
Israeli forces seize and take command of Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Israeli forces have seized and taken command of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla carrying 12 activists including Greta Thunberg, the Israeli foreign ministry said on Monday, adding that it was heading to Israeli shores.
"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."
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.
The yacht Madleen is named after a Gazan fisherwoman, according to the organisation, which says the flotilla is "carrying a cargo of hope and humanitarian aid". Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham is also on board.
The yacht is carrying a small amount of humanitarian aid including baby formula and medical supplies, while also making a symbolic voyage in protest at Israel's blockade. Crew members say they are unarmed civilians who pose no threat.
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Middle East Eye
14 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Blood or bread: Surviving Israel's vicious hunger regime in Gaza
Gaza's tragedy is not limited to the visible victims of massacres or the destruction of homes and cities. Alongside these horrors, Palestinians endure an unbearable level of psychological and social exhaustion, the result of a systematic Zionist policy designed to turn life in Gaza into a living hell. Even basic daily routines now demand extraordinary resilience. The simple act of survival has become a form of heroism. For more than 100 consecutive days, the Zionist colonial regime has employed one of the most vile and despicable methods of warfare ever conceived: depriving children, women and men of the most essential requirement for survival - food. Since 2 March 2025, the Israeli occupation army has closed Gaza's border crossings and entirely prohibited the entry of food, medicine or fuel. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Even prior to that date, the limited number of trucks allowed in failed to meet basic needs. But Israel exploited the world's acclimatisation to this collective punishment regime and escalated it, enforcing a total ban on food supplies. Empty shelves Palestinians in Gaza survived on the last remnants of flour and stored goods. But as the days dragged on, most items ran out. The few remaining became astronomically expensive - their prices skyrocketing 20 to 30 times. The majority of the population can no longer afford these extortionate prices. Parents are forced to ignore the cries of their hungry children and urge them to sleep on empty stomachs. Many can barely manage to secure a single, poor-quality meal per day, often a dish from a charitable soup kitchen. I ask the seller to place the biscuit in a black wrapper. He says he has none. So I hide the biscuit in my pocket like a thief But those kitchens, too, rely on border crossings to replenish their supplies. With them sealed, they resorted to existing stockpiles, which are also now running out. As a result, most have been forced to cease operations. Markets are nearly bare, with only a few stalls displaying a limited selection of items. Each morning, I walk more than 3km in search of anything edible. The era of relative comfort - when one could go out and buy a specific item from a nearby shop - is over. Now, we walk long distances not to buy, but to find out if anything can be bought at all. "Anything" in my case means a loaf of bread, a packet of biscuits, a few falafel balls - nothing more. Sometimes, I circle the market two or three times before giving up and returning to my tent. If I happen to spot something potentially purchasable, the second step is to brace myself before asking the price. Regardless of one's expectations, the answer is likely to be shocking. For example, a biscuit that once cost one shekel rose to three, then five, then 10, then 20. A chocolate bar that once cost five shekels ($1.40) climbed to 15, then 30, then 50, then 100 - before vanishing altogether. A sack of flour that once sold for $10 now costs $1,000. Stolen meals One of the most painful sights is the way children's eyes follow the goods on display. These are children whose parents cannot provide even the bare minimum, let alone what has now become a luxury. War on Gaza: How Israel is replicating Nazi starvation tactics Read More » I cannot bear their gazes. I can do very little to help. That is why, when I buy something like a biscuit, I ask the seller to place it in a black wrapper. He says he has none. So I hide the biscuit in my pocket like a thief. It is an uncomfortable feeling, but reality imposes a tremendous inner conflict. That biscuit might be my only meal of the day, and the number of children bearing the visible marks of deprivation far exceeds my ability to help. But the disappearance of goods and astronomical prices are not the only problems. There is also a severe cash shortage. For more than a year, banks in Gaza have been completely shut down. The occupying government has blocked the injection of liquidity that would enable people to carry out basic transactions. This is no accident - it is part of a broader effort to drive