Greta Thunberg, activists plan new aid flotilla to Gaza - War on Gaza
Two other attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July, were blocked by Israel. Troops boarded their vessels and detained the activists before expelling them.
"On August 31st we are launching the biggest attempt ever to break the illegal Israeli siege over Gaza with dozens of boats sailing from Spain," the Swedish campaigner wrote on Instagram late Sunday.
"We will meet dozens more on September 4th sailing from Tunisia and other ports," she said.
The group will mobilise activists from 44 countries for the initiative dubbed "Global Sumud Flotilla", which will also include simultaneous demonstrations.
Humanitarian activists, doctors and artists -- including actors Susan Sarandon of the US, Gustaf Skarsgard of Sweden and Liam Cunningham of Ireland -- are due to take part.
The exact number of ships sailing to Gaza this time was not specified.
The "Global Sumud Flotilla" describes itself on its website as an "independent" organisation not affiliated with any government or political party.
Israel's 22-month war on Gaza has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
23 minutes ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
UK Expands Deportation Program for Foreign Offenders
Israa Farhan The British government has announced a major expansion of its deportation policy, requiring more foreign nationals to lodge appeals against convictions from outside the United Kingdom. The move aims to speed up removals and prevent delays in deportation proceedings. Under the new policy, the number of countries covered by the deport first, appeal later scheme will almost triple to 23. Offenders from these countries will be removed immediately after conviction, before being able to challenge their sentences in person. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that legislation will be amended so that most foreign offenders are deported as soon as sentencing is complete. Foreign nationals currently make up around 12% of the prison population, and the government says the change will save public money and reduce pressure on overcrowded prisons. The expansion comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government faces growing political pressure over immigration, with Nigel Farage's Reform Party gaining momentum in opinion polls by focusing on crime and border control. Since taking office a year ago, Labour has introduced several measures aimed at tightening immigration enforcement and addressing crime. According to the Home Office, the extended policy will significantly increase the UK's capacity to remove foreign offenders at the earliest opportunity. Official figures show that 5,200 convicted offenders with foreign passports were deported between July 2024 and July 2025, marking a 14% rise compared to the previous year. Under the scheme, deported individuals can continue their appeals from their home countries through video link. The policy has already been applied to nationals from Tanzania, Finland, Estonia and several other countries, and will now include 15 additional nations such as Latvia, Bulgaria, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Lebanon and Malaysia. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the reforms will close loopholes used by offenders to delay deportation and reinforce the principle that those committing crimes in the UK will not be allowed to exploit the system. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid Videos & Features Story behind Trending Jessica Radcliffe Death Video News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani
Daily News Egypt
an hour ago
- Daily News Egypt
Australia to recognise Palestinian state in September, New Zealand to decide
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that his country will formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly this September, while New Zealand's foreign minister said his country is considering the matter but a decision will not be made before then. Speaking at a press conference in Canberra after a cabinet meeting, Albanese said the recognition would be conditional on commitments from the Palestinian Authority and that there 'can be no future for Hamas in a Palestinian state'. He noted he had discussed the matter with the leaders of Japan, Britain, New Zealand and Israel. Albanese said the situation in Gaza had 'exceeded the world's worst fears' and that there was now an opportunity to 'achieve the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people'. 'Pivotal moment' The Australian prime minister said a 'pivotal moment' leading to the decision was the historic 'New York Declaration' issued by the two-state solution conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France at the United Nations in late July. He said the conference had issued a 'clear and unequivocal declaration about Hamas having no future role'. The New York Declaration, which was followed by similar announcements of intent from Britain and Canada, has stressed that the Palestinian Authority must be the sole entity authorised to govern and enforce law and security in all Palestinian territories, with appropriate international support. The final communique from that conference welcomed the Palestinian Authority's 'one state, one government, one law, one weapon' policy and expressed 'support for its implementation, including a disarmament and reintegration process within an agreed-upon mechanism, with international support and within a specific timeframe'. Israel 'defying' international community Albanese added that Israel continues to defy international law, and said he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a 'political, not a military, solution' is needed in Gaza. He described the conversation with Netanyahu as 'polite'. On Saturday, Albanese had stated that Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state was a matter of 'when, not if', increasing expectations that an announcement was imminent. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she had informed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the decision in advance. The Sydney Morning Herald had earlier reported on Monday that Foreign Minister Wong spoke with her Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar, on Sunday to inform him that an announcement was expected within days. The move marks a shift in Australia's long-standing policy, which had considered recognition of a Palestinian state as a final step in a peace process. However, last year Wong signalled a change, stating the government was 'open to early recognition as a means to contribute to stimulating the peace process, by encouraging the Palestinian leadership to modernise, and pushing Israel to focus on peace'. New Zealand: Decision in September Meanwhile, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday that his government is 'carefully considering' the recognition of a Palestinian state and that a decision would be made in September. 'The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is deservedly at the top of the global agenda,' he said. In a formal statement, Peters said he had briefed the cabinet on Monday about the issue, ahead of a formal consideration in September. 'Some of our closest partners have chosen to recognise a Palestinian state, and some have not. Ultimately, New Zealand has an independent foreign policy, and on this issue we intend to carefully consider the matter and then act in accordance with our principles, values and national interests,' he said. He noted that New Zealand has 'long been clear that the question of our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of 'when' not 'if'.' 'In September, Cabinet will make a formal decision on whether New inZealand should recognise the state of Palestine at this time, and if so, when and how,' he added. Peters said his country is giving weight to whether the 'pre-conditions for a viable and legitimate Palestinian state, in security, political, diplomatic and economic terms, are in place'. He stated his government would have to 'assess whether sufficient progress has been made on these fronts to justify a New Zealand recognition of a Palestinian state at this stage'. He said New Zealand was taking a 'considered, methodical, and deliberate' approach to the issue and would consider the rapidly deteriorating conditions on the ground, the division among close partners, and the clear position of several Arab states that Hamas must have no future role in governance. Peters is scheduled to travel to New York in late September to participate in the UN Leaders' Week, where he will present the government's position.
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UPDATED: Media advocacy groups blast Israeli murder of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza - War on Gaza
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned on Monday the acknowledged murder by the Israeli army of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues in Gaza. Dismissing Israel's claim that al-Sharif was a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas, the press freedom campaign group told AFP he was "one of the most famous journalists from the Gaza Strip (and) the voice of the sufferng Israel has imposed on Palestinians in Gaza". The NGO "strongly and angrily condemns the acknowledged murder by the Israeli army" of al-Sharif and other journalists in a Sunday strike on their tent in Gaza City, it added. Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera said Sunday that five of its journalists had been killed in an Israeli strike. Al-Sharif, 28, was one of the channel's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports in regular coverage. He was killed alongside fellow correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, Al Jazeera said. The Israeli military said it had targeted al-Sharif, saying he "posed as a journalist" but was in fact "the head of a terrorist cell... responsible for advancing rocket attacks." RSF called the Israeli allegations "baseless". Almost 200 journalists have been killed in the war Israel launched on Gaza , according to RSF. The RSF has filed four complaints against Israel at the International Criminal Court for alleged "war crimes committed against journalists in Gaza". "In (Sunday's) deliberate attack, the Israeli army reproduced a known method already tested, notably against al-Jazeera journalists," RSF said, pointing to the killings of two reporters on July 31 last year. Israel labelled one of those men, Ismail al-Ghoul, a "terrorist". RSF called on other countries to intervene, saying the UN Security Council should meet to insist on protection of journalists in conflict zones. "Without strong action from the international community to stop the Israeli army... we're likely to witness more such extrajudicial murders of media professionals," RSF said. In tandem, another media advocacy group, the Committee to Protect Journalists, slammed on Monday the Israeli strike that killed several Al Jazeera staff in Gaza overnight, saying journalists should never be targeted in war. "Journalists are civilians. They must never be targeted in war. And to do so is a war crime," Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), told AFP. The CPJ in July called for the protection of Anas al-Sharif, one of the journalists killed in the Israeli strike, after an Israeli military spokesman claimed he was a militant, accusing Israel of a "pattern" of labelling journalists militants "without providing credible evidence". "International law is clear that active combatants are the only justified targets in a war setting," Ginsberg said. "So unless the IDF can demonstrate that Anas al-Sharif was still an active combatant, then there is no justification for his killing," she said, using an acronym for the Israeli military. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
