Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg, ministry says
Social Sharing
Israeli forces have taken command of a charity vessel that had tried to break a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, and the boat with its crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg is now heading to a port in Israel, officials said on Sunday.
The British-flagged yacht Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there.
However, the boat was boarded during the night before it could reach shore, the FFC said on its Telegram account. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later confirmed that it was under Israeli control.
"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," the ministry wrote on X.
All passengers were safe and unharmed, the ministry later added. "They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over."
Among the 12-strong crew are Swedish climate campaigner Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
"The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2 a.m.," Hassan posted on X. A photograph showed the crew seated on the boat, all wearing life jackets, with their hands in the air.
The yacht is carrying a small shipment of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula. The Foreign Ministry said it would be taken to Gaza. "The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels," it wrote.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.
The blockade has remained in place through multiple conflicts, including the current war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally.
Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign. The United Nations has warned that most of Gaza's more than two million residents are facing famine.
The Israeli government says the blockade is essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.
The UN's special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has supported the FFC operation and on Sunday urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Israel appears to believe its war goals are getting closer, as Gaza teeters on starvation
Social Sharing Despite enormous criticism from abroad, Israel appears to believe its war strategy in Gaza is slowly working thanks in part to the efforts of the mysterious new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Now two weeks into its operations, the GHF has taken over delivering humanitarian supplies to the besieged enclave, but increasingly at a terrible cost. More than 110 people have been killed at, or near, aid distribution sites in Gaza. Some, it appears, were shot by Israeli soldiers; others by unknown gunmen. Still others were killed in the chaos that predictably accompanies starving people rushing to get limited supplies. A new analysis by the Crisis Group, an NGO that studies global conflicts, concludes that Israel's military has turned Gaza into a giant "experiment in starvation" and is creating conditions for the forced displacement of its population by keeping people fed just enough to stay alive, but hungry enough to rebel against Hamas. "Israel is using food as a weapon of war," report author Robert Blecher told CBC News. "One hundred per cent of Gaza is facing life-threatening food insecurity," he said. "There are best practices that [Israel] could be choosing to follow, but they've chosen not to follow those." Weakening Hamas In recent statements, Israel's military has indicated it believes its tactics have weakened the militant group's grip on the territory, as evidenced by the willingness of Palestinians to ignore Hamas directives not to take food boxes from the GHF, and also to hold street demonstrations against the militant group. At the same time, Israeli politicians such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — who on Tuesday was sanctioned by Canada's government — say the country is moving ahead with a new department to facilitate the "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza. A collection of Western aid agencies have accused Israel of using the GHF to deliberately herd Palestinians out of their homes in order to be closer to the aid distribution centres, where it will be it easier to move them out of Gaza permanently. Unlike traditional humanitarian agencies that have operated in Gaza — which transport aid to warehouses and distribute food, fuel and medicine to communities throughout the territory — the GHF has on many days operated only two distribution points. Palestinians say that has forced families to make long, dangerous treks through hazardous war zones to get food. Mohamed Salim told a CBC freelance videographer in Gaza earlier this week that he walked through the night from his home in Gaza City and then waited for hours to try to get boxes of provisions for his family — only to leave empty handed. "We came here for nothing, except to get shot at and injured," he said. Another man, 25-year-old Mohamed Abdo, says he needed to get food for 10 family members but managed only a few bags of beans, lentils and salt. Riham Jafari, with the women-focused group Action Aid, called the GHF's limited efforts a "media trick." "Israel and the U.S. want to tell the world that they are delivering food for people… but the people are dying," she said from her base in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. On a quick visit to London last Friday, Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand didn't reply directly to a question about the GHF and its work, but appeared to acknowledge the food situation in Gaza remains inadequate. "More humanitarian assistance, especially food, must enter Gaza and Canada will continue to work with our allies to ensure that there is dignity and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike," she said. Israel's government and the GHF both strenuously refute any accusation of that they are intentionally limiting food to the territory. In a post on X, Israel's Foreign Ministry wrote:"Hundreds of trucks. Millions of meals. Every Single Day. One of the largest humanitarian aid operations in the world is currently reaching the people of Gaza — enabled by Israel." The post was accompanied by photos of people carrying boxes of food, presumably back to their families. "Smiles don't lie. Hamas does," the post concluded. In a statement to CBC News, the GHF also boasted of its successes in its opening two weeks. "To date, we've delivered more than 11 million meals to the people of Gaza. Before our operations began, there was no safe, reliable way for civilians to receive food," it said. "Our food is filling that void — getting food directly to those who need it the most." GHF took over delivering aid in Gaza at the end of May, after Israel lifted its almost three month-long blockade of the territory. Various UN and private agencies that had previously been co-ordinating aid distribution in Gaza expressed a strong willingness to resume their work, but Israel's government refused. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed that Hamas was stealing or diverting vast quantities of food aid, a claim that international agencies say is overstated. And yet the Crisis Group report says that, less than a month ago, the UN presented a "comprehensive" plan that addressed Israel's security concerns, with QR-coded cargo; sealed, GPS-tracked trucks; UN monitors at every crossing, and other precautions. Nearly 9,000 truckloads of aid were "sitting ready" in Egypt and Jordan, it says. Israel did not respond to the proposal. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Netanyahu's office did not respond to further questions, which the Government Press Office said it had forwarded. Who precisely is providing money to pay for those GHF meals is also unclear. The statement provided by the group said it will not disclose its funding. Israel's government says it's not footing the foundation's bills, although some reports in Israeli media have suggested otherwise. The GHF is registered in Switzerland and the U.S. state of Delaware, although a BBC reporter who tried to track down the personnel behind the foundation was unable to make much progress. "No one's ponying up to the money, partially because of political and moral issues, but I think they're probably also concerned about legal issues," said Blecher. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November, accusing him of using starvation as a method of warfare and deliberately targeting Palestinian civilians. War goals Ceasefire talks involving Hamas and Israeli negotiators have been unable to end the conflict. The militant group — which attacked communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1200 people — has demanded Israel end its war in Gaza and withdraw its forces from the territory. Netanyahu says Israel's war aims remain unchanged: defeating Hamas, bringing back the remaining 25 or so living hostages from Gaza, and ensuring that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future. Still, even if Israel's military feels its war goals are getting closer, it's unclear how long the GHF's operations will be sustainable. The Crisis Group report underscores that while, technically, Gaza's population is probably not in a state of famine, most people there remain severely undernourished. The report notes that Israel's own military has set the threshold for avoiding malnutrition at 2,200 calories per person per day — while the GHF has promised to provide only 1,750. In such a state, Blecher, the report's author, says the population of Gaza cannot survive indefinitely. "Killing 50,000-plus people [in Gaza] in a war is one thing that has earned Israel a lot of enmity around the world," he said. "But killing a multiple of that, if say, a cholera epidemic hits, I think that means something very different for Israel moving forward."
Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Arizona governor vetoes bill to ban teaching antisemitism in Arizona's public schools
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed a proposal that would ban teaching antisemitism at the state's public K-12 schools, universities and colleges and expose educators who violate the new rules to discipline and lawsuits. On Tuesday, the Democratic governor said the bill is not about antisemitism but rather about attacking teachers. 'It puts an unacceptable level of personal liability in place for our public school, community college, and university educators and staff, opening them up to threats of personally costly lawsuits,' she said in a statement. Additionally, it sets a dangerous precedent that unfairly targets public school teachers while shielding private school staff.' The measure cleared the Legislature on Wednesday on a 33-20 vote by the House, including a few Democrats who crossed party lines to support it. It's one of a few proposals to combat antisemitism across the country. The proposal would prohibit teachers and administrators from teaching or promoting antisemitism or antisemitic actions that create a hostile environment, calling for the genocide of any group or requiring students to advocate for an antisemitic point of view. It also would bar public schools from using public money to support the teaching of antisemitism. Educators would personally be responsible for covering the costs of damages in lawsuits for violating the rules. Democrats tried but failed to remove the lawsuit provision and swap out references to antisemitism within the bill with 'unlawful discrimination' to reflect other discrimination. The bill's chief sponsor, Republican Rep. Michael Way, of Queen Creek, has said his proposal would create accountability when educators fail to protect students from the rise in antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Opponents say the bill aims to silence people who want to speak out on the oppression of Palestinians and opens up educators to personal legal liability in lawsuits students could file. Students over the age of 18 and the parents of younger pupils would be able to file lawsuits over violations that create a hostile education environment, leaving teachers responsible for paying any damages that may be awarded, denying them immunity and prohibiting the state from paying any judgments arising from any such lawsuits. The proposal would create a process for punishing those who break the rules. At K-12 schools, a first-offense violation would lead to a reprimand, a suspension of a teacher or principal's certificate for a second offense and a revocation of the certificate for a third offense. At colleges and universities, violators would face a reprimand on first offense, a suspension without pay for a second offense and termination for a third offense. The proposal also would require colleges and universities to consider violations by employees to be a negative factor when making employment or tenure decisions. Under the proposal, universities and colleges couldn't recognize any student organization that invites a guest speaker who incites antisemitism, encourages its members to engage in antisemitism or calls for the genocide of any group. Elsewhere in the U.S., a Louisiana lawmaker is pushing a resolution that asks universities to adopt policies to combat antisemitism on campuses and collect data on antisemitism-related reports and complaints. And a Michigan lawmaker has proposed putting a definition of antisemitism into the state's civil rights law.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
U.S. condemns Canada, allies over move to sanction two far-right Israeli ministers
Canada is joining the U.K. in sanctioning two Israeli ministers over comments they made about Gaza. The United States is condemning Canada and other countries over sanctions imposed Tuesday on two far-right Israeli ministers for comments they say incite 'violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.' 'These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war,' U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. 'We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace. We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is.' Rubio is also urging countries to reverse the measures. Earlier Tuesday, a senior government source told CTV News that Canada will impose a travel ban on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, as well as freeze any assets. Foreign ministers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom later released a joint statement claiming Ben-Gvir and Smotrich 'have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.' 'These actions are not acceptable. We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity. This is why we have taken this action now – to hold those responsible to account,' the statement goes on to say. In recent months, both have called for the permanent conquest of Gaza and re-establishment of the Jewish settlements there. They've also campaigned against allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. The joint statement also reiterates the five countries' call for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians and says the measures announced on Tuesday 'do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas.' Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said, 'the measures are not directed against the state of Israel itself.' Asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also face sanctions, Anand did not answer directly. 'These two individuals promoted extremist settler violence, and it has to stop,' Anand said. 'I will add they are members of Netanyahu's government. They are not members of his party, but rather coalition partners from far-right parties.' Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a rare joint statement with the U.K. and France, demanding Israel stop its 'egregious' military actions in Gaza and its 'denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population.' In response at the time, Netanyahu lashed out at Carney, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron and accused them of 'emboldening Hamas.' With files from CTV News' Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos
