Freedom Flotilla Coalition to launch new Gaza aid ship
The vessel will carry humanitarian aid to Palestinians currently under siege by Israeli forces.
READ MORE: IDF soldier speaks out about being ordered to kill unarmed civilians in Gaza
The mission follows a recent Israeli attack on another FFC boat, the Madleen, which was intercepted in international waters.
Onboard were 12 unarmed civilians, including a member of the European Parliament, a physician, and several journalists.
All were detained, interrogated, and deported by Israeli forces for attempting to deliver food to Gaza, where the population faces mass starvation due to aid supplies being denied entry and mass shootings being carried out at food distribution centres.
Despite this, FFC insists it will not back down, saying 'We are not governments. We are people,' calling out the global community's failure to act.
READ MORE: Anas Sarwar 'must cut ties' to Tony Blair think tank linked to 'sickening' Gaza plan
More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since October 7 2023, more than half of whom were women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
The coalition has also condemned deadly aid distributions managed by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, calling it a "death trap masquerading as aid."
Handala has already visited ports across northern Europe and the UK.
Aboard the boat are volunteer medics, lawyers, activists, and journalists. Their goal to deliver aid, raise awareness, and call for an end to a genocidal blockade.
'This mission,' says the coalition, 'is for the children of Gaza.'
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JAMnews
31 minutes ago
- JAMnews
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on Georgia based on reports from 2023–2024
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on Georgia The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on Georgia based on the 2023–2024 reports. The document states that the situation in Georgia has significantly deteriorated since the European Commission's report on Georgia was published on October 30, 2023. The resolution was passed with 490 votes in favor and 147 against. This is the European Parliament's first report on Georgia as an EU candidate country. It evaluates Georgia's progress based on the Commission's 2023 and 2024 reports and sets out the Parliament's official position on EU–Georgia relations. The resolution does not recognize the results of the October 2024 parliamentary elections or the legitimacy of the Georgian Dream government. It therefore declares the new repressive laws adopted by the ruling party to be illegal. The resolution condemns pressure on civil society, the political opposition, and independent media, and calls on EU member states to independently impose personal sanctions on those responsible for democratic backsliding in Georgia and for supporting the Georgian Dream regime. The report also calls for disconnecting Georgia from SWIFT and imposing sectoral sanctions. According to the resolution, the European Parliament: ● Strongly condemns the violent repression, arbitrary and politically motivated detentions without sufficient legal basis, and the systematic torture of peaceful protesters, civil society representatives, political opponents, and media figures; ● Demands that Georgian authorities refrain from the use of force, respect freedom of assembly and expression, and repeal the recently adopted repressive legislation aimed at suppressing public protests, particularly through excessive fines; ● Expresses serious concern over the growing number of political prisoners and reiterates its call for their immediate and unconditional release; ● Calls for effective and credible investigations into all acts of violence and for those responsible to be held accountable; ● Voices concern over the lack of judicial independence, noting that senior judges linked to Georgian Dream are overseeing politically motivated trials against peaceful protesters and government critics; ● Deeply regrets that the ruling Georgian Dream party failed to seize the historic opportunity granted to Georgia as an EU candidate to advance along the path of European integration, while noting that the vast majority of the population continues to support EU integration; ● Notes that candidate status was granted to Georgia despite the alarming trajectory of the Georgian Dream government, which has increasingly diverged from European values and democratic principles; ● Warns that the upcoming municipal elections in autumn 2025 will take place against a deteriorating legal environment, worsened by legislative amendments passed in December 2024, ongoing political repression, and intensified persecution of opposition forces; ● Stresses that under Georgian Dream's rule, Georgia has not only failed to make progress but has actually regressed on key elements of the European Commission's nine-step recommendations, despite government claims to the contrary; ● Emphasizes that Georgia's EU integration process has effectively stalled due to continued democratic backsliding and the rigging of the October 2024 parliamentary elections, marking a clear shift toward authoritarian rule, further illegal capture of state institutions, and