Greta Thunberg forced to watch October 7 footage after Israeli forces seize aid boat
The Madleen, a British-flagged boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists, was intercepted by Israeli forces and diverted to Israel.
The boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was carrying aid to Gaza after departing from Sicily on June 1.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to show the activists footage of the Hamas' October 7 attacks upon their arrival in Israel.
Greta Thunberg accused Israel of "kidnapping" her and appealed for international support, urging pressure on the Swedish government for their release.
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur, encouraged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade and send aid to Gaza.
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The Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Sun
Britain sanctions two far-right Israeli ministers over inciting violence against Palestinians
BRITAIN has slapped sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers it accused of inciting extremist violence against Palestinians. Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in imposing travel bans and asset freezes on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. 3 3 The move, branded 'outrageous and unacceptable' by Israel's foreign minister, risks a row with Donald Trump's US administration, which is leading Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks. Mr Lammy and his four counterparts accused the two ministers of using 'monstrous' rhetoric. In a joint statement, they said the pair 'incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights'. Both must be held to account, they said, for calling for the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza so it could be re-settled by Jewish Israelis, as well as using extremist and violent language in pushes to annex the West Bank. Mr Ben-Gvir and Mr Smotrich have threatened to withdraw from their government to force fresh elections if Israel ends its war against Hamas. Asked if the UK would urge PM Benjamin Netanyahu to sack them, Mr Lammy said: 'The Israeli government will make their own determination.' The Tories' Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said of the sanctions: 'The Conservative Party had always been committed to supporting a two-state solution — delivered in the right way, and at the right time — and will work with the Government to support efforts to achieve this.' Mr Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister, pledged last night: 'We survived Pharaoh, we will survive Keir Starmer as well.' Finance minister Mr Smotrich added: 'Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we will not allow it to do so again.' No 10 said: 'Ben-Gvir and Smotrich do not speak for all Israeli people, but have a long history of dangerous and extremist views.' Israel is expected to debate its response to the sanctions next week. 3 Death of Hamas chief Mohammad Sinwar could cause DECIMATED terror group to implode
Telegraph
44 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Starmer turning against Israel risks further conflict with White House
The contrast could not have been greater. At around midday UK time, it emerged the Government would sanction two ultra-nationalist Israeli cabinet ministers. The measures against Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the security minister, reflect dismay at much of their behaviour, but particularly their efforts to frustrate a two-state solution. Within two hours, however, an interview with Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump 's new ambassador to Israel, sent a different message. In it, the Republican evangelical pastor (who is close to Mr Smotrich) appeared to all but completely withdraw US support for a Palestinian state. Asked if the two-state solution remained a US policy goal, as it has been for decades, he said: 'I don't think so.' He suggested he'd rather see a legal home for the Palestinians carved out of a Muslim country than the West Bank, where the majority currently live. It is British policy to eventually recognise a Palestinian state, but successive governments have been reluctant to make the move. Sources stressed as recently as last week that Downing Street had made no decision on this. Emmanuel Macron, along with Saudi Arabia, is currently embarked on a mission to cajole allies like Britain to, diplomatically speaking, put their money where their mouths are on the issue of recognition. A much-vaunted France-Saudi conference on the subject is due to take place later this month, about which Israel is extremely nervous. Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, recently threatened to annex the West Bank in retaliation. The feeling among diplomats is that – as with Tuesday's announcement of sanctions – recognition of a Palestinian state would have the greatest impact if done in coordination with allies. Sir Keir and David Lammy will be watching their European partners carefully to see who moves first. To do so would certainly widen the rift over Israel with Washington DC further. It is a rift that has been growing for some time. Mr Trump's criticism of Israel's policy in Gaza has been limited, while Sir Keir has been gradually increasing his. Sanctioning the ministers opens up another potential conflict between the two leaders. The Trump administration rails against threats to free speech. And yet Britain, in concert with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, has subjected two elected lawmakers and ministers to harsh restrictions based, in large part, on things they have said. In the meantime, Mr Smotrich and Mr Ben-Gvir will certainly stay on in their posts despite the allegedly inciting 'extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights'. Sanctioned or not, they will no doubt continue calling for ever harsher treatment of Gaza and Jewish proliferation in the West Bank.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Wong says sanctioned Israeli ministers incited human rights abuses with ‘extremist rhetoric'
Update: Date: 2025-06-10T20:38:47.000Z Title: Five countries issue joint statement on sanctions for Israeli ministers Content: The news about the sanctions against the Israeli ministers broke in reports after 11pm Australian time and was confirmed at midnight by a joint statement by the five countries. The joint statement, issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that 'settler violence is incited by extremist rhetoric' against the Palestinian community and 'fundamentally rejects the two-state solution'. It said Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have incited 'extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights' and these actions were 'not acceptable'. However, it goes on to note the ministers' 'unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas'. This is the full statement: Today, the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom have announced sanctions and other measures targeting Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Settler violence is incited by extremist rhetoric which calls for Palestinians to be driven from their homes, encourages violence and human rights abuses and fundamentally rejects the two-state solution. Settler violence has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole communities. We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution which is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous. These actions are not acceptable. We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity. This is why we have taken this action now – to hold those responsible to account. The Israeli Government must uphold its obligations under international law and we call on it to take meaningful action to end extremist, violent and expansionist rhetoric. The measures announced today do not deviate from our unwavering support for Israel's security and we continue to condemn the horrific terror attacks of 7 October by Hamas. Today's measures are targeted towards individuals who in our view undermine Israel's own security and its standing in the world. We continue to want a strong friendship with the people of Israel based on our shared ties, values and commitment to their security and future. Today's measures focus on the West Bank, but of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid. There must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. We will continue to work with the Israeli Government and a range of partners. We will strive to ensure an immediate ceasefire, the release now of the remaining hostages and for the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid including food. We want to see a reconstructed Gaza no longer run by Hamas and a political pathway to a two-state solution. Update: Date: 2025-06-10T20:37:24.000Z Title: Australia sanctions two Israeli ministers Content: Australia has joined the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli government ministers, over what foreign minister Penny Wong described as 'inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank'. In an unexpected move, news of which broke overnight Australian time, the Albanese government joined several allies in levelling targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Magnitsky-style sanctions come over concerns from the five governments about serious human rights violations and abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank. The two ministers were sanctioned in relation to a range of public comments and actions, including marching through Jerusalem's Muslim Quarter with a group that chanted 'death to Arabs' and 'may your village burn'. Ben-Gvir last month said Israel would 'occupy the entire territory of the Gaza Strip' and encourage migration of Gazans elsewhere, while Smotrich in February said: ''With God's help we will work to permanently bury the dangerous idea of a Palestinian State.' The sanctions make it an offence to make assets available to a sanctioned person, require the freezing of any assets in Australia, and prevent them from entering Australia. Update: Date: 2025-06-10T20:33:50.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer bringing you the best of the overnight stories before Nick Visser takes control. Australia has joined the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli government ministers, over what foreign minister Penny Wong described as 'inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank'. Wong is expected to tour the radio and TV studios this morning to explain the surprise move which was announced overnight in a joint statement with the other nations. The ABC's managing director, Hugh Marks, is expected to unveil his first tranche of changes at the public broadcaster on Wednesday morning, including a new round of redundancies and the axing of Q+A after 18 years. We will have more details and reaction.
