Israel claims Mohammed Sinwar's body found in Gaza tunnel
The army released footage showing soldiers inside a tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Seized Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg reaches Israeli port
A Gaza-bound aid boat reached Israel's Ashdod port on Monday after being intercepted by Israeli forces, preventing the dozen activists on board including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg from reaching the blockaded Palestinian territory. An AFP photographer said that the Madleen, which organisers said was intercepted in international waters overnight, reached the port north of Gaza at around 8:45 pm (1745 GMT), escorted by the Israeli navy. The Madleen set sail from Italy on June 1 to raise awareness of food shortages in the Gaza Strip, which the United Nations has called the "hungriest place on Earth". After more than 20 months of war, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the UN has warned that Gaza's entire population is at risk of famine. At around 4:02 am (0102 GMT) on Monday, Israeli troops "forcibly intercepted" the vessel as it approached Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said. "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped," Thunberg said in pre-recorded footage shared by the coalition. Video from the group shows the activists with their hands up as Israeli forces boarded the vessel, with one of them saying nobody was injured prior to the interception. Israel's foreign ministry, in a post on social media, said "all the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed", adding it expected the activists to return to their home countries. Turkey condemned the interception as a "heinous attack" and Iran denounced it as "a form of piracy" in international waters. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported it was struck by drones in an attack the group blamed on Israel. In 2010, an Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar attempt to breach the naval blockade, left 10 civilians dead. On Sunday, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the blockade, in place for years before the Israel-Hamas war, was needed to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons. Mounting pressure The Madleen was intercepted about 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of the coast of Gaza, according to coordinates from the coalition. President Emmanuel Macron requested that the six French nationals aboard the boat "be allowed to return to France as soon as possible", a presidential official said. Two of them are journalists, Omar Fayyad of Qatar-based Al Jazeera and Yanis Mhamdi, who works for online publication Blast, according to media rights group Reporters Without Borders, which condemned their detention and called for their "immediate release". Al Jazeera "categorically denounces the Israeli incursion", the network said in a statement, demanding the reporter's release. Adalah, an Israeli NGO offering legal support for the country's Arab minority, said the activists on board the Madleen had requested its services, and that the group was likely to be taken to a detention centre before being deported. Israel is facing mounting pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. In what organisers called a "symbolic act", hundreds of people launched a land convoy on Monday from Tunisia with the aim of reaching Gaza.
Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE reveals list of media activities needing licence under new law
A new UAE media law came into effect on May 29, outlining strict penalties of up to Dh1 million, for violations including disseminating false information, disrespecting the ruling system, and operating media activities without a licence. Here is a list of media activities which can not be practised, by both institutions and individuals, without obtaining a licence or permit from the UAE Media Council or the relevant authority: Radio and television broadcasting including on-demand platforms Electronic and digital media activities Cinematic films and other artistic content screenings Social media advertising by individuals Foreign publications Printing, circulation, and publishing of local and foreign media content Land, aerial, and maritime photography activities Foreign media offices News platforms Newspapers and print publications Book fairs Video games Under the new law, operating media activities without a licence can lead to fine of Dh10,000, which will increase to Dh40,000 for repeated offences, as reported by Khaleej Times earlier.
Middle East Eye
9 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
UK: Palestine and climate activists urge government to secure release of Madleen crew
A coalition of Palestinian solidarity and climate justice groups are staging an 'emergency demonstration' outside the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to demand the government secures the release of the detained crew aboard a charity vessel which was carrying aid to Gaza. The Madleen, whose 12-strong crew includes climate activist Greta Thunberg, was delivering a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula, to Gaza with the intention of breaking Israel's siege on the territory. It was intercepted by Israeli forces at around 3am on Monday, who detained the crew. The Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which operates the vessel, accused Israel of 'forcibly intercepting' the boat and acting with 'total impunity'. It said in a statement that the boat was 'unlawfully boarded', its crew 'abducted' and its cargo confiscated by Israeli forces in international waters in the early hours of Monday morning. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The protest was organised by a broad coalition of Palestinian and climate groups, including Fossil Free London, and calls on the UK government to push for the release of the activists. They argue that under international maritime law, the UK has full jurisdiction over the vessel and a legal duty to protect the crew as the boat is British flagged. Israel orders military to stop aid boat with Greta Thunberg reaching Gaza Read More » "As a vessel flying the British flag, it falls under the jurisdiction and responsibility of the UK government, which has a legal duty to defend 'Madleen' and the civilians on board, and to prevent unlawful interference - including any threat or use of force - by foreign powers such as Israel,' the FFC said in a statement published on X. It added that any attack or interference with the boat would 'constitute a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)' as well as an 'affront to UK sovereignty, and a breach of international humanitarian law'. Shortly before communication with the boat was lost, a photo was circulated on social media showing the activists with their hands up in the air, wearing life jackets. Before their arrest, crew aboard the FFC said that quadcopters surrounded the aid ship and sprayed it with a "white liquid". A series of pre-recorded messages by the activists were also released. 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces,' Thunberg said. The Israeli foreign ministry said the crew were being taken to Israel and 'were expected to return to their home countries', posting an image of Thunberg being offered a sandwich. "The show is over," the ministry added. Huwaida Arraf, the co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement that is supporting the flotilla, said that Israel has "no legal authority" to detain the Madleen crew. 'These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade - their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately," Arraf said in a statement. President Emmanuel Macron requested that the six French activists aboard the boat "be allowed to return to France as soon as possible", an unnamed French official told AFP.