people to the brink. This war on liquidity has strangled people's ability to buy and sell. Traders have become excessively strict, scrutinising banknotes and coins, often refusing to accept them on the grounds that they are worn, scratched or slightly torn. This adds yet another layer to the psychological exhaustion. One might finally locate an item at a relatively "moderate" price - only 10 times the normal rate - only for the transaction to collapse because the seller refuses the buyer's money. Follow Middle East Eye's live coverage of the Israel-Palestine war Gone are the days when a seller would kindly say, "Take it now and pay later." Harsh conditions have replaced kindness with severity. If someone argues, "I didn't print this banknote - it came from the market and will return to it," the seller replies that another trader won't accept it either. In those moments, a person may feel an overwhelming urge to argue or even shout: "Why are you creating new problems? Are the ones imposed by the occupation not enough?" These are the daily battles faced in Gaza - not isolated frustrations, but constant, grinding confrontations. Cash war Recently, an even more alarming trend has emerged: traders now deduct a so-called "commission" in exchange for providing cash. Before the war, this fee had never exceeded 1 percent. Now, with banks closed and liquidity scarce, it has risen to five, then 15, 25, 40 - even 50 percent. Another example of the madness is how traders now compete with the people for their own money, leaving them with scraps. This war has exposed the greed of those merchants who exploit death to enrich themselves. This war on liquidity has strangled people's ability to buy and sell - sometimes a listed price vanishes at the till because worn notes are rejected But we must not lose sight of the real architect of this collapse: the Zionist extermination authorities, who have deliberately drained Gaza of cash in order to make life utterly unviable. After a wave of international condemnation from western governments over Israel's starvation policy, the extermination authorities adopted a new trick. They claimed they would allow some aid trucks into Gaza. After days of delay, a few lorries were permitted entry, barely meeting two percent of the population's needs. Then, during their journey, Israel bombed the security personnel escorting them, killing them, while looters attacked the aid under Israeli air force cover. This tactic - bombing escorts - has been repeated dozens of times. It is a clear signal that Israel is intentionally promoting social collapse and looting in Gaza. Aid as target Israel claims to be fighting Hamas's control over food supplies - a blatant lie that easily falls apart under scrutiny. The entities responsible for distribution are globally trusted, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) and the World Food Programme. Since the start of this genocidal war, these organisations have proven their ability to distribute aid swiftly and effectively. But Israel's goal has shifted: it no longer seeks to merely "manage" the population - it wants to suffocate Palestinian society entirely, waging war on international humanitarian organisations in the process. Thus, it has adopted a policy of "permission to enter, not to deliver". A few trucks are allowed in - just enough to maintain a public relations cover - while those same trucks are blocked from reaching the warehouses of UN agencies for organised distribution. Israel has fully invested in generating chaos and societal collapse. With the repeated targeting of security escorts guarding aid trucks and worsening starvation, Gaza's social fabric is unravelling at a terrifying pace. The hungry now flood truck routes, attacking the lorries in a desperate bid to acquire flour or any other available food item. In this hopeless scramble, new victims fall daily, crushed in the chaos or attacked by armed gangs. These gangs, reading Israel's signal, now raid trucks and hoard the contents to sell back at extortionate prices to the starving population. Collapse by design The current equation in Gaza is brutally simple: To feed themselves or their children, people are left with only two options - either be wealthy enough to pay $1,000 for a sack of flour, or join an armed gang. And even then, success is not guaranteed - it may simply mean being shot by a rival group. Israel is starving Gaza to death, and still the world does nothing Mads Gilbert Read More » Israel has used every vile method imaginable to wage war on Gaza and render it uninhabitable: killing people with missiles, medical denial, starvation and now societal collapse. It is driving people to the edge, forcing them into a battle for food. How are decent people - those who sit in tents with their hungry children - supposed to survive this nightmare? How are they to compete with gangs and criminals for a loaf of bread for their families? Israel's message to the people of Gaza is clear: "If you want to survive starvation, you must become savages. You must abandon your humanity entirely. That's exactly what we expect of you." The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.


