Latest news with #Ashdod
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Israel says it will screen 7 October attacks to Greta Thunberg and other activists after Gaza-bound aid boat 'diverted'
The Israeli military will show Greta Thunberg and other activists footage of the 7 October attacks after a Gaza-bound aid boat was diverted to Israel, the country's defence minister has said. Early on Monday, the Israeli foreign ministry said that the British-flagged yacht Madleen - operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) - "is safely making its way to the shores of Israel". All passengers were safe and unharmed, the ministry added, sharing footage of the activists being handed sandwiches and water. In a statement via his spokesperson, defence minister Israel Katz said that he has instructed the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to screen footage of the 7 October attacks for those aboard when they arrive at Ashdod Port. "Antisemitic Greta and her Hamas -supporting friends should see exactly what the Hamas terrorist organisation - which they came to support and act on behalf of - truly is," he said. "They should see the atrocities committed against women, the elderly, and children, and understand whom Israel is fighting to defend itself." He commended the IDF for its "swift and safe takeover" of the vessel, and said the Israeli military "will continue its just and moral fight against the Hamas murderers until their defeat, the release of all hostages, and the full restoration of Israel's security". Israel's foreign ministry said earlier that those aboard the Madleen "are expected to return to their home countries" and that the humanitarian aid aboard the ship would be transferred to Gaza through established channels. Ms Thunberg was "safe and in good spirits" while en route to Israel, it added, calling the vessel "the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities'". The FFC claimed the passengers on the yacht had been "kidnapped by Israeli forces" and released pre-recorded messages from them after previously saying that the "Israeli army had boarded" the vessel. Climate campaigner Ms Thunberg, 22, was one of a dozen activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on 1 June on a mission aiming to break Israel's sea blockade. In a statement later on Monday, Hamas condemned the detention of the Madleen crew, calling it a "flagrant violation of international law". The group also said: "We salute the free solidarity activists of various nationalities who steadfastly confronted the threats and affirmed that Gaza is not alone." "The detention of Madeleine (sic) will not silence the voices of the free," it added, "nor will it halt the growing tide of global solidarity with Gaza". Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, who is of Palestinian descent, was also on the boat. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israel's policies towards Palestinians. Ms Hassan wrote on X as the FFC's yacht was allegedly surrounded by other vessels: "The crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2am." The diversion of the Madleen came after Mr Katz said that he had instructed the IDF to prevent the vessel from reaching the shore and to "take whatever measures necessary". Addressing Ms Thunberg and the other activists on Sunday, he said: "You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza." Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month after a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas and preventing the group from importing arms. But humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless there is an end to the blockade and the 20-month war, which began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, that killed more than 1,200 people. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters. 2:38 An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Francesca Albanese, United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, also urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade. She said on social media: "Madleen's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Who be di activists onboard di boat wey Israel detain on dia way wit aid to Gaza
Israeli authorities board and seize one boat wey bin dey try to bring humanitarian aid to di Gaza Strip and detain di activists wey involve. The Madleen yacht - get climate activist Greta Thunberg inside - and e now dey on im way to Ashdod, wey be port city around 27km (16.7 miles) north of Gaza, according to Israeli media. Dem bin dey try to bring small quantity of humanitarian aid to di Gaza Strip against one Israeli naval blockade. Earlier, Israel foreign ministry bin say di yacht dey "safely make im way to di shores of Israel" and im passengers dey "expected to return to dia home countries". Di Palestinian foreign ministry don call for protection of di activists safety. Dem share photos of soldiers as dem dey give sandwich and water bottles to di activists. "Connection don dey lost" on di Madleen, di Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) campaign group tok for di Telegram app. Dem post one photo wey show pipo wey wear life jackets sitting with dia hands up. Israel say im blockade on Gaza dey necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas militants for Gaza. After reporting say di yacht don dey boarded, FFC post short, pre-recorded videos of some of di activists, including Thunberg. For di footage, activists say "if you see dis video di Israeli military or forces wey dey support dem don don stop and kidnap us". Di FFC argue say di sea blockade dey illegal, dem call Katz statement as an example of Israel threatening di unlawful use of force against civilians and "attempting to justify di violence". "We no go dey intimidated. Di world dey watch," FFC press officer Hay Sha Wiya tok. "Di Madleen na civilian vessel, unarmed and sailing for international waters, carrying humanitarian aid and human rights defenders from across di globe... Israel no get right to stop our effort to reach Gaza." Di Madleen dey carry ogbonge quantity of aid, including rice and baby formula, di group tok. Citizens of Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Turkey dey onboard. Who dey on board