World Women’s Conference 
of Grassroots Women
European Coordinators
Karola Kücken , Berlin
Suse Bader, Hamburg
Nathalie Onur, Paris
Myriam Barros, Lanzarote July 27, 2025
The European coordinators of the World Women’s Conference of Grassroots Women protest in the strongest possible terms against the violent seizure of the ship HANDALA , which was carrying important relief supplies, food, and baby food on its way to Gaza to help the starving and dying people there.
We were horrified to learn that the aid ship HANDALA was seized by the Israeli army last night and the crew arrested.
A group of courageous and committed civilians was on their way to Gaza to stand up to the genocide being perpetrated by the Israeli government and to help the starving population. This attack is already the fourth of its kind on ships carrying vital aid supplies.
For weeks, we have been receiving shocking images from Gaza showing how the Israeli government is committing genocide against the Palestinian population in full view of the world. They are using hunger as a weapon against the population, boycotting food deliveries for months, as well as the delivery of medicines and vital aid supplies. They are bombing the last food distribution points and water stations where starving and thirsty adults and children are queuing, they are bombing hospitals and schools, brutally and ruthlessly.
Attacking and turning back a ship carrying aid supplies for a starving population is an extraordinary act of brutality.
Ignoring all protests, they have intensified their attacks in recent weeks, even in the face of images of starving people. Millions of people around the world, governments, diplomats, and even the Israeli population are protesting against Israel’s fascist policies, which continue the expulsion of the Palestinian people. The German government has expressed its concern, but has refrained from officially protesting against Israel. What hypocrisy. This is deeply shameful and intolerable.
HANDALA stands as a symbol of Palestinian identity and the ongoing struggle for self-determination, represented by a ten-year-old boy turning his back on the world.
Let us not stand idly by. Long live international solidarity!
We demand: An immediate end to the genocide being carried out by the Israeli government in Gaza!
An immediate ceasefire and an end to the ground offensive!
We call on the women of the world to join this protest and make it public worldwide.
Send protests to the foreign ministries of your countries, organize demonstrations and activities to force the release of the crew and the continuation of the HANDALA’s journey to its destination and purpose.
European coordinators of the World Women’s Conference of Grassroots Women, July 2025