Pakistan, July 27 -- Israeli forces have intercepted and seized the Freedom Flotilla's Handala ship, detaining all 21 crew members onboard. The ship, carrying international activists and aid, was heading to Gaza from Italy when it was stopped roughly 40 nautical miles from the coast. According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Israeli military boarded the vessel in international waters and cut off all communication. A live video from the ship showed soldiers forcefully entering before the transmission was suddenly halted.

Israel's foreign ministry said the Handala was attempting to "illegally enter" Gaza's maritime zone and confirmed that all passengers were safe. One passenger, Emma Fourreau, a French-Swedish member of the European...