di Madleen boat? The Madleen begin dey sail on 6 June from Sicily wit di goal of reaching Gaza. Di ship get a crew of 12 pipo, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Rima Hassan, one French member of di European Parliament, and Omar Faiad, wey be French journalist with Al Jazeera. Di remaining members na: Yasemin Acar, Baptiste Andre, Thiago Avila, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi, Suayb Ordu, Sergio Toribio, Mark van Rennes and Reva Viard. Who be Greta Thunberg? Greta Thunberg, 22, na one of di world best-known climate change campaigners, wey dey credited with raising public awareness - especially among young pipo - about di issue. For 2018, den at di age of 15, di Swedish national hold di first "School Strike for Climate" outside di parliament for Stockholm. Di protest dey widely covered, and hundreds of thousands of young pipo across di world later join her Fridays For Future strikes. Ms Thunberg since den do dey arrested several times for her participation for environmental protests around di world, and don also dey fined by di Swedish courts. More on di seizing of di boat 2010, Israeli commandos kill 10 pipo wen dem board Turkish ship Mavi Marmara wey bin dey lead one aid flotilla to Gaza. Israel recently begin dey allow limited aid to enta Gaza after one three-month land blockade, dem dey prioritise distribution through di Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, wey dey backed by Israel and US but wey dey widely condemned by humanitarian groups. UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, tok last week say Palestinians dey face terrible choices: die from starvation or risk death while dem dey try to access di small food wey dem dey make available". But for one post on X early on Monday, Israeli foreign ministry say: "While Greta and odas try to stage one media provocation wey di sole purpose na to gain publicity - and wey include less dan a single truckload of aid - more dan 1,200 aid trucks don enta Gaza from Israel within di past two weeks, and in addition, di Gaza Humanitarian Foundation don distribute close to 11 million meals directly to civilians for Gaza. "Ways dey to deliver aid to di Gaza Strip - dem no involve Instagram selfies." Na almost 20 months since wen Israel launch one military campaign for Gaza in response to di Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, wia about 1,200 pipo dey killed and dem take 251 odas hostage. At least 54,880 pipo don dey killed for Gaza since, according to di territory Hamas-run health ministry.
News24
7 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
Israel makes Greta Thunberg and activists watch Hamas massacre videos
Israeli forces intercepted an aid boat headed for Gaza. Activists aboard the boat were detained. They were made to watch videos of the Hamas atrocities on 7 October 2023. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz congratulated the country's military for intercepting the flotilla which was set to deliver aid to Gaza. 'I congratulate the IDF for the swift and safe takeover of the Madeleine (sic) flotilla in order to prevent them from breaking through the blockade and reaching the shores of Gaza,' Katz wrote in Hebrew on X. AFP reported that activists, including Greta Thunberg, departed Italy aboard the Madleen on 1 June to bring awareness to food shortages in Gaza, which the UN has referred to as the 'hungriest place on Earth', with the entire population at risk of famine. The Israeli government had directed its forces to stop the 'celebrities yacht' from reaching Gaza. Katz said the activists were forced to watch a video of the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 before they would be deported. 'I instructed the IDF to show the passengers of the flotilla a video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre when they arrive at the Port of Ashdod. The antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters should see exactly who the Hamas terror organisation they came to support and for which they are working and what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend it.' READ | Israel blocks 'selfie yacht' with Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza with aid In a statement, the coalition said the Israeli military intercepted the Madleen at around 03:02 CET (01:02 GMT) just off the coast of Gaza. Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, after a more than two-month total blockade led to widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. אני מברך את צה"ל על ההשתלטות המהירה והבטוחה על משט "מדלן" כדי למנוע מהם לפרוץ את הסגר ולהגיע לחופי עזה. הנחיתי את צה"ל להקרין בפני נוסעי המשט את סרטון הזוועות של טבח ה-7 באוקטובר כאשר יגיעו לנמל אשדוד. ראוי שגרטה האנטישמית וחבריה תומכי החמאס יראו בדיוק מיהו ארגון הטרור חמאס… — ישראל כ'ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 9, 2025 Dozens of people have been killed near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (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 spokesperson Mahmud Bassal and witnesses said the civilians had been heading to a site west of Rafah in southern Gaza, run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. 'The IDF will continue its war against the murderers of Hamas with all its moral righteousness until it surrenders, releases all the abductees, and ensures the security of the State of Israel,' said Katz. Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023 resulting the in the deaths of 1 218 people, mostly civilians, and the Israeli offensive in retaliation has killed at least 53 977 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Israel to screen October 7 footage to Greta Thunberg and Gaza flotilla activists after aid boat seized
