Latest news with #InternationalCommitteetoBreaktheSiegeonGaza
Shafaq News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Gaza Siege Committee Chief reveals Handala Ship Incident
Shafaq News – Gaza The Head of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, Zaher Birawi, on Tuesday blamed Arab and Islamic countries for their silence over the Israeli seizure of the Handala ship and accused Western governments of enabling Israeli actions. In an exclusive statement to Shafaq News, Birawi disclosed that Israeli forces had detained the ship and its 21 passengers—comprising international activists, politicians, human rights advocates, doctors, technical crew, and officials from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. He denounced the raid as 'an act of piracy in the high seas and international waters,' insisting that 'the occupying state has no right to carry out such action, and we hold it fully responsible for the safety of all activists.' Drawing from previous incidents, Birawi explained that those detained are undergoing initial arrest procedures and will likely be brought before an Israeli court on charges of 'attempting to enter the occupying state without a permit or prior approval.' The court, he noted, typically pressures detainees to sign a pledge not to repeat the attempt. 'They will not sign these Israeli documents,' he asserted, adding that courts usually try to persuade them, and if they refuse, issue deportation orders. 'These activists are not attempting to enter Israel,' he clarified. 'They are trying to break the blockade imposed on Palestinians,' which he described as 'illegal and immoral, and not within the rights of the occupying state.' He noted that several activists, due to political considerations and in coordination with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, signed the documents over the past two days to leave custody and share their accounts with the media. The remaining detainees are still being held at Ashdod Port and are expected to be released within the next two days. Birawi underscored that the core of the mission lies in the message of defiance and resolve these activists embody—individuals who, he said, represent the 'free people of the world' and refuse to remain silent in the face of what he described as Israeli crimes. He confirmed that efforts to break the blockade would continue. He pointed out that governments, including those in the Arab and Islamic world, possess the means to pressure Israel but fail to use them effectively. 'We hold these governments accountable and clear our conscience before the world and history,' he stated, 'by doing all we can to end the war on our people in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to those being starved as a method of pressure.' Birawi further accused Western governments of active complicity in 'the crimes committed by the occupying state against our people in Gaza,' and in actions against blockade-breaking vessels and international activists. He questioned France's silence despite the presence of French nationals aboard the ship, including a member of the French National Assembly and a representative in the European Parliament. 'Legally, Israel has no right to assault civilians in international waters,' he emphasized, noting that the Handala was intercepted more than 50 nautical miles from Gaza's coast—clearly within international waters. He concluded that the position of Western governments toward their citizens comes as no surprise, 'because—unfortunately—they are already actively supporting Israel, whether through arms deals, silence over its crimes, or political cover in international forums.' Handala ship had been en route to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the enclave before it was intercepted by Israeli forces last Saturday.
Middle East Eye
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Aid ship bound for Gaza sabotaged in Italy before setting sail
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says its vessel Handala, heading to Gaza with humanitarian aid, was sabotaged before it could leave the Italian port of Gallipoli. According to the group, a rope had been tightly wound around the ship's propeller and a corrosive substance was poured into the water tank, injuring two crew members. Despite the sabotage, Handala has now set sail towards Gaza, carrying a group of international activists and essential supplies including baby formula, medication, and toys. The journey is expected to last about a week. The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza condemned the incident and urged global powers to ensure the vessel's protection, warning against potential acts of 'Israeli piracy'. This mission comes six weeks after the Madleen made a similar journey, with high-profile figures including activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan on board.
