Free The Madleen 12. Condemn The US-Israel's Weaponization Of Aid
10 June
Israel has mocked the voluntary international mission to bring much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, but its seizure of the Freedom Flotilla ship Madleen – while anticipated – demonstrates the grave extent of the Netanyahu regime's weaponization of food and aid to further the occupation and genocide in Gaza. Israel's interception of Madleen in international waters and the detention of its activist passengers are clear violations of international law, and additions to the long list of atrocities committed by the Zionist state.
The situation in Gaza is so harrowing that international volunteers were pushed to take on such a mission. Yet, Israel is hell-bent to starve the Palestinian people to death through the blockade and control of all aid – including Madleen's. Last month, Freedom Flotilla Coalition's first aid ship to Gaza was bombed by drones in the international waters off Malta.
The People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) expresses its utmost concern and condemnation of the capture of the Madleen vessel and its crew. We join the international community in calling for the safety of all detained activists and their immediate and unconditional release. We also demand for the safe, immediate, and impartial delivery of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
We urge governments to act on the situation and exert pressure on Israel and its imperialist enabler US to free the 12 passengers of Madleen and, most importantly, to stop their genocidal war against the Palestinian people, following the second US veto for an 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire' in the UN Security Council. We emphasize our call to fully hold Israel and its enabler imperialist US accountable for their war crimes. Their mass internal displacement strategy unveils the grotesque depths of their inhumanity as Israeli Occupation Forces massacre Gazans flocking to these US-backed aid sites.
Let us shake these war criminals with the rising tide of international solidarity for the Palestinian resistance in all its forms. Free the Madleen 12!
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Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Iran launches retaliatory missiles at Israel
Iran launched retaliatory airstrikes at Israel on Friday night, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the country's two biggest cities, following Israel's biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding enemy. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel as authorities urged the public to take shelter. Missiles were seen over Tel Aviv's skyline, with the military saying Iran had fired two salvos. The US military has helped shoot down Iranian missiles that were headed toward Israel, two US officials said on Friday. In the Tel Aviv area, Israel's ambulance service said five people were treated for shrapnel injuries. Live footage of Tel Aviv showed what appeared to be a missile hitting an urban area. A critically injured woman was admitted to Beilinson Hospital in nearby Petah Tikva, a hospital spokesperson said. The unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent Iranian retaliation raised concerns about a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel. Iran's state news agency IRNA said Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles and most were intercepted or fell short. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of having initiated a war. A senior Iranian official said nowhere in Israel would be safe and revenge would be painful. Israel's operation "will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a TV address. Netanyahu, who for decades has raised the alarm about Iran's nuclear programme, said he authorised the air assault in an effort to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons. Israel and its Western allies have said this is Tehran's objective but Iran has denied it. In a video issued by his office, Netanyahu appealed to the Iranian people to stand up against their leaders. "I am with you, the Israeli people are with you," he said. "Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time and secured our common future." Iran has long insisted its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. The U.N. nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. US President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear programme. Tehran had been engaged in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear programme to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran had rejected the last US offer. ATTACKS ON IRAN Iranian media showed images of destroyed apartment blocks in Iran, and said nearly 80 civilians were killed in attacks that targeted nuclear scientists in their beds and wounded more than 300 people. Israel's military said it was striking Iranian missile and drone launching sites, and had struck another nuclear site in Isfahan. An Israeli military spokesperson denied Iranian media reports that an Israeli fighter jet was downed with a pilot detained. In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump said nuclear talks between Tehran and the United States, scheduled for Sunday, were still on the agenda though he was not sure if they would take place. "We knew everything," Trump said of the Israeli attack plans. "I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out," Trump said. "They can still work out a deal, however, it's not too late." Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said military action by itself would not destroy Iran's nuclear programme, but could "create the conditions for a long-term deal, led by the United States" to get rid of it. DECAPITATION Two regional sources said at least 20 Iranian military commanders were killed, a stunning decapitation reminiscent of Israeli attacks that swiftly wiped out the leadership of Lebanon's once-feared Hezbollah militia last year. Iran also said six of its top nuclear scientists had been killed. Among the generals killed on Friday were the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Revolutionary Guards chief, Hossein Salami. Major General Mohammad Pakpour, swiftly promoted to replace Salami as Guards commander, vowed retaliation in a letter to the Supreme Leader read on state television: "The gates of hell will open to the child-killing regime." Iranians described an atmosphere of fear and anger, with some people rushing to change money and others seeking a way out of the country to safety. "People on my street rushed out of their homes in panic. We were all terrified," said Marziyeh, 39, who was awakened by a blast in Natanz. While some Iranians quietly hoped the attack would lead to changes in Iran's hardline clerical leadership, others vowed to rally behind the authorities. "I will fight and die for our right to a nuclear programme. Israel and its ally America cannot take it away from us with these attacks," said Ali, a member of the pro-government Basij militia in Qom. Iran's ability to retaliate with weapons fired by its regional proxies has been sharply degraded over the past year, with the downfall of its ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the decimation of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Israel said a missile fired from Yemen - whose Houthi militia are Iran-aligned - had landed in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent said three Palestinian children were wounded by shrapnel there. 'COWARDLY' Israel said that Iran launched around 100 drones towards Israeli territory earlier on Friday, but Iran denied this and there were no reports of drones reaching Israeli targets. The United Nations Security Council was due to meet on Friday at Tehran's request. Iran said in a letter to the council that it would respond decisively and proportionally to Israel's "unlawful" and "cowardly" acts. The price of crude LCOc1 leaped on fears of wider retaliatory attacks across a major oil-producing region, although there were no reports that oil production or storage was damaged. OPEC said the escalation did not justify any immediate changes to oil supply. An Israeli security source said Mossad commandos had been operating deep inside the Islamic Republic before the attack, and the Israeli spy agency and military had mounted a series of covert operations against Iran's strategic missile array. Israel also established an attack-drone base near Tehran, the source added. The military said it had bombarded Iran's air defences, destroying "dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers". Israeli officials said it may be some time before the extent of damage to the underground nuclear site at Natanz is clear. Western countries have long said Iran refined uranium there to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use. Later on Friday, Iranian media reported explosions on the northern and southern outskirts of Tehran and at Fordow, near the holy city of Qom, a second nuclear site that was spared in the first wave of attacks.
1News
7 hours ago
- 1News
Israel hit by missiles as Iran retaliates for strikes on nuclear sites
Air raid sirens have sounded across Israel as Iranian missiles struck the country in retaliation for deadly Israeli attacks on nuclear sites and military leaders. The rumble of explosions could be heard throughout Jerusalem on Friday, and Israeli TV stations showed plumes of smoke rising in Tel Aviv after an apparent missile strike. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The army said dozens of missiles were launched, and the army has ordered residents across the country to move into bomb shelters. Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran that targeted its nuclear program and military sites, killing at least three top military officers and raising the prospect of an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq. The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. For years, Israel had threatened such a strike and successive American administrations had sought to prevent it, fearing it would ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East and possibly be ineffective at destroying Iran's dispersed and hardened nuclear program. Iran's supreme leader vows revenge for Israeli attacks ADVERTISEMENT In a recorded message to the nation broadcast as Iranian missiles flew toward Israel, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the military was prepared to counterattack. 'Don't think that they (Israel) hit and it's over. No. They started the work and started the war. We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed,' he said. Israel says Iran has launched missiles An explosion is seen during a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Source: Associated Press) The Israeli military's Home Front Command has instructed people to move into shelters ahead of an expected Iranian missile attack. The army says Iran has launched missiles, and the safety order applies to the entire country. Israel's Channel 13 TV says the missiles are expected to take about 10 minutes to arrive. ADVERTISEMENT Israeli military briefing cut short by possible incoming Iranian attack, official says Israel's military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said that despite Israel's attack, 'Iran has capability to hurt Israel's civilian front in a meaningful way'. Defrin's briefing was cut short. An Israeli military official says this was due to an incoming Iranian attack on central Israel. The official spoke on condition pending a formal announcement. Israel claims striking an Iranian nuclear site in Isfahan; Iran does not immediately acknowledge The facility in Isfahan, some 350 kilometres southeast of Tehran, employs thousands of nuclear scientists. It also is home to three Chinese research reactors and laboratories associated with the country's atomic program. France says conference on two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is postponed French President Emmanuel Macron says a top-level UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians has been postponed because of renewed tensions in the Mideast. ADVERTISEMENT France and Saudi Arabia were due to co-host the conference in New York next week, and Macron had been scheduled to attend. Macron said Friday it was postponed for logistical and security reasons and because some Palestinian representatives couldn't come to the event. US fighter jets take flight to protect personnel and installations in Middle East American fighter jets are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, according to a US official. The official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations. It comes at the same time as the Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean. A second destroyer also has begun moving forward so it can be available if requested by the White House.