The National
an hour ago
- The National
US embassy evacuations signal threat of strike on Iran, experts say
The US staff evacuations from its embassies in the Middle East on Thursday signals the threat of either an Israeli or American attack on Iran, experts told The National, as tension heightens across the region. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that US personnel were being moved from the potentially 'dangerous' Middle East as nuclear talks with Iran faltered and fears grew of a regional conflict. 'The evacuation leaks signal that the threat of Israeli strikes on Iran looms closer on the horizon,' Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East programme at London's Chatham House, told The National. Tehran had earlier threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out and if it were attacked over its nuclear programme, amid mounting speculation that Israel could strike the country's facilities. The orders to US embassy staff in Iraq was 'based on our latest analysis', according to the US State Department. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised family members of US military stationed across the region to leave, according to a Pentagon statement. [The move] could be related to possible US or Israeli strikes on acts of resistance targets, and it's of a significantly large enough threat and a large enough scale that they expect retaliation Farzan Sabet, managing researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute The State Department also said US government employees and family members in Israel are restricted from travelling outside major cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem until further notice. The move could be 'related to possible US or Israeli strikes on acts of resistance targets, and it's of a significantly large enough threat and a large enough scale that they expect retaliation, hence the evacuation', Farzan Sabet, managing researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute, told The National. Mr Sabet said the move could be 'co-ordinated signalling because we've also seen many leaks about Israeli preparations to strike Iran to generate leverage for the US in nuclear talks with Iran'. It comes ahead of a sixth round of talks between Washington and Tehran in an attempt to reach a nuclear deal. Mr Trump has threatened to bomb the country if Iran refuses to reach an agreement. The US has given conflicting comments, though in recent weeks Mr Trump has more firmly stated that Tehran must stop its enrichment altogether. The Omani-mediated talks will be held in Muscat on Sunday in a final attempt to get a framework and deal on Tehran's nuclear activities and the lifting of Iranian sanctions. The threat from Iran could be directed more at Israel, given reports of its readiness to attack nuclear sites if talks fail, rather than the US, Yesar Al Maliki, a Gulf Analyst at MEES, told The National. 'US foreign policy is divided between isolationist and interventionist agendas within administration ranks, Tehran's messaging could be directed at the former group,' he said. Iran is 'under pressure as talks with the US are yet to produce a mutually agreeable compromise on enrichment', he said. Iraq under possible threat Iraq 's leadership across the spectrum has been very concerned from any Israeli attacks on the country, Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq initiative at London's Chatham House, told The National. Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al Sudani's 'government has managed thus far to keep Iraq insulated or relatively insulated from the wider violence and conflict', he said. However, the main concern is 'whether either Israel or the US, especially some of the neoconservative elements in the US administration want to target Iran via Iraq, could push for this policy'. 'Iraq has always been connected in a way to the wider regional conflicts,' he said, adding that Baghdad still has the Popular Mobilisation Forces which 'is somehow more or less connected to Iran's networks in the region and the axis of resistance'. In response to the move by Mr Trump, an Iraqi military spokesman, Sabah Al Numan, said on Thursday that the evacuation of some US embassy personnel is a 'regulatory precautionary measure related to them'. Omar Al Nidawi, programmes director at Enabling Peace in Iraq Centre thinks that the "sudden unprompted move and Trump's remarks yesterday that the region 'could be a dangerous place' suggests it was more likely a stunt meant to put pressure on Iran ahead of talks than a real security precaution based on actual concerns", he told The National.


Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Proofpoint research UAE travel brands are taking proactive steps to defend customers from fraudulent emails
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Proofpoint, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and compliance company, today released new research revealing that 85% of the top online travel sites* in the UAE have adopted Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), a key email security protocol that helps protect users from email fraud. However, only 45% of these sites have implemented it at the highest enforcement level of 'reject,' which actively blocks unauthorised emails from reaching inboxes. The findings are based on a DMARC adoption analysis of the top 20 online travel sites in the UAE, and across Europe and the Middle East. DMARC is an email validation protocol designed to protect domain names from being misused by cybercriminals. It authenticates the sender's identity before allowing a message to reach its intended destination. DMARC has three levels of protection – monitor, quarantine and reject, with reject being the most secure for preventing suspicious emails from reaching the inbox. With travel demand in the UAE continuing to rise, a recent KPMG study found that 77% of UAE travellers use mobile apps or hotel booking services, increasing the volume of digital interactions between consumers and travel brands. But as consumers eagerly plan and book their getaways, this surge in activity – coupled with a high volume of emails and promotional offers from travel companies – creates a perfect storm for cybercriminals, turning dream holidays into costly scams through sophisticated email fraud. Key findings include: The UAE demonstrates stronger foundational email security adoption compared to its European counterparts, with 85% of the top travel sites publishing a DMARC record, reflecting growing awareness of cybersecurity best practices across the country's travel sector. However, there is room for improvement with only 45% of the UAE's top travel sites using the policy at 'reject' level, meaning 55% are leaving their customers, staff, and partners more vulnerable to receiving fraudulent emails impersonating these brands. On average, 88% of the top travel websites across Europe and the Middle East have published a basic DMARC record. However, only 46% of all travel sites analysed are at reject, meaning 54% of the top travel sites across the regions are leaving customers at risk of email fraud. 'Holiday bookings often represent a significant number of high-value financial transactions and bring experiences of high personal and emotional value; this combination makes travellers prime targets for cybercriminals. Attackers actively use sophisticated email fraud, especially during peak holiday season, to exploit vulnerabilities,' says Matt Cooke, cybersecurity strategist, Proofpoint. 'Fake booking confirmations, too-good-to-be-true deals, and urgent payment requests for supposed flight changes are common tactics. These fraudulent communications can appear highly convincing, putting travellers' finances and personal data at risk.' "Travel companies bear a social responsibility to do everything they can to stop convincing scam emails being sent in their name, to holidaymakers,' continues Cooke. 'Implementing DMARC technology to its fullest level of 'reject' allows travel companies to massively reduce the risk of that happening, protecting both their brand and all of the holidaymakers at the same time., it's a win-win." Proofpoint advises consumers to follow these tips to stay safe when booking and managing travel online: Secure your bookings – and your accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for travel accounts and booking sites. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security. Watch out for fake travel deals – and websites. Be wary of unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers create convincing fake websites for airlines, hotels, or comparison sites to steal money and credentials. Always book through official sites or reputable, verified agents. Navigate away from phishing trips – and smishing scams. Stay alert to phishing emails or smishing (SMS phishing) messages regarding flight changes, booking confirmations, or visa applications that demand urgent action or personal details. These often lead to fake login pages designed to capture your information. Don't get detoured by suspicious links. Avoid clicking directly on links in unsolicited emails, social media messages, or pop-up ads, especially for special offers or urgent alerts. Instead, type the official website address directly into your browser. Check reviews before You book. Fraudulent travel offers, websites, and apps can look deceptively genuine. Before providing payment details or downloading a new travel app, invest time in researching the company, reading independent online reviews, and checking for customer complaints. Methodology: *This analysis of DMARC adoption among the top 20 online travel sites per market in the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Benelux, UAE and KSA (as identified by data from Semrush, ecommerce Italia, Fevad, Statista, Ocu, SimilarWeb) was conducted in May 2025. About Proofpoint, Inc. Proofpoint, Inc. is a leading cybersecurity and compliance company that protects organisations' greatest assets and biggest risks: their people. With an integrated suite of cloud-based solutions, Proofpoint helps companies around the world stop targeted threats, safeguard their data, and make their users more resilient against cyber attacks. Leading organisations of all sizes, including 85 percent of the Fortune 100, rely on Proofpoint for people-centric security and compliance solutions that mitigate their most critical risks across email, the cloud, social media, and the web.