
Iraq condemns the Zionist aggression on Dar Al-Arqam School shelter in Gaza
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs - MOFA condemned on Friday the Zionist aggression on a shelter of Dar Al-Arqam School in Gaza.
"MOFA expresses the Republic of Iraq's strong condemnation and denunciation of the aggression launched by the Zionist entity's forces on the occupied Palestinian territories, which resulted in the martyrdom of several innocent civilians who were gathered in a shelter of Dar Al-Arqam School, located in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City," said MOFA in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
The statement added that MOFA "strongly condemns the occupation forces' destruction of a warehouse of medical and relief supplies belonging to the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and all human values."
The Ministry reiterated "Iraq's firm and supportive position on the Palestinian cause," calling on the international community to "assume its legal and moral responsibilities to stop these repeated violations and work to provide international protection for the Palestinian people."

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Iraqi News
3 hours ago
- Iraqi News
Israel diverts Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg
Jerusalem – Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat on Monday, preventing the activists on board — including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg — from reaching the blockaded Palestinian territory. The Madleen set sail from Italy on June 1 to raise awareness of food shortages in Gaza, which the United Nations has called the 'hungriest place on Earth'. After 21 months of war, the UN warns the entire population is at risk of famine. At around 4:02 am (0102 GMT), Israeli forces 'forcibly intercepted' the vessel in international waters as it was approaching Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said. 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters,' Thunberg said in a pre-recorded video shared by the coalition. Footage 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 wrote on social media, 'all the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed,' adding that it expected the activists to return to their home countries. Turkey condemned the interception of the Madleen as a 'heinous attack' in international waters. Iran also denounced it as 'a form of piracy', citing the same grounds. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported it was struck by drones in an attack the group blamed on Israel. In 2010, a commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar attempt to breach Israel's naval blockade, left 10 civilians dead. On Sunday, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the blockade, in place since years before the Israel-Hamas war, was needed to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons. – 'Risked their lives' for food – The boat was intercepted about 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of the coast of Gaza, according to coordinates provided by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. It recently allowed some humanitarian deliveries to resume after barring them for more than two months and began working with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. But humanitarian agencies have criticised the GHF and the United Nations refuses to work with it, citing concerns over its practices and neutrality. Dozens of people have been killed near GHF distribution points since late May, according to Gaza's civil defence agency. It said Israeli attacks killed at least 10 people on Sunday, including five civilians hit by gunfire near an aid distribution centre. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal and witnesses said the civilians had been heading to a GHF-run site west of Rafah, in southern Gaza. Abdallah Nour al-Din, a witness, said 'the Israeli army opened fire' on people who had started gathering at the site in the early morning. The Israeli military said it fired on people who 'continued advancing in a way that endangered the soldiers' despite warnings. – Sinwar – The GHF said there had been no incidents 'at any of our three sites' on Sunday. Outside Nasser Hospital, where the emergency workers brought the casualties, AFPTV footage showed mourners crying over blood-stained body bags. 'I can't see you like this,' said Lin al-Daghma by her father's body. She spoke of the struggle to access food aid after the two-months Israeli blockade, despite the recent easing. At a charity kitchen in Gaza City, displaced Palestinian Umm Ghassan told AFP she had been unable to collect aid from a GHF site 'because there were so many people, and there was a lot of shooting. I was afraid to go in, but there were people who risked their lives for their children and families'. Also on Sunday, the Israeli military said it had located and identified the body of Mohammed Sinwar, presumed Hamas leader in Gaza, in an 'underground tunnel route beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis', in southern Gaza. The military, which until Sunday had not confirmed his death, said Israeli forces killed Sinwar on May 13. Sinwar was the younger brother of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, accused by Israel of masterminding the 2023 attack that triggered the war. The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,880 people, the majority civilians, have been killed in the territory since the start of the war. The UN considers these figures reliable. After the deaths of several Hamas leaders, Mohammed Sinwar was thought to be at the heart of decisions on indirect negotiations with Israel. The military said that alongside Sinwar's body, forces had found 'additional intelligence' at the Khan Yunis site 'underneath the hospital, right under the emergency room'.


Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
47 Palestinians killed in 24h: French mothers to rally against Israel in Paris
Shafaq News/ Israeli airstrikes killed 47 Palestinians and wounded 388 others in the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry reported on Monday, as a group of French mothers condemned the Israeli 'massacres' against children. The deaths push the total number of casualties in Israel's military campaign to 54,927 killed—mostly women and children—and 126,615 wounded since October 7. Meanwhile, Israeli ground forces expanded operations in the occupied West Bank, storming the towns of al-Yamun and al-Silah al-Harithiya near Jenin, according to Arab media. Troops reportedly raided homes, interrogated residents, and detained two young men for field questioning—part of what locals describe as near-daily incursions in the province. Inside Israel, political pressure is rising. Yair Golan, head of the Democratic Party, denounced the war as 'unjustifiable,' accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict to protect himself. 'This war now exists to shield a government led by a man wanted by the International Criminal Court,' Golan argued, calling for Netanyahu's removal. In Paris, a group of French mothers plans to rally outside the Élysée Palace on June 15 at 3 p.m., urging President Emmanuel Macron to impose sanctions on Israel. Published in Politis, their statement condemns the mass killing of Palestinian children and invokes France's obligations under the Genocide Convention. 'We, the mothers of France, united and determined, demand an end to the massacre of Palestinian children,' the statement reads, citing rulings by the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court and highlighting the May 24 airstrike that killed nine of Dr. Alaa Najjar's ten children, including her six-month-old daughter. Organizers also referenced the case of six-year-old Hind Rajab, killed while pleading for help from under her family's bullet-riddled car. They noted over 15,000 Palestinian children have died since October 7—an average of 25 per day—while thousands more have been orphaned, starved, or maimed, often without access to anesthesia. 'This is not only about those who've died—it's about the living,' the statement continues, describing survivors left with burns, amputations, trauma, and indefinite detention without charge. 'With every Palestinian child, our shared humanity is buried.'


Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Widespread backlash grows over Israel's interception of ‘Madeleine' Flotilla
Shafaq News/ Israel's seizure of the humanitarian ship 'Madeleine' in international waters on Monday has drawn widespread backlash and renewed scrutiny of its blockade on Gaza. Hamas labeled the interception 'piracy' and a 'war crime,' urging the immediate release of all activists onboard and holding Israel fully accountable for their safety. Al-Haq, a rights group based in Ramallah, condemned the operation as an 'unlawful interception,' framing it as part of Israel's strategy to isolate and dismantle Palestinian society. Al-Haq urges states & intl orgs to ensure safe passage for the Madleen crew. Detained activists must be released & protected now. Let the #Madleen sail to Gaza. #FreePalestine #LetMadleenSail #MadleenToGaza — Al-Haq الحق (@alhaq_org) June 9, 2025 The operation also sparked internal dissent. Israeli media reported frustration within naval ranks, with a former navy chief telling Maariv the standoff should have been resolved through diplomacy, not force. The Australian Government must now impose immediate sanctions on the Israeli arms industry and the Netanyahu Government and end the two way arms trade with Israel #Madleen — David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) June 9, 2025 Internationally, Australian Senator David Shoebridge denounced the raid as 'a clear breach of international law,' urging Canberra to sanction Israel's arms sector and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese echoed those calls, stressing that 'breaking the siege is a legal duty for states and a moral imperative for all of us.' While #Madleen must be released immediately, every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable. #BreakingTheSiege is a legal duty for states, and a moral imperative for all of us. — Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) June 9, 2025 Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed the 'Madeleine,' also known as 'Madleen,' was towed at 3 a.m. local time into Israeli waters under orders from Defense Minister Israel Katz. The military claimed the move followed prior warnings and said all 12 passengers would be deported. Those detained included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for Game of Thrones. This marks the second maritime standoff in recent weeks. In May, the aid ship Al-Dameer was reportedly damaged by an Israeli drone while approaching Gaza.