the adoption of anti-democratic laws that contradict the values and principles of the European Union; ● Agrees with the conclusions of the European Council of June 27, 2024, that the Georgian government's current course threatens the country's EU integration, and urges Georgian Dream to return to the path of democratic reform and Euro-Atlantic integration; ● Condemns the dismissal of around 700 civil servants since December 2024 for supporting EU integration or participating in pro-European protests; ● Stresses the need for an immediate and comprehensive reassessment of EU policy toward Georgia in light of the ongoing democratic decline, increasingly repressive political and legislative environment, erosion of democratic achievements and reforms, weakening of democratic institutions, and consolidation of power by the ruling party. ● Emphasizes the responsibility of Bidzina Ivanishvili and other officials and political leaders – including Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili, Vakhtang Gomelauri, Tbilisi mayor and Georgian Dream secretary general Kakha Kaladze, and former Georgian Dream chairman Irakli Garibashvili – for the deterioration of the political process in Georgia. They contributed to the democratic backsliding that led to authoritarian consolidation of power and contradicted the Euro-Atlantic goals enshrined in the constitution; ● Calls for the immediate imposition of targeted personal sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, his family members, and his companies, and urges the European Union, in cooperation with the United Kingdom, to freeze his financial assets; ● Reminds the governments of Hungary and Slovakia of the principle of sincere cooperation, which requires member states to refrain from actions that could undermine the EU's objectives; ● Urges the governments of Hungary and Slovakia to align their foreign policies with EU positions and principles and to lift their veto on sanctions against those responsible for democratic backsliding and the suppression of legitimate protests in Georgia; ● Condemns the unilateral actions of the Hungarian government aimed at legitimizing Georgian Dream; ● Calls on the Georgian authorities to hold new parliamentary elections under independent international and domestic observation; ● Urges the European Commission to review the EU's policy toward Georgia, including monitoring the implementation of the EU–Georgia Association Agreement. What else does the resolution say? ● Given the current political and legal conditions, the 2025 municipal elections pose a serious challenge for any potential participant expecting a free and fair electoral process. Such participation is likely to be used by the self-proclaimed government to legitimize the current status quo; ● The upcoming elections cannot offer a genuine opportunity for the Georgian people to express their democratic will unless imprisoned and detained opposition leaders are released and unless the elections are held in an improved electoral environment – under independent and impartial electoral management and credible international observation – to ensure a truly fair, free, and transparent process. Commentary Salome Samadashvili, opposition Lelo – Strong Georgia: 'The resolution discussed and adopted today by the European Parliament is especially important because on July 15, the European Council is set to discuss its policy toward Georgia. Ahead of this historic debate, it is crucial for us that the European Parliament clearly states its political position on key issues such as the illegitimacy of the Ivanishvili regime, the need for sanctions against it, and broader support for the Georgian people. I believe this resolution makes it absolutely clear that unless there are political changes—specifically, new parliamentary elections – not only will Georgia's EU accession process remain frozen, as it already is, but we also risk losing important achievements such as visa-free travel to the EU. This resolution clarifies the situation especially for those who still consider themselves supporters of Georgian Dream. It is an important political document that should be carefully read by anyone who cares about Georgia's future and its European path.' News in Georgia
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Hamas agrees to release 10 hostages as Trump says there's a ‘very good chance' for ceasefire deal this week
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HAMAS has said it will release 10 hostages amid ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire deal for war-torn Gaza. The Islamist terror group's statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar in a bid to bring peace for the distraught Gazans. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Smoke plumes rising from Israeli bombardment in Beit Lahia on July 9 Credit: AFP 7 Flames rise in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border Credit: Reuters 7 Israeli soldiers take up positions during a ground operation in the southern Gaza Strip Credit: AP Both have spoken positively about the prospects, but there are reportedly a number of crucial sticking points Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long argued that Hamas must be completely disarmed and expelled from Gaza. In turn, Hamas wants guarantees that the war would not resume after any ceasefire - as happened earlier this year. It comes just days after President Donald Trump signalled his belief that an agreement for a 60-day truce would be struck before the end of the week. