Latest news with #GabrielleCathala


Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
New Gaza-bound aid boat leaves Italy
A Gaza-bound boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid left Sicily on Sunday, over a month after Israel detained and deported people aboard a previous vessel. The Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left the port of Syracuse shortly after 12:00 pm (1000 GMT), an AFP journalist saw, carrying about fifteen activists. Several dozen people, some holding Palestinian flags and others wearing keffiyeh scarves, gathered at the port to cheer the boat's departure with cries of 'Free Palestine'. The former Norwegian trawler -- loaded with medical supplies, food, children's equipment and medicine -- will sail for about a week in the Mediterranean, covering roughly 1,800 kilometres (1,120 miles), in the hope of reaching Gaza's coast. In early March, Israel imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza amid an impasse in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May. The boat will make a stop at Gallipoli, in southeastern Italy, where two members of the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) are expected to join. The initiative comes six weeks after the departure of the Madleen, another ship that left Italy for Gaza transporting aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg. Israel authorities intercepted the Madleen about 185 kilometres west of Gaza's coast. 'This is a mission for the children in Gaza, to break the humanitarian blockade and to break the summer silence on the genocide,' said Gabrielle Cathala, one of the two France Unbowed party members set to board the boat on July 18. 'I hope we will reach Gaza but if not, it will be yet another violation of international law' by Israel, she added. The war was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that led to 1,219 deaths, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Out of 251 people taken hostage that day, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 that the Israeli military says are dead. Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry says that at least 58,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Israel's military reprisals. The UN considers the figures reliable. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians including four children in the Gaza Strip, while 24 others were fatally shot on their way to an aid distribution site, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said Saturday. Agence France-Presse

Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
New Gaza-bound aid boat leaves Italy
New Gaza-bound aid boat leaves Italy A mission for Gaza's children and to break the summer silence on the genocide SYRACUSE, Italy: A Gaza-bound boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid left Sicily on Sunday over a month after Zionist entity detained and deported people aboard a previous vessel. The Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left the port of Syracuse shortly after 12pm (1000 GMT), an AFP journalist saw, carrying about fifteen activists. Several dozen people, some holding Palestinian flags and others wearing keffiyeh scarves, gathered at the port to cheer the boat's departure with cries of 'Free Palestine'. The former Norwegian trawler—loaded with medical supplies, food, children's equipment and medicine—will sail for about a week in the Mediterranean, covering roughly 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles), in the hope of reaching Gaza's coast. In early March, Zionist entity imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza amid an impasse in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May. The boat will make a stop at Gallipoli, in southeastern Italy, where two members of the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) are expected to join. The initiative comes six weeks after the departure of the Madleen, another ship that left Italy for Gaza transporting aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg. Zionist authorities intercepted the Madleen about 185 kilometers west of Gaza's coast. 'This is a mission for the children in Gaza, to break the humanitarian blockade and to break the summer silence on the genocide,' said Gabrielle Cathala, one of the two France Unbowed party members set to board the boat on July 18. 'I hope we will reach Gaza but if not, it will be yet another violation of international law' by Zionist entity, she added. Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry says that at least 57,882 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Zionist entity's military reprisals. The UN considers the figures reliable. — AFP


Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
New Gaza-bound aid boat leaves Italy
A Gaza-bound boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid left Sicily on Sunday, over a month after Israel detained and deported people aboard a previous vessel. The Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left the port of Syracuse shortly after 12:00 pm (1000 GMT), an AFP journalist saw, carrying about fifteen activists. Several dozen people, some holding Palestinian flags and others wearing keffiyeh scarves, gathered at the port to cheer the boat's departure with cries of "Free Palestine". The former Norwegian trawler — loaded with medical supplies, food, children's equipment and medicine — will sail for about a week in the Mediterranean, covering roughly 1,800 kilometres (1,120 miles), in the hope of reaching Gaza's coast. In early March, Israel imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza amid an impasse in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May. The boat will make a stop at Gallipoli, in southeastern Italy, where two members of the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) are expected to join. The initiative comes six weeks after the departure of the Madleen, another ship that left Italy for Gaza transporting aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg. Israel authorities intercepted the Madleen about 185 kilometres west of Gaza's coast. "This is a mission for the children in Gaza, to break the humanitarian blockade and to break the summer silence on the genocide," said Gabrielle Cathala, one of the two France Unbowed party members set to board the boat on July 18. "I hope we will reach Gaza but if not, it will be yet another violation of international law" by Israel, she added. Gaza's health ministry says that at least 57,882 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Israel's military attacks. The UN considers the figures reliable.


Leaders
2 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
In Photos: Gaza Aid Boat Departs Italy as Activists Defy Israeli Blockade
A Gaza-bound boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid departed from Sicily on Sunday, more than a month after Israel detained and deported individuals aboard a previous vessel. The Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left the port of Syracuse shortly after 12:00 PM (10:00 GMT), according to an AFP reporter, with approximately fifteen activists on board. Several dozen supporters gathered at the port, waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyeh scarves, cheering the boat's departure and chanting 'Free Palestine.' Mission and Supplies The former Norwegian trawler is loaded with essential supplies, including medical equipment, food, and children's items. The boat will sail for about a week in the Mediterranean, covering roughly 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles) in hopes of reaching Gaza's coast. In early March, Israel imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza amid stalled truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May. The Handala will make a stop in Gallipoli, southeastern Italy, where two members of the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) will join the mission. Previous Mission and Challenges This initiative follows the departure of the Madleen, another ship that left Italy for Gaza, carrying aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg, with Israeli authorities intercepting the Madleen about 185 kilometers west of Gaza's coast. Gabrielle Cathala, one of the France Unbowed party members set to board the Handala on 18 July, stated, 'This is a mission for the children in Gaza. We aim to break the humanitarian blockade and end the summer silence on the genocide.' She expressed hope for reaching Gaza but warned that failure would represent yet another violation of international law by Israel. Human Cost: War and Its Aftermath The ongoing conflict began with Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October, 2023, resulting in 1,219 deaths, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Out of 251 individuals taken hostage that day, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 that the Israeli military reports deceased. Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry claims that at least 57,882 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died due to Israel's military reprisals. The United Nations considers these figures reliable, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian aid and intervention. Short link : Post Views: 20


Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
New Gaza-bound aid boat leaves Italy
A Gaza-bound boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid left Sicily on Sunday, over a month after Israel detained and deported people aboard a previous vessel. The Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left the port of Syracuse shortly after noon (1000 GMT), an AFP journalist saw, carrying about 15 activists. Several dozen people, some holding Palestinian flags and others wearing keffiyeh scarves, gathered at the port to cheer the boat's departure with cries of "Free Palestine". The former Norwegian trawler -- loaded with medical supplies, food, children's equipment and medicine -- will sail for about a week in the Mediterranean, covering roughly 1,800 kilometres, in the hope of reaching Gaza's coast. In early March, Israel imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza amid an impasse in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May. The boat will make a stop at Gallipoli, in southeastern Italy, where two members of the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) are expected to join. The initiative comes six weeks after the departure of the Madleen, another ship that left Italy for Gaza transporting aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg. Israel authorities intercepted the Madleen about 185 kilometres west of Gaza's coast. "This is a mission for the children in Gaza, to break the humanitarian blockade and to break the summer silence on the genocide," said Gabrielle Cathala, one of the two France Unbowed party members set to board the boat on July 18. "I hope we will reach Gaza but if not, it will be yet another violation of international law" by Israel, she added. Reporting by AFP