Latest news with #Ben-GurionAirport
LeMonde
15 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Boat for Gaza: La France Insoumise rallies support for Rima Hassan
Breaking the Israeli blockade was the goal of the MADLEEN sailboat crew, whose journey was cut short off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The 12 pro-Palestinian activists on board, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and MEP Rima Hassan of the left-wing France Insoumise party, were delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. During the night of June 8 to 9, Israeli naval commandos intercepted the vessel about 31 nautical miles from the Palestinian enclave, redirecting it to the port of Ashdod in southern Israel. During the day, while the 12 activists – six of whom are French – were handed over to Israeli police, the French embassy requested consular access to visit them to ensure their well-being and prepare for their prompt return to France. This marked the second time Hassan had been expelled from Israel: On February 25, she was denied entry upon arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport. While the humanitarian mission failed, the activists' communications campaign proved successful. This was especially true for Hassan, who had been at the forefront of the media battle since the boat departed Italy eight days earlier. At regular intervals, she provided updates on the expedition's progress while warning of alleged threats facing the vessel and its crew. This dramatic narrative received wide attention on social media and was supported by the entire La France Insoumise movement from the first days of the MADLEEN's journey toward Gaza.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Irish pro-Palestinian activist arrested in West Bank, fights deportation order
The 70-year-old pro-Palestinian activist was allegedly arrested alongside 48-year-old Swedish activist Susanne Björk. Elderly Irish woman Máire ní Mhurchú, who is known as D Murphy, was reportedly arrested by the IDF in theWest Bank Palestinian village of Khalet al-Daba'a on Sunday night, Irish media reported on Monday. The 70-year-oldpro-Palestinian activist was allegedly arrested alongside 48-year-old Swedish activist Susanne Björk. The pair had been volunteering for the International Solidarity Movement when they refused IDF orders to leave the area. Irish media claimed they had initially been stopped by the Israeli military. Israel Police reportedly detained both women for being in a closed military zone. While Björk is set to return to Sweden, Irish media reported D Murphy is fighting against the deportation order and remains in detention at Ben-Gurion Airport. D Murphy was also reportedly detained in 2011 by Israeli authorities. Murphy's son, Dale Ryan, told the Irish Times: 'As far as I can see, her only crime was observing crimes against Palestinian people. D has always had a strong sense of justice, and I know she could not sit at home while she knew her friends in Masafer Yatta and all of Palestine were suffering unnecessarily. 'I am very proud of my mother for sticking up for the basic human rights of her friends and trying to raise awareness of the injustices the Palestinian people are experiencing.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Houthis boast of 'hypersonic' capabilities amid ballistic missiles barrage on Israel
The fact that they have been able to maintain a daily attack on Israel using ballistic missiles for a year showcases their dangerous capabilities and threat to the region. The Iran-backedHouthis in Yemen have continued their ballistic missile attacks on Israel. The group is attempting to keep up an almost-daily level of rocket fire at Israel. On May 4, a Houthi missile fell near Ben-Gurion International Airport. The group has not been able to penetrate Israel's air defenses since the May 4 incident. Nevertheless, the Houthis continue to boast of new accomplishments. The Houthis launched missiles at Israel on May 27, setting off alarms near the Dead Sea. On May 25, alarms sounded in Jerusalem and other areas of the West Bank. Two days earlier, sirens sounded across Tel Aviv. On May 22, a missile threatened central Israel and Jerusalem. There were also attacks on May 22, 18, 15, 14, 13, 9, and the attack on the 4th. Israel's early warning system has been improved, giving people more time to seek shelter by telling them roughly what region is affected, prior to the alarms sounding. Nevertheless, millions of Israelis continue to be sent to shelters almost every day. The Houthis said that they launched two missiles targeting Ben-Gurion Airport and 'another vital target in Tel Aviv,' according to the Houthi high command on May 27. 'The Yemeni Armed Forces have carried out two missile attacks on Ben Gurion Airport and another vital target in Tel Aviv, spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said,' according to Iran's state IRNA media. The Houthis claimed they were retaliating for the 'genocide in Gaza' as well as the 'storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday.' This was a reference to events surroundingJerusalem Day. 'The genocide against our brothers in the Gaza Strip, along with the siege and starvation, is a crime unprecedented in human history. This necessitates that all free people from our nation and the world take action to uphold justice, defend humanity, and fulfill their duty towards the oppressed Palestinian people,' the Houthi statement claimed. The group also claimed to have used a missile it dubs the Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile. There is no evidence that the missile is hypersonic. The group then said that the 'second operation used a Zulfiqar ballistic missile, striking a key target in the eastern occupied territories.' Houthi missiles are modelled on Iranian ballistic missiles. The Houthis claim their operations are 'successful' because they claim that 'millions of Israeli settlers rush to shelters.' They also claimed to have halted air traffic temporarily at the airport. The Houthis appear to be hinting that they know their attacks have diminishing returns. Israel is used to the daily attacks. Israel is also not retaliating very often for the attacks. The US attempted to bomb the Houthis into submission between March 15 and early May. US President Donald Trump, realizing this was a bombing campaign conflict that was likely going nowhere, called off the strikes and made a deal with the Houthis that was brokered by Oman. The Houthi claims of hypersonic missiles come after Iran also claimed to have rolled out a 'hypersonic' missile in 2023. The Fattah missile was designed to be launched such that it is a multi-stage missile with a re-entry portion that is on top of a medium-range ballistic missile. What this means is that it can exit the atmosphere and return. It is not clear if the second stage re-entry vehicle part of the missile, which contains the warhead, can maneuver. Maneuverability is what makes hypersonic missiles dangerous. Any missile can be hypersonic by reaching speeds over Mach 5. However, speed alone is not what makes hypersonic missiles an emerging threat. It is likely that the Houthis' claim of 'hypersonic' achievements is based only on speed, not because their missiles can maneuver or achieve other threat vectors that would pose a challenge to air defenses. This is an example ofHouthi exaggeration. Nevertheless, the fact that they have been able to maintain a daily attack on Israel using ballistic missiles for a year showcases their dangerous capabilities and threat to the region. The Houthis don't appear like they will back down. They have suffered some airstrikes, but they are rebuilding their airports and ports that have been targeted. It doesn't appear that the missiles themselves, apparently hidden in mountains with launch vehicles that can be easily rolled out or disguised, have been targeted or neutralized. It is hard to find ballistic missiles. The so-called 'Great Scud Hunt' of the 1991 Gulf War revealed how complex an operation it is to track down mobile missile launchers. These days missiles can be hidden in things that resemble sea containers, and placed on the back of a truck. The Houthis have both solid and liquid-fueled missiles. Solid-fueled missiles can be launched faster than liquid-fueled missiles.