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said part of the deal would be the return of 10 living hostages held by militants since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the war. Of 251 hostages seized during the assault on Israeli border communities near Gaza, 49 are still held in the territory, including 27, the Israeli military says are dead. In its statement, Hamas said while key hurdles remained in the peace talks, they were ready to be flexible. A statement read: "The movement [Hamas] displayed the required flexibility and agreed to release 10 prisoners [hostages]. "Despite the difficulty of negotiations over these issues until now due to the intransigence of the occupation, we continue to work seriously and with a positive spirit with the mediators to overcome the hurdles and end the suffering of our people and ensure their aspirations to freedom, safety and a dignified life." Israel earlier appeared to fall in behind Trump's optimism for an end to the conflict. Trump is nominated for Nobel Peace prize as Netanyahu presents letter to Don at triumphant White House summit As part of the proposed truce, Israel and Hamas would hold fire for 60 days, during which time some hostages would be freed and more aid would enter Gaza. Hamas official Taher al-Nono said they were engaged in a "difficult round" of negotiations. But a source familiar with Hamas' thinking said four days of talks in Doha did not produce any breakthroughs on three main sticking points. These are the free flow of aid into Gaza, withdrawal lines for Israeli forces and guarantees that negotiations would pave the way to a permanent ceasefire Trump met Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation in Gaza. The Israeli boss said he believed an agreement was on the horizon. "I think we're getting closer to a deal," he told FOX Business Network's Mornings with Maria programme. "There's a good chance that we'll have it." Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised address that military action had prepared the ground for a deal that would bring home the Israeli hostages. "We have achieved many significant results, we have caused great damage to the governance and military capabilities of Hamas. "Thanks to the operational power that we have demonstrated, the conditions have been created to advance a deal to release the hostages." 7 Benjamin Netanyahu hands Donald Trump a latter recommending him for the Nobel peace prize, which he sent to the committee Credit: AP 7 Trump shows Netanyahu a painting of the moment after his assassination attempt last year Credit: Instagram Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said he thought a temporary deal was "achievable" and could even herald talks for a more lasting peace, while President Isaac Herzog talked of "a historic opportunity" for change. "We are in an era of tectonic shifts, where the global balance of power and the regional strategic landscape are being reshaped," Herzog said. "We must not miss this moment." Netanyahu is insistent that he wants to neutralise the threat to Israel from Hamas permanently. But he is under increasing pressure at home and abroad to end the war, particularly as the death toll of soldiers killed by homemade bombs and ambushes in Gaza increases. Hamas has vowed "Gaza will not surrender". The terror group had previously rebuffed pressure to release all the hostages, demanding an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. While Israel wants to ensure Hamas terrorists in Gaza never again threaten its security. Qatari mediators had warned on Tuesday that it would take time to seal a deal. 7 All parties are working towards a ceasefire in Gaza - where Israeli strikes continue Credit: AFP
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Iran threatens to assassinate Trump while sunbathing at Mar-a-Lago amid high alert for sleeper cell terrorists in US
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TOP Iranian official and senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has threatened to assassinate Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Former diplomat Javad Larijani told Iranian state TV that Don could face a drone attack while sunbathing at his lavish Florida mansion. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 The Iran State Radio and Television (IRIB) building hit by an Israeli strike Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 10 An explosion is seen during a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel Credit: AP 10 Mohammad-Javad Larijani has threatened Trump could be assassinated Credit: AFP 10 Donald Trump was shot at during an assassination attempt last year Credit: AP Larijani, who has strong ties to the Iranian regime, said: "Trump has done something so that he can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago. "As he lies there with his stomach to the sun, a small drone might hit him in the navel. It's very simple." Trump laughed off the threat and said: "I guess it's a threat. I'm not sure it's a threat, actually, but perhaps it is." Larijani's comments came after an online platform called "blood pact" began raising funds to "punish those who threaten Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei." A statement on the site said: "We pledge to award the bounty to anyone who can bring the enemies of God and those who threaten the life of Ali Khamenei to justice." It is not clear who operates the site. However, just days ago, a top Iranian cleric issued a fatwa calling for the death of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the Islamic religious decree, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi branded both leaders as "enemies of God". The Shiite cleric issued the fatwa after the 12-Day war between Israel and Iran, which was also briefly joined by the US following American military strikes against Tehran. It effectively states that Trump and Netanyahu "waged war against [Allah] and must be made to regret their words and actions. Inside Op Red Wedding – Israel's fierce wave of assassinations killing 30 Iran generals in first MINUTES of 12-day war "Those who threaten the leadership and integrity of the Islamic Ummah are to be considered [mohareb]," it added. Under the Iranian under Iranian penal code, mohareb - someone who wages war against god - must be punished by "execution or crucifixion' or face 'amputation of the right hand and left foot or exile". The fatwa also forbids any Muslim to cooperate with or support the two leaders - and says that any jihadist who is killed while attacking them will receive a reward from Allah. It reads: "It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes. "[A] Muslim who abides by his Muslim duty and suffers hardship or loss in their campaign, they will be rewarded as a fighter in the way of God, God willing." Last year, an Iranian agent was charged with plotting to kill Donald Trump in an assassination that would have shaken the world. US prosecutors say the rogue state told ex-con Farhad Shakeri — said to be hiding in Tehran — to devise a seven-day plan to spy on and murder him. Prosecutors said an official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard told Shakeri to devise a plan to eliminate the then-president-elect. They claim the planned hit was an attempt to take vengeance for a US drone strike ordered by Trump that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, then said to be the world's No1 terrorist, in 2020. Trump's former security advisor, John Bolton, said the US President is "at the top" of an 'assassination list' from the Middle East nation. He said in an interview: "Iran's terror network is really quite extensive in Europe and in the United States." Critics of the Mullahs' regime have condemned the fatwa, calling it a state-endorsed incitement to global terrorism. Trump said he saved Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from an "ugly death". During the 12-Day War, the Israelis, on multiple occasions, suggested that targeting Ayatollah Khamenei was "not off the table". 10 Trump's lavish Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida Credit: Getty 10 A picture of the fatwa released by the Iranian mullah, thought to be a close aid to Khamenei Credit: Getty 10 Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued a horrifying Fatwa Credit: Alamy 10 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance since the start of the 12-day war Credit: Getty But Trump, who said he knew exactly where the supreme leader had been hiding, did not let the US forces or the IDF" assassinate Khamenei. In a Truth Social post, Trump raged: "I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH. "And he does not have to say, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!' "I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life." Trump also blasted the Ayatollah's claims that Iran won the war. He said: "Why would the so-called 'Supreme Leader,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, of the war-torn Country of Iran, say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie, it is not so. "As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie." Iran's top mullah Khamenei, 86, claimed victory over Israel and America despite his country being hammered for almost two weeks. He ludicrously claimed Iran had almost crushed Israel, and the government in Tel Aviv was on the verge of collapse. That's despite the IDF controlling the skies over Tehran, assassinating dozens of top generals and nuclear scientists, and destroying dozens of valuable missile batteries in just 12 days of fighting. Khamenei also said that Iran had given the US a "severe slap" to its face and that it had "gained nothing" from the attack on Iran's nuke plants. The Ayatollah said: 'The American regime entered a direct war because it felt that if it did not, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed. "However, it gained no achievements from this war. 'Here, too, the Islamic Republic emerged victorious, and in return, the Islamic Republic delivered a severe slap to America's face. MURDEROUS TERROR PLOT Iran may activate a network of sleeper cells across the West in the face of the Israeli bombing campaign, experts have warned. A weakened Tehran is expected to resort to asymmetric terror warfare in a bid to destabilise its adversaries. Barak Seener, a security and defence expert at Henry Jackson Society and Iran expert, said: "The very fact now that the Iranian regime is volatile, it's targeted, and it's highly vulnerable — that's what actually makes it increasingly dangerous to the West." Iran's murderous Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is thought to run an extensive network of sleeper cells across the world. Mr Seener told The Sun that these sleeper cells could be regular people living regular lives. But when given the signal, they could carry out terrorist activities targeting the West. These terror operations could target public infrastructure and even civilians, with no weapons off the table, experts warn. Iran's terror on UK streets By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter Iran-fuelled hit squads on the streets of the UK have been linked to at least 15 threats to kill or kidnap detected by authorities. They are all part of a campaign of intimidation aimed at those who speak out against the hardline regime. The MI5 has accused Tehran of more than a dozen assassination and kidnap plots in Britain against dissidents and media organisations in the past two years. Officials have previously warned that the threat against Iranian critics living in the UK has ramped up drastically after the horror October 7 attacks. And given the hostile situation in the Middle East, Iran could ramp up its secret terror activities in the UK, Europe and the US, experts fear. In 2022, Major Gen Hossein Salami, the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC warned: "You've tried us before. Watch out because we're coming for you." Last year, Iranian TV journalist Pouria Zeraati was stabbed outside his home in London, sparking an investigation led by counter-terrorism police. The suspects were believed to be proxy agents hired by Tehran. Mr Zeraati works for Iran International, a London-based Persian-speaking channel which has reported on Iran's human rights violations. He said a man approached him and asked for £3 before another man appeared and stabbed him in the leg. The two fled in a car being driven by a third man, leaving Mr Zeraati bleeding in the street. Investigators believed the three culprits were able to flee the country on a flight from Heathrow within hours of the attack. Mr Zeraati, whose organisation has been a vocal critic of Iran, said the attack was a "warning shot" from Tehran. He called on the UK government to declare the IRGC a terrorist group to stop it from spreading its doctrine. He said: "It will also send a clear message to the regime in Iran that enough is enough. "The whole of Western civilisation is in danger because of the threat the IRGC poses." A report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) found almost half of journalists who covered Iran from the UK reported being physically or verbally harassed in the past five years. Individuals have been sent death threats by text and voice notes, with one message noting that the 'water underneath Westminster Bridge was very deep'. One said they were constantly worried about Iran targeting their children, saying: 'I wake up in the middle of the night. I check my son to see if he's there. I won't let him play in the garden on his own. I have to be there. I'm on alert constantly.' Another reporter told the RSF she had a package, which was designed to look like it contained anthrax, hand-delivered to her apartment block. While female TV journalist was approached on a London bus by a man who told her: 'We will kill you. You are a very bad person.' All of them are understood to have voiced their dissent against Tehran. Mr Seener told The Sun: "They live amongst us in regular communities, have regular jobs, and they just are awaiting being activated to conduct malign activities, whether it be through a telephone text or a beeper, and then they already know what they are going to be doing. "If the regime feels threatened and on the verge of being toppled, then they may say, 'you're going to go down with us,' and at that point they may unleash their sleeper cells." Mr Seener said the attacks could range from an attack against a synagogue, an embassy, or blowing up a dirty bomb in Central London. Sir Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, warned back in October that Iran could turn on UK targets if it felt Britain was too enthusiastic in its support for Israel. He said the attacks could increase if the Middle East conflict intensifies. In August, Matt Jukes, the head of Counter Terror Policing, warned that Britain is facing an increase in plots by hostile states. He said Iranian dissidents and diaspora communities have been 'clearly at risk of kidnapping or assassination'. "These are people who are doing it daily. And when you are projecting soft power, you're creating the cultural milieu in which terrorism can be conducted much more readily. Counterterror police have investigated 15 of these cases alongside MI5. MI5 has responded to 20 plots backed by Iran since 2022, it was reported. 10 Iran's murderous terrorist wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