NZ Herald
7 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Air raid sirens sound as Iran launches missiles at Israel
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say they have launched an attack on dozens of targets in Israel after its large-scale attack on the Islamic republic. 'The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps... has executed its decisive and precise response against tens of targets, military centres and airbases of the usurping Zionist regime in the occupied territories,' the Guards said in a statement carried by state media. Meanwhile, Israel has vowed to press on with 'full force' after its unprecedented onslaught on Iran that killed several of the country's top military brass, with media in the Islamic republic reporting strikes and projectiles well into the evening (local time). Amid the shocking scale of the Israeli operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the airways to issue a word of caution, saying he expected 'several waves of Iranian attacks' in response. Earlier in the day, Israel said its airstrikes had killed several top Iranian generals, including most of the senior leadership of the Revolutionary Guards' air force, while hitting about 100 targets including nuclear facilities. 'We are continuing with full force, at a high pace, in order to meet the goals we have set for ourselves,' Israeli Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel it faced a 'bitter and painful' fate over the attacks. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as a 'declaration of war' and President Masoud Pezeshkian said 'Iran will make the enemy regret its foolish act'. The Israeli military said Iran launched around 100 drones in response, with air defences intercepting them outside Israeli territory, while neighbouring Jordan said it targeted drones and missiles that violated its airspace. After the attack, Trump urged Iran to 'make a deal', warning of 'even more brutal' attacks to come. The United States underlined that it was not involved in the Israeli action and warned Iran not to attack its personnel or interests, but Tehran said Washington would be 'responsible for consequences'. Netanyahu said Israel struck at the 'heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme', taking aim at nuclear scientists and the main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz. The strikes would 'continue as many days as it takes', the Israeli premier said, while the military said intelligence showed Iran was approaching the 'point of no return' on its nuclear programme. The strikes killed Iran's highest-ranking military officer, armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, Iranian media reported. 'Clear message' Khamenei swiftly appointed new commanders to replace those killed, while state media said a senior adviser to the supreme leader had himself been wounded. 'The senior chain of command of the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had assembled in an underground command centre to prepare for an attack on the State of Israel,' the Israeli military said, adding that its attacks had killed most of them. Iran confirmed the Guards aerospace commander had been killed, along with 'a group of brave and dedicated fighters'. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the 'precise targeting of senior commanders... sends a strong and clear message: those who work toward Israel's destruction will be eliminated'. AFP images showed a gaping hole in the side of a Tehran residential building that appeared to have sustained a targeted strike. State media reported continued attacks and interceptions well into the evening on Friday, including on the northwest where it said 18 people were killed. Tasnim news agency said six nuclear scientists were among the dead. Later on Friday, the UN Security Council said it would hold an emergency meeting at 3pm (1900 GMT). The meeting was requested by Iran, and supported by Russia and China, a diplomatic source told AFP. 'Scathing response' Tehran's streets were deserted except for queues at petrol stations, a familiar sight in times of crisis. 'How much longer are we going to live in fear?' asked Ahmad Moadi, a 62-year-old retiree. 'As an Iranian, I believe there must be an overwhelming response, a scathing response.' Air traffic was halted at Tehran's main gateway, Imam Khomeini International Airport, while Iraq, Jordan and Syria closed their airspace. Israel declared a state of emergency as anxieties grew amid a wave of uncertainty gripping the region. 'I'm worried for my children, and also about my livelihood, because this affects the market. You can't work, you can't do anything,' Tel Aviv resident Vered Saar told AFP. Israel's military also began deploying reservists 'to all combat arenas throughout the country' to prepare for 'defence and offence'. Advertise with NZME. Oil prices surged while stocks sank on the Israeli strikes, which came after Trump's warning of a 'massive conflict' in the region. Trump had also said the United States was drawing down staff in the Middle East, after Iran had threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict broke out. Before the strikes, Trump said he believed a deal on Iran's nuclear programme was 'fairly close', cautioning however that an Israeli attack on its arch foe could wreck the chances of an agreement. 'Within reach' With the violence raising questions on whether a sixth round of talks planned between the US and Iran would go ahead on Sunday in Oman, Trump said Washington was 'hoping to get back to the negotiating table'. Confirming Natanz had been among Israel's targets, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said radiation levels outside the site 'remained unchanged'. 'Most of the damage is on the surface level,' said the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi. Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said: 'I think Israel has declared all-out war against Iran.' The United States and other Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an ambition it has consistently denied. Israel again called for global action after the IAEA accused Iran on Thursday of non-compliance with its obligations. The agency later said it would hold an extraordinary meeting of its board of governors in the coming days. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60%, far above the 3.67% limit set by a largely moribund 2015 agreement with major powers, but still short of the 90% threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.