The Israeli military will show footage of the 7 October attacks to Greta Thunberg and other activists onboard the Madleen aid flotilla, Israel's defence minister has said. The British-flagged boat was diverted to Israel early on Monday morning after being intercepted by Israeli forces, the country's foreign ministry said, adding that all passengers onboard were safe and unharmed. Operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a pro-Palestinian group, the group was carrying aid to Gaza after setting sail from Sicily on 1 June. The vessel "is safely making its way to the shores of Israel", the Israeli foreign ministry said as it shared footage of the activists being given sandwiches and water. Defence minister Israel Katz said he has instructed the military to show the group of activists footage of Hamas' 7 October attacks after their arrival in the port of Ashdod. "Antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends should see exactly what the Hamas terrorist organisation - which they came to support and act on behalf of - truly is," he said in a statement. "They should see the atrocities committed against women, the elderly, and children, and understand whom Israel is fighting to defend itself." Ms Thunberg accused Israel of 'kidnapping' her and appealed for urgent international support, saying: 'I urge all my friends, family, and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible'. Dozens of screenings of the 7 October attacks have been held by the Israeli military, including to groups of international journalists in the months following the attack and as Israel's colossal military campaign in Gaza was well under way. More than 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas militants in the attacks, while more than 250 were taken hostage into the Gaza strip. The attacks sparked an Israeli military campaign in Gaza which has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and seen a humanitarian catastrophe unfold in the strip. Mr Katz commended the Israeli military for its 'swift and safe takeover' of the flotilla, adding that it would 'continue its just and moral fight against the Hamas murderers until their defeat, the release of all hostages, and the full restoration of Israel's security". Francesca Albanese, United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, also urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Greta Thunberg and her 'freedom flotilla' crew 'are forced to watch video of Hamas October 7 atrocities after Gaza-bound aid boat was boarded by IDF - as Israel condemns 'selfie yacht' stunt
The crew of activists sailing to Gaza will be forced to watch a video of Hamas ' October 7 atrocities after being intercepted by the IDF, Israel 's defence minister said. Israel Katz congratulated the military on its 'quick and safe takeover' of the Madleen after Israeli commandos seized the vessel in international waters overnight. The group of 12, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, faced a terrifying night on the Mediterranean, shadowed by speedboats and drones, before being stopped. Israel, which had said last week it would prevent the group from reaching Gaza with a symbolic gesture of aid, said the crew would be taken to the Israeli Port of Ashdod. Katz said the crew would there be shown 'the video of the horrors' of the Hamas-led attack on Israel. He said it was 'appropriate' the crew see 'what atrocities [Hamas] committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself'. The video reportedly contains 43 minutes of 'uncensored' footage of 'people being massacred and bodies mutilated during the onslaught', per the Times of Israel. After diverting the boat, Israel's foreign ministry posted a picture of the activists all in orange life jackets being offered water and sandwiches. The foreign ministry derided what it called the 'selfie yacht' carrying 'celebrity' activists, saying the aid onboard would be transferred to Gaza through what it called 'real humanitarian channels'. On Sunday, Katz said the blockade, in place since years before the Israel-Hamas war, was needed to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons. The Madleen departed from Italy on June 1 aiming to bring awareness to food shortages in Gaza, which the UN has called the 'hungriest place on Earth'. After 21 months of war, the UN has warned the territory's entire population is at risk of famine. At around 3:02 am CET (0102 GMT) on Sunday, Israel 'forcibly intercepted' the vessel as it was approaching Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said in a statement. '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. The Israeli government had vowed to prevent the 'unauthorised' ship from breaching the naval blockade of Gaza, urging it to turn back. The FFC had said earlier that the ship had come 'under assault in international waters'. 'Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white paint-like substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio,' the coalition wrote on Telegram. Activist Yasmin Acar shared video from the vessel showing a white substance on the deck. She said it had been dropped on the Madleen. Acar was later heard saying it was affecting her eyes. It was unclear what the substance was. Israel has come under criticism for apprehending the group of activists in international waters. Francesca Albanese, the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said the British government must 'urgently seek full clarification' of the ship's status and work to 'secure the immediate release' of the vessel and crew. 'The Madleen must be allowed to continue its lawful humanitarian mission to Gaza,' she said. MailOnline approached the Foreign Office for comment. Critics have branded the interception 'state piracy' and condemned the lack of action from the crew members' respective governments. Mouin Rabbani, a non-resident fellow at the Qatar-based Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, told Al Jazeera: 'This is not only an act of state piracy. It's in direct violation of the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).' Israel's foreign ministry stressed in a statement today that all crew members were 'safe and unharmed'. It said that it expected the activists to return to their home countries. 'The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,' it added. 'While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. 'There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies. Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. It recently allowed humanitarian deliveries to resume after barring them for more than two months and began working with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). 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.
