Israeli fire kills dozens seeking aid in Gaza as hunger worsens
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Freedom Flotilla activist ship crew are 'detained and questioned by Israeli authorities' after vessel arrives in Ashdod port
The Freedom Flotilla activist ship crew have been 'detained and questioned by Israeli authorities' after the vessel arrived in Ashdod port. It comes after the pro-Palestinian campaign group's boat heading towards Gaza was intercepted by Israeli forces on Saturday. A livestream broadcast by the organisation showed the soldiers taking control of the 'Handala' vessel. Meanwhile, the 21 activists onboard could be seen sitting on the ship's deck, holding their hands up and whistling the Italian anti-fascist song 'Bella Ciao'. The Handala had been on course to try to break an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and bring a small quantity of humanitarian aid to the territory's Palestinian residents. An online tracking tool set up to plot the boat's path showed its position as around 30 miles from the Egyptian coast and roughly 60 miles west of Gaza when intercepted. Among its passengers is British citizen and ex-United Nations development officer, Chloe Ludden. And now, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) behind the vessel has given an update on its course. They have said the boat is now at the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the activists are consulting with their lawyers, who were there ready to meet them. Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, who was a passenger on the previous Freedom Flotilla, Madleen, posted the update clip to X on Sunday evening. The Madleen was similarly intercepted by the Israeli army in international waters on June 9 and also towed to Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners on board, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. These activists were eventually expelled by Israel. Reposted by the FFC, Mr Avila's post said: 'A quick and important update about the 21 people kidnapped by Israel on board the Handala a few hours ago. 'They arrived in Ashdod port and our team of lawyers from the Adalah Group [Palestinian-run legal centre in Israel] of Palestinians from 48 [Palestinians who had Israeli citizenship conferred on them after the 1948 war] are there to meet them. 'Our lawyers, they're experts on that, they were the ones who brought us home when we were kidnapped on the Madleen. 'And they are there waiting for them, trying to talk to them already. Reposted by the FFC, Mr Avila's post said: 'A quick and important update about the 21 people kidnapped by Israel on board the Handala [pictured departing Gallipoli Port in Italy on July 20] a few hours ago' 'And it's very important that we share this because we know how Israel works, how much they try to confuse people. 'They lie to people, they try to confuse their governments, the media and people everywhere. 'So, it's very important that we share and support this moment right now. 'It's very important that we share their SOS videos, that we share their call to actions for a hunger strike, to go to demonstrations, to take to the streets.' After the Israeli military intercepted the Handala on Saturday, the FFC posted to X: 'Before interception, the 21 crew made this statement: if attacked they will join the global hunger strike for Gaza.' Mr Avila continued: 'So many places are already organising demonstrations so here in London, we have a demonstration, I'm going to Bristol for another demonstration as well. 'In many, many countries, there are demonstrations coming out and it's very important that we support that. 'Right now, we are in a decisive moment. 'You remember on the Madleen that they probably are going to be taken to the Givon prison [in the city of Ramla, between West Jerusalem and Tel Aviv] and they're going to be separated and yes, usually it happens like this. 'And it's very important that we keep our eyes on that, visbility and safety, and that we mobilise. 'Echo the voices of the Palestinian people, expose the genocide, forced starvation, and mobilise.' Handala crew members have been interrogated by Israeli authorities, the Israel Broadcasting Authority has reported, and will be transferred to police. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has previously said attempts to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip are dangerous, illegal and undercut humanitarian work. One of the Handala's passengers, American human rights defender Huwaida Arraf, has said she was released by Israeli authorities after refusing to sign a pledge not to return again. She has called for renewed attention to lifting the siege on Gaza, Al Jazeera reports. Some 11 other activists who were onboard the Handala reportedly remain detained by Israeli authorities - and it is said they have gone on hunger strike. Meanwhile, the FFC has said in a statement the boat had been 'violently intercepted' around 40 nautical miles from Gaza, with all crew detained and the cargo seized, France 24 reports. 'All cargo was non-military, civilian and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation and medical collapse under Israel's illegal blockade', the group added. Israel's Foreign Ministry posted on X early on Sunday morning: 'The Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn [registry name of Handala] from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza. 