&w=3840&q=100)
'A disgrace, outrageous': Macron hits out at Israel for Gaza blockade of aid
Macron has strongly criticised Israel's blockade of Gaza, calling it 'a disgrace' and 'outrageous', while urging an immediate ceasefire and the release of detained activists, including Greta Thunberg. read more
French President Emmanuel Macron called Israel's blockade of Gaza and its obstruction of humanitarian aid 'outrageous', renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all detainees, and the reopening of border crossings.
France was 'vigilant' and 'stands by all its nationals when they are in danger,' Macron said. The French government also asked Israel to ensure the activists' protection. He further described the humanitarian blockade of Gaza as 'a scandal' and 'a disgrace' .
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
His remarks followed the Israeli navy's interception of the aid ship Madelene from the Freedom Flotilla in international waters on Monday. The vessel, headed to Gaza, was carrying six French citizens among its activists. Macron said France is closely monitoring the situation, has taken steps to ensure its citizens' safety, and has urged Israel to secure their swift return.
Israel's foreign ministry earlier stated that 'all the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed', and said it expected the activists to return to their home countries soon.
Macron also urged Israel to promptly release all 12 activists on board, including Greta Thunberg – a move that triggered protests in several European cities.
The Madelene was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday while en route to Gaza. Tens of thousands joined demonstrations in reaction to the seizure.
In France, rallies were held in Paris and at least five other cities, organised by left-wing parties. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), called the action 'international piracy'.
In Switzerland, protesters blocked train stations in Geneva and Lausanne. Around 300 people waving Palestinian flags occupied platforms at Geneva's main station for about an hour, causing delays and cancellations. Police later dispersed a similar protest in Lausanne.
Macron's office confirmed he had demanded the immediate release of the six French nationals on board and their safe return to France.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Later on Monday, Israeli forces escorted the Madelene to Ashdod Port, several hours after it was intercepted. An AFP photographer confirmed the ship's arrival around 8:45 pm local time, accompanied by two Israeli navy vessels. The current status of the activists remains unclear.
With inputs from AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
20 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Seven dead as Colombia hit with wave of bombings and gun attacks
Colombia was rocked by a string of 24 coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least seven people across the country's southwest Tuesday (June 10, 2025), deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean nation. Attackers struck targets in Cali — the country's third-largest city — and several nearby towns, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilian targets. National Police chief Carlos Fernando Triana said assailants — suspected to be a local guerrilla group — had attacked using car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected drone. "There are two police officers dead, and a number of members of the public are also dead," he said. Police later put the toll at seven dead and 28 more injured. In Cali and the towns of Villa Rica, Guachinte and Corinto, AFP journalists witnessed the tangled wreckage of vehicle bombs surrounded by scorched debris and damaged buildings. The attacks came days after a brazen attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota that has put the country on edge. Many Colombians are now fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said the government had received unverified "proof" of possible guerrilla involvement in the attack on Senator Miguel Uribe. 'Well-coordinated offensive' In the town of Corinto, resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast gutted her bakery Tuesday (June 10, 2025). "We thought it was an earthquake," she told AFP. "My husband said 'no, they are shooting.'" Her phone began to ring off the hook and she went to check on her store. As she rounded the corner, the neighbours began to look in her direction. "Everything was levelled," she said. Police and experts blamed the attacks on a dissident faction of the once-powerful FARC guerrilla group. Security expert Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group said the attacks were likely the work of a group known as the Central General Staff (EMC). "This is a particularly well-coordinated offensive. It really demonstrates the capacity that the group has built" she told AFP. "And I think very alarmingly it demonstrates their ability to conduct operations in the metropolitan area of Cali." Efforts by President Gustavo Petro to reach a peace deal with the EMC and other armed groups have repeatedly failed. Ms Dickinson said the group may be trying to stop an ongoing military operation that is reported to have injured or killed the group's veteran leader, known as "Ivan Mordisco." "They are trying to raise the cost of that military initiative for the government," said Ms Dickinson. In a statement on Tuesday (June 10, 2025), the EMC warned the public to stay away from military and police installations, but stopped short of claiming responsibility. The attacks come three days after conservative Senator Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by an alleged hitman while campaigning in the capital. A 15-year-old suspect pleaded "not guilty" on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) to carrying out the attempted assassination. The government believes he was a hired gun. That attack has stunned Colombians, prompted speculation about who was responsible and raised questions about the president's response. Mr Petro has taken to social media to speculate that the hit was ordered by an international "mafia" and to claim that Mr Uribe's security detail was suspiciously reduced the day he was shot.
Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Week after UK deal, EU and India wrap up IPR, talks on carbon tax left
A week after India announced its trade deal with the UK amid tariff threats from US President Donald Trump, the European Union and India have made significant progress in their trade talks between May 12 and May 17, closing as many as five chapters including the challenging area of intellectual property rights (IPR), a status report released Tuesday by the EU said. The conclusion of the UK deal is an 'important factor' in Delhi's trade negotiations with Brussels, a government official told The Indian Express, since UK's exit from the EU single market in 2020 had given rise to tensions between London and Brussels over new checks, paperwork and delays that particularly affected goods trade between the two partners. India has given market access to a number of product categories where the EU and the UK are competitors, particularly spirits, medical equipment and cars. An early deal with India has already given the UK a first-mover advantage in the Indian market. Progress on goods trade The EU report on the 11th round of talks between the two sides said that 'good progress' was made in the trade in goods chapter and that the chapters on transparency, good regulatory practices, customs and trade facilitation, IPR, as well as mutual administrative assistance provisions, were closed. There are a total of 23 chapters being covered in the India-EU talks, out of which five have been wrapped up. While both sides made headway in tariff discussions on industrial products – with India and the EU 'signalling their positions for industrial products' – talks on the agri-food sector continued 'with the aim to enhance the level of clarity about both sides' positions,' the report said. Negotiations on goods assume significance as an EU official had said that the trade deal with India hinges on Delhi's commitment to lowering duties on cars, amid an ongoing crisis in the European automobile sector. Moreover, the EU is seeking better access to India's wine and spirits market, in line with the access already granted to the UK. CBAM negotiations remain However, the report on the 'Energy and Raw Materials' chapter said: 'It had been agreed ahead of the round that discussions would be put aside for the time being.' Negotiations on this chapter are significant as India's metal exports to the EU continue to face restrictions. Official data for April to June showed that the EU slashed India's quota for hot-rolled coil (HRC) by 23.7 per cent, sharply restricting access for a key export item. Data showed that steel and aluminium shipments to the EU dropped by 24.4 per cent – from $7.71 billion to $5.82 billion in FY25 compared to the previous financial year. 'If these issues are not squarely addressed in the FTA, Indian exporters will continue to face steep EU barriers, while EU goods could enjoy zero tariffs into India. India missed the opportunity to rectify this imbalance in the UK FTA; it cannot afford to make the same mistake with the EU. A fair FTA must remove discriminatory quotas, secure CBAM (carbon border adjustment mechanism) carve-outs or compensation, and preserve India's policy space to grow its industrial base,' said Ajay Srivastava, former trade official and founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). Srivastava said that unlike the US – its recent 50 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs are harsh but clearly defined – the EU's trade barriers are complex and opaque. Under the EU's safeguard measures, Indian steel faces a strict country-specific tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system – where volumes beyond a narrow quarterly quota attract a 25 per cent out-of-quota duty, he said. On services and investment, the report said that negotiators discussed and made 'substantial progress' in agreeing on the services text, as well as planning for an initial exchange of offers on services. Detailed text-based discussions were held on the liberalisation of investment in areas beyond services, the report said. Substantive progress on digital trade Negotiators also made substantive progress on digital trade, particularly on digital trade facilitation provisions such as e-invoicing, e-authentication, e-contracts, paperless trade, online consumer protection, spam, digital identities and open government data. The digital trade chapter in trade negotiations typically addresses rules and commitments related to online commerce and the cross-border flow of data and digital services. This part of the negotiations addresses 'cross-border data flows', where trade partners decide on commitments to allow the free flow of data across borders – crucial for e-commerce and global services. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Far-right Israeli ministers hit with sanctions by UK, Canada and western allies
The United Kingdom, Canada, and several of their Western allies have placed sanctions on two Israeli government ministers. The countries stated that the two men have repeatedly encouraged violence against sanctions targeted Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Both ministers are known for leading far-right political parties supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile governing to the UK government, the ministers will face a travel ban and a freeze on any assets in the sanctioning countries. "These two ministers have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," the governments said in a joint statement released by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. "Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous," the statement read."We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity."The joint action is a crackdown on Israel's traditional allies. These countries allege that the current Israeli leadership's support for settlers in the occupied West Bank and its handling of Gaza is making the conflict 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," the foreign ministers Gvir and Smotrich have previously said that many in the international community view as provocative and PUSHES BACK AGAINST SANCTIONSHowever, not all Western leaders agree with the move. In a strong response, US Secretary Marco Rubio criticised the sanctions and defended the two ministers."The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet," Rubio posted on social media platform X."These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war." Rubio added that the United States sees a clear distinction between Israel and Hamas, labelling the militant group as the real threat."We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organisation that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace," he remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is. The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel."SHIFT IN WESTERN POLICY?The move by the five countries comes amid a shift in their international policy. While Washington has continued to support for Israel, even vetoing in United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, other countries have started to draw clearer lines."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," the statement Watch
