The "Hanthala" ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is heading to the Gaza Strip to break the Israeli blockade, has reached the location where the "Madeleine" ship was seized, approximately 180 km from the Strip.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is broadcasting the ship's movements live on its YouTube account, sharing real-time radar images.
French Member of the European Parliament Emma Forot, who was on board the ship, posted on the X platform that they were now less than 180 km from Gaza.
"We just passed the point where the Medellin ship stopped. We only have one night left. We will get there," Foro said, calling for solidarity with the ship.
Earlier on Saturday, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced that drones were seen hovering over the Hanthala ship, which set sail from the Italian coast in a renewed attempt to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.
This came in a statement issued by the coalition via Telegram, which stated that "16 drones were detected in the last 45 minutes," some of which were flying over the ship.
In another post on the same Telegram channel, French MP Gabrielle Katla said they are "prepared for any potential intervention that may occur in the coming hours or tomorrow morning."
"We're all united, we're in solidarity, and we're prepared. Drones are starting to head towards us. If the internet goes out, strange things could happen," she added.
She added: "Don't worry about us. Think about the Palestinians. They are suffering. What they are being subjected to in the shadow of the horrific genocide is far worse than the dangers we face on this ship."
On Thursday, the coalition announced in a Telegram post that contact had been lost with the "Hanthala" and that there were multiple drones near the ship, adding, "This means it may have been intercepted or attacked."
On Friday morning, the coalition announced that contact had been restored with the ship after a two-hour hiatus, and that it was continuing its mission. At the time, the ship was approximately 349 nautical miles from Gaza.
On July 13, the Hanthala set sail from the Italian port of Syracuse, before docking at Gallipoli on July 15 to overcome some technical issues. It then set sail again on July 20, carrying 21 activists on board.
It's worth noting that the Gaza blockade-breaking ship, "Al-Dameer," was attacked by an Israeli drone on May 2nd while attempting to sail toward Gaza, causing a hole in its hull and a fire in its bow.
On June 9, the Israeli military seized the "Madeleine," a ship part of the "Freedom Flotilla," in international waters while en route to the besieged Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid. The ship was arrested along with 12 international activists on board. Israel later deported the activists on condition that they pledge not to return.
The Gaza Strip is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in its history, with a severe famine intertwined with a genocidal war waged by Israel since October 7, 2023.
With the complete closure of crossings and the ban on the entry of food and medicine since March 2, famine has spread throughout the Gaza Strip, with symptoms of severe malnutrition appearing among children and patients.
This comes at a time when Israel, with US support, is waging a genocidal war in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt the campaign.
The US-backed genocide left more than 204,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 9,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and a famine that claimed the lives of many.
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The "Hanthala" ship is about 180 km from Gaza.