'The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe.' The passengers' lawyers, from legal centre Adalah, have said in a statement: 'The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so.' They continued: 'It was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognized under international law. 'Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters in which the vessel was sailing.' Adalah has demanded the immediate release of the passengers and disclosure of the activists' location and legal status. It comes after a seemingly pre-prepared video of British passenger Chloe Ludden was posted by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) on its X account late on Saturday night. Captioned, 'SOS! The crew on "Handala" have been kidnapped by Israeli Occupation forces', she says in the clip on the social media platform: 'Hello everyone. 'My name is Chloe Ludden, from the United Kingdom. If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been abducted by the Israeli occupation forces or forces of a country complicit in Israel's genocide of Palestinians. 'I appeal to my comrades, friends and family, to everyone, to please put pressure on the United Kingdom's government to demand my release and the release of everyone onboard the "Handala" as soon as possible. Thank you.' The post calls for followers to email and tag the British Foreign Office. In another message on social media, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition declared: '"Handala" has been intercepted and boarded illegally by Israeli forces whilst in international waters.' There was no immediate confirmation of the operation from the Israeli military. But earlier in the day it had announced it would enforce 'the legal maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip'. Posts of a similar format to Ms Ludden's were made for each of the passengers on the Handala, which includes European politicians and two Al Jazeera journalists. It comes after the British national posted to her own X account on Tuesday: 'Currently on the Handala Flotilla sailing to Gaza after resigning from the UN. 'We must stop asking for permission to enter a death camp. I did not leave the United Nations to abandon its founding principles. I left to live them, to act on them. 'The UN Charter stands for the dignity, freedom, and security of all peoples. So why, when these very rights are being obliterated, do we still see no meaningful response? 'This is a genocide. That is not just rhetoric - it is supported by reports, testimonies, and lived reality. 'And yet, no real consequences have followed. My resignation is not an act of walking away. It is an act of stepping up. 'Because human dignity is not protected by procedures alone, but by personal and institutional courage. 'When we carry food and medicine to Palestinians in Gaza and are told to turn back, it's not just a failure of politics. It's a failure of our moral architecture. 'This flotilla is not a threat. And Gaza is not a "crisis" to be managed. Palestine is a mirror - reflecting both our humanity and the failure of our institutions to uphold it. 'To those still within the United Nations and other bodies: This responsibility is not only for activists, for those outside. You hold tools. You have a voice. 'Stop waiting for the perfect mandate to do what is already right. 'Neutrality in the face of mass death is not diplomacy. It is abandonment. Let Gaza live. Let the mirror change us.' Ms Ludden previously worked as a scientist for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN's body for the science around climate change. Two French MPs, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala, were among those detained on the Handala on Saturday. Their party leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon of France Unbowed (LFI), condemned Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu. 'Netanyahu's thugs boarded Handala. They attack 21 unarmed people in territorial waters where they have no right. 'A kidnapping in which two French parliamentarians are victims', he posted on X. Mr Melenchon demanded the French government take action. Thiago Avila, a Brazilian activist who had been onboard the last FFC boat sent to Gaza, the Madleen, posted about the Handala's interception late on Saturday evening. He said: 'The Handala has just been illegally intercepted by the Zionist entity of Israel while carrying baby formula to starving children.' Gaza is facing severe shortages of food and other essentials, with the UN and NGOs warning of an imminent famine. The Handala's crew said in a post on X they would go on a hunger strike if the Israeli army intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. The Madleen was intercepted by the Israeli army in international waters on June 9 and towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners on board, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. These activists were eventually expelled by Israel. The interception of the Handala comes after Israel 's military said air drops of aid will begin on Saturday night in Gaza and humanitarian corridors will be established for UN convoys. It has yet to outline when the corridors would open or where - but added it is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas. Gaza's population of more than two million people is facing severe shortages of food and other essentials after some 21 months of war - particularly after Israel enacted a more than two-month-long blockade of the embattled Strip from March until May. Previously, the UN condemned Israel's 'weaponisation of food' in Gaza, labelling it a war crime. And on Monday, the UK, France and more than twenty other Western-aligned countries issued labelling Israel's operations 'unacceptable'. It comes after the UN's human rights office reported Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food at aid distribution points since the US - and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) - started its operations in late May. GHF rejected the statistics, describing them as 'false and exaggerated statistics' from the UN. An anonymous Israeli security official claimed Hamas were responsible for fabricating 'cynical' reports of mass starvation in Gaza to The Times of Israel. Now, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed in a call with French and German counterparts the UK is working with Jordan on plans to air drop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance. In emergency talks held with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz on Saturday amid mounting global anger at the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the leaders agreed it would be 'vital' to ensure 'robust plans' for an 'urgently-needed ceasefire'. 