Roya News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
'Whoever harms us ,we will strike back sevenfold,' Katz says after Yemen strikes
'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement on Tuesday following a series of 'Israeli' airstrikes targeting Houthi infrastructure in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The strikes came in response to a recent Houthi ballistic missile attack on Ben-Gurion Airport, which 'Israeli' officials say was launched from Yemeni territory. "The Houthi terrorist organization attempted to strike Ben-Gurion Airport, and in response, we destroyed the Sanaa airport today," Katz said. 'Anyone who harms us – we will strike back sevenfold.' Netanyahu echoed the message, emphasizing that 'anyone who attacks the State of Israel will pay the price.' He described Monday's strikes on the port of Hodeidah and Tuesday's attacks on Sanaa airport as direct responses to the Houthis' actions. 'The airport in Sanaa supports the terrorist army and facilitates the air entry into the terrorist state, allowing the launch of missiles against us,' Netanyahu said, adding that additional strategic targets were also hit. Both Netanyahu and Katz blamed Iran for enabling the Houthis' attacks. 'This is also a warning message to the head of the Iranian octopus,' Katz said, referring to Iran's role in backing regional militias. 'You are directly responsible for any attack by the Houthi octopus arm against the State of Israel – and you will bear the full consequences.' Netanyahu reiterated a statement previously made by former US President Donald Trump: 'We will settle accounts with anyone who attacks the State of Israel.'
Epoch Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
IDF Calls up Tens of Thousands of Reservists to Expand Gaza Offensive
Israel has begun calling up reservists as it moves to 'intensify and expand' its campaign in Gaza. The IDF's chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said on Sunday that the military has already begun issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders for its reserve forces, looking to grow the campaign. 'We are increasing the pressure with the aim of bringing our people home and defeating Hamas. We will operate in additional areas and destroy all terrorist infrastructure—above and below ground,' he said The announcement of the call-up comes after a missile fired by Houthi terrorists in Yemen toward Israel on Sunday landed near the country's main international airport, causing panic among passengers and drawing threats of retaliation against the group and its backers in Iran. The Iran-aligned group claimed responsibility for the strike that hit near Ben-Gurion Airport, in the latest in a string of attacks, saying they are fighting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate in a Related Stories 5/3/2025 5/4/2025 'President Trump is absolutely right! Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,' he wrote. In the post, Netanyahu included a screenshot of a Truth Social post from U.S. President Donald Trump made on March 17 that said, 'Every shot fired by the Houthis would be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!' In a separate video issued by his office, Netanyahu said, 'We will do what we need to do to take care of our security, to respond effectively, and to give Iran due warning that this cannot continue.' Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel's missile defense systems, though a drone strike did hit Tel Aviv last year. Sunday's projectile was the only one of a series of volleys launched since March that was not intercepted. Later on Sunday, the Israeli military concluded an assessment and said that there had been a technical issue with the interceptor launched toward the missile. 'Initial findings reveal no malfunction in the detection procedure, interception systems, or Homefront Command alert mechanisms,' the army said in a statement. The Israel i ambulance service said eight people were taken to the hospital for mild to moderate injuries resulting from the strike. Claiming responsibility, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said Israel's main airport was 'no longer safe for air travel.' He also said the terrorist group would be working to The Israel Airports Authority said normal operations had resumed; however, a string of airlines, including Lufthansa, Delta, ITA Airways, and Air France, said they had cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, some of which had been scheduled for Monday or Tuesday. The war was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct.7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken as hostages into the Gaza Strip in the deadliest day for Israel in its history. Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to local Hamas-run health authorities. Up to 24 of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be alive. Hamas says it will release hostages only as part of a deal that will end the war and see Israeli forces withdraw from all of Gaza.
