The international committee to break the siege on Gaza announced on Saturday evening that the ship Handala, part of the Freedom Flotilla coalition, is now just 70 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, marking the closest a solidarity vessel has come in years.

The committee warned of growing concerns that the ship may be intercepted by the Israeli navy, as has occurred with previous flotillas attempting to breach the maritime blockade.

According to the statement, Handala has already surpassed the point reached by the Mavi Marmara—a vessel that was raided by Israeli forces in 2010 at a distance of 72 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores, resulting in a deadly confrontation.

The vessel is carrying international activists and humanitarian aid, aiming to challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade on the coastal enclave, which has been in place since 2007. The mission is also intended to draw global attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by severe restrictions on movement and goods.