinary people, united in conscience, can help break the silence and shift the course of history.

Your ship might not reach its destination — and you are aware of that. In such a case, what message would you like to send to the people of Gaza?

That you are not forgotten. That we see you, we hear you, we are with you, and we will not stop trying to reach you. Whether we reach the shore or are attacked at sea, know that our hearts and our struggle are joined with yours. We will not stop until the siege ends and justice is achieved. We are sailing to break the blockade — but also to break the silence, end the genocide and realize a free Palestine.

Have you considered organizing a full fleet? A large number of small ships sailing together could send a stronger message and pose a bigger challenge to Israel in the eyes of the world. Is there anything preventing such an initiative?

Yes, absolutely — we have long envisioned and called for a full fleet of ships, with people, organizations, and even governments joining together to challenge this illegal blockade. In 2010, we organized the Gaza Freedom Flotilla — a coordinated effort of several ships carrying over 700 civilians and more than 10,000 tons of aid. Israel responded with lethal force, killing 10 of our comrades and wounding dozens more in international waters.

Since then, Israeli repression has only intensified, and some Mediterranean governments have actively collaborated by preventing our boats from leaving port — effectively aiding the blockade. These are major obstacles, but they have not broken our determination.

We know the power of mass mobilization. We believe in it. The Madleen reignited hope and inspired a new wave of solidarity, and now a number of groups around the world are working to obtain boats and prepare for a larger, coordinated global flotilla.

That’s the vision we are building toward again. What’s needed now is bold, united global support — the kind of solidarity that can turn a single boat into a fleet, and a single voyage into a movement that cannot be ignored.