Stop the War protest outside Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries
The demonstration, held on the Buchanan steps outside Buchanan Galleries, was organised by Glasgow Stop the War as an 'emergency protest' in response to the interception of a yacht carrying aid to Gaza.
The group began to gather at around 5.30pm today, June 9.
The vessel, described by organisers as a 'symbolic' mission, was reportedly attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade and deliver humanitarian supplies.
RIGHT NOW: Emergency demonstration in Glasgow
Release the Madleen crew immediately, end Israel's genocide now! pic.twitter.com/vIPaykerQQ — Glasgow Stop the War (@GlasgowStopWar) June 9, 2025
(Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: Activists surround police van as man 'detained' at pro-Palestine protest
It was carrying 12 pro-Palestinian activists from around the world, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
In a video recorded before the yacht's interception, activists said: 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped."
The Glasgow protest was held in solidarity with the detained activists, with organisers urging the public to 'defend the flotilla.'
Footage from the scene showed demonstrators chanting 'Stop the bombing' and holding signs that read 'Cut war, not welfare.'
Emergency demo 🚨
Defend the Flotilla
Buchanan steps tonight
Monday 9 June 5.30pm
🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/UZlNFyGx2I — Glasgow Stop the War (@GlasgowStopWar) June 9, 2025
(Image: Newsquest)
The protest takes place amid intensifying global scrutiny of Israel's military operations in Gaza, which began nearly 20 months ago following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, in which approximately 1200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken.
In the months since, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 54,880 people have been killed during the ongoing Israeli campaign.
READ MORE: Pro-Palestine protesters target Glasgow firm linked with supplying weapons to Israel
The activists aboard the intercepted yacht included nationals from Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
Israel's foreign ministry confirmed the vessel had been seized and was 'safely making its way to the shores of Israel.'
The Glasgow protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations held across the UK and beyond, as calls grow louder for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
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Western Telegraph
an hour ago
- Western Telegraph
Gaza-bound aid boat with Greta Thunberg on board arrives in Israel after seizure
The boat, accompanied by Israel's navy, arrived in Ashdod in the evening, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry. It published a photo on social media of Ms Thunberg after disembarking. The 'Selfie Yacht' docked at Ashdod Port a short while ago. The passengers are currently undergoing medical examinations to ensure they are in good health. — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 9, 2025 The 12 activists were undergoing medical checks to ensure they are in good health, the ministry said. They were expected to be held at a detention facility in Ramle before being deported, according to Adalah, a legal rights group representing them. The activists had set out to protest against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which is among the deadliest and most destructive since the Second World War, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid. Both have put the territory of around two million Palestinians at risk of famine. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the voyage, said the activists were 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' while trying to deliver desperately needed 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. It said the ship was seized in international waters about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Gaza, and Adalah asserted that Israel had 'no legal authority' to take it over. Israel's Foreign Ministry portrayed the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying on social media that 'the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel'. This wasn't humanitarian aid. It's Instagram activism David Mencer, Israeli government spokesperson It said the activists would return to their home countries and the aid would be sent to Gaza through established channels. It circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing life vests. Israeli officials said the flotilla carried what amounted to less than a truckload of aid. 'This wasn't humanitarian aid. It's Instagram activism,' Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said. 'Meanwhile, Israel has delivered over 1,200 truckloads in the last two weeks. So who's really feeding Gaza and who's really feeding their own ego? Greta was not bringing aid, she was bringing herself.' After its two-and-a-half 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. About 600 trucks of aid entered daily during the ceasefire that Israel ended in March. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after two drones attacked the vessel in international waters off Malta, organisers said. 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 Greta Thunberg The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the ship's front section. The Madleen set sail from Sicily a week ago. Along the way, it stopped on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by Libya'a 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,' Ms Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was halted. Adalah, the rights group, said in a statement that 'the arrest of the unarmed activists, who operated in a civilian manner to provide humanitarian aid, amounts to a serious breach of international law'. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, was among those on board. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies towards the Palestinians. She was among six French citizens on board. What's been happening since early March is a disgrace, a disgrace French President Emmanuel Macron French President Emmanuel Macron called for consular protection and the repatriation of the French citizens. 'Most of all, France calls for a ceasefire as quickly as possible and the lifting of the humanitarian blockade. This is a scandal, unacceptable, that is playing out in Gaza. What's been happening since early March is a disgrace, a disgrace,' Mr Macron said. Next week, Mr Macron co-hosts a conference at the UN on a two-state solution and recently said France should move towards recognising a Palestinian state. Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the crew and passengers were aware of the risks, Swedish news agency TT reported. Ms Stenergard said the ministry's assessment is that no-one was in danger and there was no need for consular support. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a 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 off Gaza from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023 but later relented under US pressure. Displaced Palestinians walk past the ruins of destroyed buildings along the Gaza City shoreline (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) 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 October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages. Most have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas still holds 55 hostages, more than half believed to be dead. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but has said that women and children make up most of the dead. The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the population, leaving people 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. Israel has vowed to continue the war until all the captives are returned and Hamas is defeated, or disarmed and exiled.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla reaches port after being seized by Israel
The boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists seeking to bring symbolic aid to Gaza has arrived at an Israeli port, after Israel intercepted the flotilla. Adalah, a legal rights group representing the activists, said at 10pm local time they had received confirmation that the group were being held at Ashdod port and were undergoing processing before being handed over to Israeli immigration authorities. Demanding access to the passengers of the British-flagged yacht Madleen – which had sought to break the naval blockade on Gaza – Adalah said: 'Unless they agree to leave immediately, they will be transferred to the detention facility in Ramleh. 'While authorities have indicated that those who consent to deportation may be allowed to fly out from Tel Aviv tonight, it's unclear what conditions – such as signing documents or waiving rights – may be imposed.' Earlier, organisers of the Freedom Flotilla, said there had there been no contact with the 12 international activists for nearly 19 hours after the ship was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters at around 2am on Monday. Warning that the activists had been 'forcibly abducted' while sailing peacefully under international law, organiser Huwaida Arraf told Al Jazeera that Israel 'has no authority' to maintain its blockade on Gaza – and criticised the UK government for failing to issue a strong condemnation of the UK-flagged vessel's seizure. Downing Street on Monday afternoon urged Israel to act 'safely with restraint, in line with international humanitarian law', and described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'appalling and intolerable'. A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the Strip, where more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military campaign launched after Hamas 's attacks on 7 October 2023 killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, with 250 others taken hostage. The flotilla, which is the latest in a long line of activist attempts to break the blockade of Gaza, sought to raise international awareness of the crisis in Gaza and deliver a small amount of aid, including rice and baby formula. During one previous flotilla in May 2010, nine people were killed after Israeli commandos opened fire on activists after boarding the flagship vessel 90 miles from Gaza. Just last month, two drones hit another vessel destined for Gaza while it was off the coast of Malta. In a video filmed before the Madleen was captured, released by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, 22-year-old activist Thunberg said: 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel. '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.' However, speaking outside the Swedish parliament on Monday, foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said she did not believe Ms Thunberg was in need of support from Stockholm, adding: 'A great responsibility rests on those who choose to travel contrary to the advice.' Speaking as protestors gathered in Stockholm to demand action, Ms Stenergard condemned a 'dangerous' campaign to flood her ministry with calls, adding: 'The consequence is that Swedes in need abroad have to wait in line for far too long.' But the Swedish foreign ministry said it was in contact with Israeli authorities, telling Reuters: 'Should the need for consular support arise, the Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assess how we can best help the Swedish citizen/Greta Thunberg resolve her situation.' With Israel's defence minister Israel Katz claiming he had instructed the military to show 'antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends' footage of the 7 October attacks upon their arrival in Ashdod, Israel's foreign ministry also sought to dismiss the flotilla as a stunt. The ministry said on social media: 'The 'Selfie Yacht' docked at Ashdod Port a short while ago. The passengers are currently undergoing medical examinations to ensure they are in good health.' '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,' the ministry said, days after Israel's controversial new 'aid plan' descended into chaos, with reports of stampedes and guns being fired at starving crowds. In a fresh warning on Monday, the United Nations said families in Gaza are 'hanging on by a thread' with the aid reaching the Strip remaining 'critically insufficient'. As well as tightly controlling air and land deliveries into Gaza – permitting no supplies to enter for three months earlier this year – Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the Strip since Hamas took control in 2007, saying it aims to stop weapons from reaching the militant group. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese – who has supported the Freedom Flotilla operation – urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade. ' Madleen 's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid [and] solidarity to Gaza,' she said.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Trump: Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg
Israel has 'enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg', Donald Trump said after the aid flotilla she was travelling to Gaza on was seized. The US president described the Swedish activist as an 'angry young person' after her attempt to break the Gaza blockade was thwarted by the Israeli navy. 'She's a strange person. She's a young, angry person. I don't know if it's real anger. It's hard to believe, actually, but I saw what happened,' he said. 'She's certainly different... anger management, I think she has to go to an anger management class.' Israeli naval forces boarded and seized a charity vessel carrying Thunberg on Monday. The British-flagged yacht, Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had aimed to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel,' Ms Thunberg, 22, said in a video released by the FCC, filmed before the vessel was captured. '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.' Mr Trump dismissed Ms Thunberg's assertion that she had been kidnapped, saying: 'I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg.' This was not the first time Ms Thunberg and the US president have crossed swords. Five years ago, Ms Thunberg displayed her contempt for Mr Trump when, aged only 16, she gave the US president a 'death stare' as he arrived at the United Nations. Ms Thunberg's withering glare, which came ahead of her addressing the UN on climate change, went viral. In February, JD Vance, the US vice-president, took a dig at Ms Thunberg when addressing the Munich Security Conference as he defended the role of Elon Musk in the Trump administration. 'Trust me, I say this with all humour, if American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg's scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.'
