Aid vessel heading to Gaza rescues four Libyan migrants in Mediterranean Sea
CATALAN — A ship carrying activists to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid rescued four migrants on Thursday after they had jumped into the sea from another vessel to avoid being picked up by Libyan authorities.
The vessel Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was alerted by the European Union's Frontex border control agency and arrived at the location in the Mediterranean where it found 30-40 people on a "boat that was rapidly deflating."
As the Madleen launched its own inflatable rescue boat, a Libyan coast guard vessel approached at high speed, the coalition said.
"To avoid being taken by the Libyan authorities, four people jumped into the sea, and began desperately swimming toward the Madleen,'' which rescued them.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition protested the return of the other migrants to Libya, where human rights campaigners have said they face abuse and even torture.
It also has called on Italy, Greece and Malta to pick up those now on board the Madleen and bring them to safety in Europe.Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg is among the 12 activists aboard the Madleen which departed Sicily on Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.The voyage is expected to last seven days.Among the others on board are 'Game of Thrones' actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent.She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli military operation in Gaza.After an almost three-month blockade aimed at putting pressure on Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the full flow of supplies resumes.Almost all of Gaza's population of 2.3 million is acutely malnourished and one in five Palestinians are on the brink of starvation, the World Food Programme has warned.An attempt last month by the 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 which damaged the front of the ship. — Euronews
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
9 hours ago
- Arab News
Activist boat says rescues migrants en route to Gaza
ATHENS: A vessel organized by an international activist coalition to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza has rescued several migrants from the sea near Crete, a support group in Greece said on Friday. The Madleen, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, said it had received a distress signal from a boat in the Mediterranean, forcing it to change course off the coast of Crete. The Madleen has 'a 12-member crew of peaceful activists' headed for Gaza 'with the aim of breaking the blockade of Palestine by the state of Israel,' the March to Gaza Greece group said. 'Upon arrival (at the scene), it discovered that the boat was sinking with approximately 30-35 people aboard.' At that point, the Madleen was approached by a ship that initially identified itself as Egyptian. 'The activists aboard the Madleen quickly realized that this was a false identification and that the ship was, in fact, a Libyan coast guard vessel,' they said. 'Libya is not considered a safe country and for this reason some of the refugees jumped into the sea to avoid being returned there. 'The Madleen rescued four Sudanese individuals who had jumped into the water and brought them aboard.' After several hours of calls for assistance, a Frontex vessel eventually picked up the rescued individuals, the group said, referring to the European Union's border and coast guard agency. The Madleen sailed from Sicily on Sunday. Those on board include climate activist Greta Thunberg. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, launched in 2010, is a non-violent international movement supporting Palestinians. It combines humanitarian aid with political protest against the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Israel has come under increasing international criticism over the critical humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. It blocked all aid into Gaza on March 2. The United Nations warned on May 30 that the entire population of more than two million was at risk of famine. Fighters from Palestinian group Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. A total of 1,218 people died, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. The militants abducted 251 hostages, 55 of whom remain in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military says are dead. Since October 2023, Israel's retaliatory war on Hamas-run Gaza has killed 54,677 people there, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry. The United Nations deems the health ministry figures to be reliable. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Leaders
11 hours ago
- Leaders
Israel to Block Entry of Madleen Aid Ship Heading to Gaza
Israeli military sources said that Israel would send a 'direct message' to Madleen, the sailing boat of Freedom Flotilla Coalition, not to enter Gaza, according to The Jerusalem Post. On Sunday, the aid ship set out from the Sicilian port of Catania in southern Italy on a mission to break 'Israel's siege' of the devastated territory, organizers said. The activists stated that they will try to reach the shores of Gaza and deliver some aids to Palestinians who are starving due to Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid. As a response, the Israeli military is reportedly deploying troops in the area and waiting for the ship's arrival. However, it did not reveal a specific plan of action. If those on board 'defy orders or provoke' the Israeli army, they may be arrested and transferred to Ashdod port for their deportation. Greta Thunberg on Board Greta Thunberg Operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the crew includes Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists. 'We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying,' Thunberg said. The mission also seeks to raise 'international awareness' over the ongoing humanitarian crisis. 'Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide,' she added. Interestingly, 'Game of Thrones' actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent joined the crew. Israel has previously banned Hassan from entering due to her obvious opposition to the Israeli war on Gaza. Greta Thunberg and other activists 'We are breaking the siege of Gaza by sea, but that's part of a broader strategy of mobilizations that will also attempt to break the siege by land,' said activist Thiago Avila. Madleen is set to reach Gaza in the next few days. Related Topics: Aid Ship Sails to Gaza with Greta Thunberg on Board Germany Urges Israel to Increase Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Ex Biden Official Accuses Israel of Committing 'War Crimes' in Gaza Short link : Post Views: 2
Leaders
18 hours ago
- Leaders
Brazilian President Describes Israel War on Gaza as ‘Premeditated Genocide'
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday condemned Israeli war on Gaza and called it a 'premeditated genocide,' during his visit to Paris, according to Al-Jazeera. Premeditated Genocide Lula noted that the Israeli military campaign had killed at least 52 people in its latest attack on Gaza. 'This is not a war. It is genocide. A genocide being carried out by a highly trained army, against women and children' Lula said at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 119,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. '[It is] a premeditated genocide from a far-right government that is waging a war, including against the interests of its own people,' he said. This was not the first time for Lulu to use the term 'genocide' to describe Israel's actions in Gaza. However, Macron has reserved his opinion, stating in May that it was not for a 'political leader to use the term, but up to historians to do so when the time comes'. France and Saudi Arabia are set to co-chair an international conference this month at the UN in order to deeply consider a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Paris has unveiled that it could formally recognize a Palestinian state this year. Harsh Attack on Macron In May, Israel accused French President Emmanuel Macron of undertaking a 'crusade against the Jewish state.' The Israeli statement came after Macron's call for European countries to toughen up their stance on Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza did not improve. New Settlements Israel recently announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank. Consequently, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel planned to build a 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied West Bank. 'This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land,' Katz said. Katz also noted that the new settlements would be a clear message to French President Emmanuel Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper – but Israel will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground. New Suggestion Last week, the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has attacked France's call for recognizing the Palestinian state, stating that if it adopted such an outcome, it could 'carve out a piece of the French Riviera' and create one, according to Al-Arabiya. 'If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I've got a suggestion for them — carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. They are welcome to do that, but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation,' Huckabee said. Related Topics: Italian Puglia Region Cuts Ties with Israel over Gaza Genocide Catalonia Closes its Trade Office in Tel Aviv over Gaza Genocide Horror Movies Cannot Fictionalize Genocide in Gaza, Says American Doctor Short link : Post Views: 1