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Alleged ‘Hamas operative' organized Greta Thunberg's failed attempt to break Gaza blockade: report
A British-Palestinian journalist who has long-been accused of being a 'Hamas operative' served as a key figure who helped launch the aid vessel carrying Greta Thunberg and other international activists who were detained by Israel, according to a new report. Zaher Birawi, 63, the head of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza and founding member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was at the launch of the Madleen ship a week ago as he praised Thunberg and the other activists traveling to challenge Israel's blockade on the Palestinian enclave. Birawi, who also heads the EuroPal Forum nonprofit to support Palestinians, has been repeatedly accused of having Hamas links, with a 2012 photograph showing him attending an event alongside slain Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, the Telegraph reported. 5 Zaher Birawi, 63, has been repeatedly accused of having links to the Hamas terrorist group. Facebook/Zaher Birawi 5 Birawi has backed several sailing missions to challenge Israel's blockade over Gaza. Facebook/Zaher Birawi Birawi, a vocal critic of Israel's policies in the Gaza Strip, has repeatedly denied the allegations that he has any links to terrorist crimes. There's no evidence to suggest Birawi has helped facilitate any of Hamas' crimes. The allegations first surfaced in 2013 when Israel identified him as a Hamas operative working in Europe, with his nonprofit labeled a terrorist organization in 2021 for alleged ties to the Palestinian terror group. The EuroPal Forum has strongly denied any terror links, claiming it was unfairly targeted for its work abroad advocating for Palestinian rights. Birawi was eventually awarded compensation when he sued the NatWest financial database for allegedly putting him on a terrorism watch list. 5 Zaher Birawi attended a 2012 forum with Pro-Palestinian activists who took a picture with then-Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh. Ministry of Strategic Affairs 'My legal team relied primarily on the fact that there has never been any legal sentence passed against me by any official authority in any state anywhere in the world, and that never have I been found to have been involved in any illegal acts which could be deemed within the scope of terrorism crimes,' Birawi said at the time. The Palestinian advocate was accused again of being 'a Hamas operative' by Labour MP Christian Wakeford following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel. 5 Birawi helped lead demonstrations in London against the war in Gaza. In Pictures via Getty Images Wakeford used parliamentary privilege to slam Birawi as a 'serious national security risk' and accused him of obtaining British citizenship 'through the use of fake documents.' Birawi slammed Wakeford's claims as baseless. The UK, which like the US lists Hamas as a terrorist group, has not taken action against Birawi. Birawi did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment. 5 Birawi has repeatedly slammed the allegations against him as baseless. Facebook/Zaher Birawi Birawi has spoken out against Israel's invasion of Gaza following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, with the advocate helping organize multiple protests in London against the war. His latest criticism was aimed at the Israel Defense Forces after the military detained the activists aboard the Madleen on Sunday. 'In a piracy operation in international waters and 150 nautical miles from Palestinian waters, the Israeli navy took control of the ship Madleen and abducted the allies on board,' he wrote over the weekend. 'The Freedom Flag Alliance demands international intervention to ensure their safety and release,' he added. The Madleen ship, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, set sail on June 1 with 12 activists onboard, including Thunberg, a Swedish climate campaigner, and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. The group aboard the charity ship aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza's refugees, including much-needed baby formula and simple nutrition like rice. The IDF had repeatedly warned the ship to turn back, vowing that nothing will break the naval blockade in Gaza, which has existed since Hamas seized power in 2007.
Saba Yemen
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Intel Committee to break siege on Gaza: Israel state of war criminals
Gaza – Saba: The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza described Israel on Monday as a "state of war criminals" following its hijacking of the aid ship "Madeleine" as it approached the shores of the besieged Palestinian Strip. In a post on X platform, the committee called on activists around the world to continue supporting the activists arrested by Israel on board the ship. The committee stated: "Continue writing, publishing, and sharing about the twelve heroes to pressure Israel to release them immediately." It also called for the preparation of more relief ships worldwide and sending them to the starving Palestinians in the besieged Strip. It emphasized that "if they stop one ship, a hundred more will follow, and if they seize 12, thousands will revolt." On Monday night, Israeli enemy forces seized the Madeleine ship, which was heading to the Gaza Strip to break the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, and arrested the activists on board. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that the Israeli occupation forces boarded the ship, arrested the volunteer activists on board, and lost contact with the ship. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Roya News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Madleen continues voyage towards Gaza despite 'Israeli' threats, says ICBSG chief
Defying threats from 'Israeli' authorities, the humanitarian aid flotilla Madleen is continuing its journey toward the Gaza Strip, carrying a symbolic one-ton shipment of aid in an effort to break the ongoing blockade on the besieged Strip. Zaher Birawi, head of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG), told Roya that the freedom activists aboard the Madleen, hailing from seven different countries, remain in high spirits and are determined to deliver a message of solidarity and protest against 'Israel's' continued aggression on Gaza. Birawi said that the Madleen is not carrying any weapons, only humanitarian support and a message of hope. He described the 'Israeli' threats against the vessel as a blatant violation of international law, especially since six of the activists on board are French citizens. He added that the committee has issued warnings against any attack or interference with the ship or its passengers, and has successfully launched a global petition in solidarity with the mission, which collected over 1.15 million signatures in just two days. 'This ship is not just transporting aid, it is a cry for justice and a call to the world to act against the Israeli aggression and the unjust blockade imposed on over two million people in Gaza,' Birawi told Roya. He noted that 'Israel' is increasingly sensitive to its global image, which has been further tarnished by its ongoing military actions. Any move against the Madleen, he warned, could negatively impact Tel Aviv's relations with several countries. Birawi suggested that 'Israel' might opt to intercept the ship and redirect it to the port of Ashdod, followed by the deportation of the activists to their respective countries; rather than engaging in direct military escalation. Birawi suggested that 'Israel' might opt to intercept the ship and redirect it to the port of Ashdod, followed by the deportation of the activists to their respective countries; rather than engaging in direct military escalation.