'The Prime Minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to air drop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance', a Downing Street spokesperson said. But the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency warned airdrops were 'a distraction and screensmoke' that would fail to reverse deepening starvation in Gaza, and could in some cases harm civilians. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said: 'A man-made hunger can only be addressed by political will. 'Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need.' Charities operating in Gaza have said Israel's blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing people there towards starvation. They have warned they are seeing their own workers and Palestinians 'waste away'. Mr Lazzarini also said airdrops can be dangerous as they can fall on civilians and being able to drive aid through is more effective and safer. 'Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians,' he said. 'It is a distraction and screen smoke.' No 10 said the leaders had committed to 'work closely together on a plan' to 'pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region'. It added once proposals had been 'worked up', it will seek to advance them with other key partners. But Downing Street's recent statement made no mention of the issue of Palestinian statehood, after French President Mr Macron confirmed his country would do so in September. The Prime Minister has faced calls to immediately recognise Palestine's sovereignty, with around 221 MPs from across the political spectrum signing a letter pressuring the Government to follow suit at a UN meeting next week. It comes as Israeli airstrikes and gunshots killed at least 53 people on Friday night into Saturday, with most shot dead while seeking aid, according to Palestinian health officials and the local ambulance service. Israeli gunfire was reported twice within hours close to the Zikim crossing, and least a dozen people were killed while waiting for aid trucks in the first incident, staff at a Shifa hospital said. Israel's military said it fired warning shots to distance a crowd 'in response to an immediate threat' and it was not aware of any casualties. A witness, Sherif Abu Aisha, said people started running when they saw a light that they thought was from aid trucks. But as they neared, they realised it was Israel's tanks - and the army began to open fire, killing several people including his uncle, he said. 'We went because there is no food... and nothing was distributed', he said. Israeli forces also killed at least 11 people and wounded 120 others when they fired toward crowds who tried to get food from an entering UN convoy on Saturday evening. 'We are expecting the numbers to surge in the next few hours,' Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa hospital said. There was no immediate Israeli military comment. Elsewhere, those killed in strikes included four people in an apartment building in Gaza City, hospital staff and the ambulance service said. Another Israeli strike killed at least eight, including four children, in a crowded tent camp of Muwasi in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the Nasser hospital. Elsewhere in Khan Younis, Israeli forces opened fire and killed at least nine people trying to get aid entering Gaza through the Morag corridor, according to the hospital's morgue records. Palestinian woman Warda Mattar feeds her newborn dates, instead of milk, amidst food scarcity and lack of milk, at a school where they shelter in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip February 25, 2024 More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups issued a joint letter blaming Israel for the deteriorating situation There was no immediate comment from Israel's military. Earlier this week, 111 aid agencies, including including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Oxfam signed an open letter warning of 'mass starvation' spreading in Gaza, as the population was 'wasting away'. 'With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes. 'The government of Israel's restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death', it read. The UN as well as experts have said Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine as children with no preexisting conditions have begun to starve to death. 'We only want enough food to end our hunger,' said Wael Shaaban at a charity kitchen in Gaza City as he tried to feed his family of six. The Israeli military says it is allowing aid into the enclave with no limit on the trucks entering. But the UN claims it has been hindered by military restrictions on movements as well as criminal looting. 'We only want enough food to end our hunger,' said Wael Shaaban at a charity kitchen in Gaza City as he tried to feed his family of six. Pictured: Internally displaced Palestinians gather in a charity kitchen to receive limited rations amid food shortages in Nuseirat Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on July 26, 2025 The Gaza police force had previously provided security for aid delivery but it has been unable to operate after months of being Israeli airstrikes. Israel on Saturday said more than 250 trucks carrying aid from the UN and other organisations entered Gaza this week, with around 600 trucks entered per day during the latest ceasefire that Israel, which ended in March. 