Life-saving infrastructure in northern Gaza has been ‘decimated,' charity founder says
Thousands of Palestinians are still waiting to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday following the first week of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. But Israeli forces are blocking the Netzarim corridor, a crucial pathway needed to enter northern Gaza, until an Israeli hostage is returned safely. Arwa Damon, founder of INARA, a humanitarian organization, explains what awaits locals once they cross that corridor.
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Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
Palestinians say Israel and its allies fired on a crowd near Gaza aid site. Hospital says 14 killed
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces and allied local gunmen fired toward a crowd heading to an Israeli- and U.S.-supported food distribution center in the Gaza Strip early Monday, Palestinians said. Gaza's Health Ministry and local hospitals said 14 people were killed. The gunmen appeared to be allied with Israel's military, operating in close proximity to troops and retreating into an Israeli military zone in the southern city of Rafah after the crowd hurled stones at them, witnesses said.
2 hours ago
Israeli forces halt Gaza-bound aid boat, detain Greta Thunberg and other activists
Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat and detained Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board early Monday, enforcing a long-standing blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. The activists had set out to protest Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which is among the deadliest and most destructive since the Second World War, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some two million Palestinians at risk of famine. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organized the voyage, said the activists were kidnapped by Israeli forces while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory. The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated, it said in a statement. Israel's Foreign Ministry cast the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. It said the passengers would return to their home countries and the aid would be delivered to Gaza through established channels. It later circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said the ship was still en route to Israel around midday Monday. It was expected to dock at the port of Ashdod. Rights group calls ship seizure illegal Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago. Along the way, it had stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard. I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible, Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was halted. An Israeli soldier passes water to those on board the Gaza-bound British-flagged yacht Madleen, after Israeli forces boarded the charity vessel as it attempted to reach the Gaza Strip. Photo: (Israel Foreign Ministry/Reuters) Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. She was among six French citizens aboard the boat. French President Emmanuel Macron asked Israel to allow them to return to France as soon as possible, his office said in a statement Adalah, a rights group in Israel that said it was representing the activists, said Israel had no legal authority to take over the ship because it was in international waters and because it was headed not to Israel but to the territorial waters of the state of Palestine. The arrest of the unarmed activists, who operated in a civilian manner to provide humanitarian aid, amounts to a serious breach of international law, Adalah said in a statement. After a 2 ½-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month. But humanitarian workers and experts have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack (new window) , which damaged the front section of the ship. Climate activist Greta Thunberg meets with journalists in Catania, Italy, on June 1, ahead of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's departure. (Salvatore Cavalli/The Associated Press) Photo: (Salvatore Cavalli/The Associated Press) Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's Palestinian population. Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but later relented under U.S. pressure. In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine. Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It doesn't say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 per cent of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. Efforts to broker another truce have been deadlocked for months. Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and exiled. The Associated Press
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Greta Thunberg, other activists detained after Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid ship
Greta Thunberg and a group of activists sailing to Gaza in an attempt to deliver aid have been detained by the Israeli military after it intercepted and seized their vessel early on Monday. The group, known as the the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, is protesting Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which is among the deadliest and most destructive since the Second World War, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some two million Palestinians at risk of famine. Story continues below advertisement The coalition said the activists had been 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' during their efforts to deliver aid. 'The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated,' it said in a statement, adding that the ship was seized in international waters about 200 kilometres from Gaza. SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces. Greta Thunberg is a Swedish citizen. Pressure their foreign ministries and help us keep them safe! Web: X : @SweMFA FB : @SweMFA IG : swedishmfa#AllEyesOnMadeleen — Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) June 9, 2025 Story continues below advertisement Israeli authorities say the mission is a 'media provocation.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel,' Israel's foreign ministry said in a post on X. It also claimed, without presenting any video evidence, that aid is pouring into Gaza from Israel and through other humanitarian channels. 'More than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza,' the post said. The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries. While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included… — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 Story continues below advertisement Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said the ship was still en route to Israel around midday Monday, according to The Associated Press. Those on board, including Thunberg, are eventually expected to return to their home countries. — This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. — With files from The Associated Press
