US fails to provide consular services to citizens abducted by Israel from humanitarian vessel Handala

US volunteers among Freedom Flotilla abandoned by embassy

Four Days After the crew of the humanitarian vessel ‘Handala’ was attacked, abducted and taken hostage in international waters by Israeli military forces, US citizens among the volunteer crew have still received no consular support from the US government, according to Gaza Freedom Flotilla organisers.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said:

This failure to provide even the most basic protection or oversight is a disgrace and reflects the broader complicity of the US government in enabling Israel’s repeated violations of international law and crimes against humanity.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition condemns the US government’s silence and failure to protect its own citizens who were forcibly abducted while on a peaceful, humanitarian mission to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade of Palestinians in Gaza. We call on US citizens to call the embassies and demand the US protect their citizens and end the genocide in Gaza.

The remaining detained US nationals are Christian Daniel Smalls, the Amazon Labor Union co-founder who was badly beaten and denied proper legal access; activist and volunteer firefighter Braedon James Peluso; international human rights lawyer and academic Frank Joseph Romano.

Peluso has asked for the following message to be shared publicly:

No US embassy officials have visited us or inquired about our condition—despite our repeated appeals.

Romano, who carried out a three-day water and hunger strike, has announced that he will drink water from 18:00hrs today local time but will continue his hunger strike until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza. He has shared the following letter from detention:

After completing three days of a hunger and water strike, I will start drinking water at 18:00 today. From now on, I will continue the hunger strike until a ceasefire is approved by both sides regarding the genocide in Gaza. I have already gone three days without food or water.

Now, I will continue with the hunger strike until a ceasefire.

It is urgent for the world to come together to end the occupation—in Gaza, the West Bank, and all of Palestine.

These are desperate times, and we must take desperate actions. My life is only a vehicle—this is not about me, but about shedding light on Gaza.

Romano emphasised that the global community has a legal responsibility to act against Israel’s illegal blockade and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The US is not the only nation abdicating its responsibilities to its citizens. UK PM Keir Starmer has still not even mentioned the abduction of UK citizen Chloe Ludden, though he has found time to post repeatedly on X about the England women’s football team.

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