'Stand for Gaza, for silence is a crime, and indifference is a betrayal of humanity,' said Father Issa Thaljieh, a Greek Orthodox priest at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, as religious figures and the mayor called for prayers to end the war. More than 59,700 Palestinians have been killed during the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between militants and civilians but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry operates under the Hamas government but the UN and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment. By Brendan Carlin for the Mail on Sunday The harrowing human face of the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza was laid bare last night. Palestinian children were pictured holding out empty pots in a desperate plea for food. They jostled with adults and other youngsters in an effort to get a share of donated food in a community kitchen in Gaza City. And inside a school sheltering displaced families, also in the region's capital, a mother was shown caring for her two disabled sons, aged four and six, who now faced what was said to be 'life-threatening severe malnutrition'. The graphic images emerged as Sir Keir Starmer appealed to Israel to allow more aid in over land and revealed the UK was 'working with Jordan to get aid into Gaza'. Separately, Irish singer and activist Bob Geldof accused Israeli authorities of 'lying' in saying that Hamas terrorists – not Israel – are responsible for the food shortages. Last week, an Israeli government spokesman said: 'In Gaza today, there's no famine caused by Israel – there is a man-made shortage, but it's been engineered by Hamas.' But in an interview to be broadcast on Sky News today, the Live Aid organiser said 'the Israeli authorities are lying'. He added: 'They're dangling food in front of starving, panicked, exhausted mothers.'
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Starmer to raise Gaza ceasefire and UK steel tariffs in Trump meeting
The Prime Minister will travel to Ayrshire, where the US president is staying at his Turnberry golf resort, for wide-ranging discussions on trade and the Middle East as international alarm grows over starvation in Gaza. The two leaders have built a rapport on the world stage despite their differing political backgrounds, with Mr Trump praising Sir Keir for doing a 'very good job' in office ahead of their talks on Monday. But humanitarian conditions in Gaza and uncertainty over US import taxes on key British goods in America threaten to complicate their bilateral meeting. The US president has been playing golf at his Turnberry resort in Scotland (PA) Peace talks in the Middle East came to a standstill last week after Washington and Israel recalled negotiating teams from Qatar, with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for a 'lack of desire' to reach an agreement. Since then, Israel has promised military pauses in three populated areas of Gaza to allow designated UN convoys of aid to reach desperate Palestinians. But the UK, which is joining efforts to airdrop aid into the enclave and evacuate children in need of medical assistance, has said that access to supplies must be 'urgently' widened. In his talks with Mr Trump, Sir Keir will 'welcome the President's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza', Number 10 said. 'He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long.' The leaders will also talk 'one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries', it said. The agreement signed at the G7 summit last month slashed trade barriers on goods from both countries. But tariffs for the steel industry, which is of key economic importance to the UK, were left to stand at 25% rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. Concerns had previously been raised that the sector could face a levy of up to 50% – the US's global rate – unless a further agreement was made by July 9, when Mr Trump said he would start implementing import taxes on America's trading partners. But that deadline has been and gone without any concrete update on the status of UK steel. Downing Street said that both sides are working 'at pace' to 'go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic' and to give UK industry 'the security it needs'. The two leaders are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, which Number 10 said would include 'applying pressure' on Vladimir Putin to end the invasion, before travelling on together for a private engagement in Aberdeen. It comes after Mr Trump announced he had agreed 'the biggest deal ever made' between the US and the European Union after meeting Ursula von der Leyen for high-stakes talks at Turnberry on Sunday. After a day playing golf, the US leader met the President of the EU Commission to hammer out the broad terms of an agreement that will subject the bloc to 15% tariffs on most of its goods entering America. This is lower than a 30% levy previously threatened by the US president. The agreement will include 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals, as well as EU purchases of US energy worth 750 billion dollars (£558 billion) over three years. Speaking to journalists on Sunday about his meeting with Sir Keir, Mr Trump said: 'We're meeting about a lot of things. We have our trade deal and it's been a great deal. 'It's good for us. It's good for them and good for us. I think the UK is very happy, they've been trying for 12 years to get it and they got it, and it's a great trade deal for both, works out very well. 'We'll be discussing that. I think we're going to be discussing a lot about Israel. 'They're very much involved in terms of wanting something to happen. 'He's doing a very good job, by the way.' Mr Trump's private trip to the UK comes ahead of a planned state visit in September.
Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Starmer to raise Gaza ceasefire and UK steel tariffs in Trump meeting
The Prime Minister will travel to Ayrshire, where the US president is staying at his Turnberry golf resort, for wide-ranging discussions on trade and the Middle East as international alarm grows over starvation in Gaza. The two leaders have built a rapport on the world stage despite their differing political backgrounds, with Mr Trump praising Sir Keir for doing a 'very good job' in office ahead of their talks on Monday. But humanitarian conditions in Gaza and uncertainty over US import taxes on key British goods in America threaten to complicate their bilateral meeting. The US president has been playing golf at his Turnberry resort in Scotland (PA) Peace talks in the Middle East came to a standstill last week after Washington and Israel recalled negotiating teams from Qatar, with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for a 'lack of desire' to reach an agreement. Since then, Israel has promised military pauses in three populated areas of Gaza to allow designated UN convoys of aid to reach desperate Palestinians. But the UK, which is joining efforts to airdrop aid into the enclave and evacuate children in need of medical assistance, has said that access to supplies must be 'urgently' widened. In his talks with Mr Trump, Sir Keir will 'welcome the President's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza', Number 10 said. 'He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long.' The leaders will also talk 'one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries', it said. The agreement signed at the G7 summit last month slashed trade barriers on goods from both countries. But tariffs for the steel industry, which is of key economic importance to the UK, were left to stand at 25% rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. Concerns had previously been raised that the sector could face a levy of up to 50% – the US's global rate – unless a further agreement was made by July 9, when Mr Trump said he would start implementing import taxes on America's trading partners. But that deadline has been and gone without any concrete update on the status of UK steel. Downing Street said that both sides are working 'at pace' to 'go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic' and to give UK industry 'the security it needs'. The two leaders are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, which Number 10 said would include 'applying pressure' on Vladimir Putin to end the invasion, before travelling on together for a private engagement in Aberdeen. It comes after Mr Trump announced he had agreed 'the biggest deal ever made' between the US and the European Union after meeting Ursula von der Leyen for high-stakes talks at Turnberry on Sunday. After a day playing golf, the US leader met the President of the EU Commission to hammer out the broad terms of an agreement that will subject the bloc to 15% tariffs on most of its goods entering America. This is lower than a 30% levy previously threatened by the US president. The agreement will include 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals, as well as EU purchases of US energy worth 750 billion dollars (£558 billion) over three years. Speaking to journalists on Sunday about his meeting with Sir Keir, Mr Trump said: 'We're meeting about a lot of things. We have our trade deal and it's been a great deal. 'It's good for us. It's good for them and good for us. I think the UK is very happy, they've been trying for 12 years to get it and they got it, and it's a great trade deal for both, works out very well. 'We'll be discussing that. I think we're going to be discussing a lot about Israel. 'They're very much involved in terms of wanting something to happen. 'He's doing a very good job, by the way.' Mr Trump's private trip to the UK comes ahead of a planned state visit in September.
