Latest news with #RimaHassan
Fox News
7 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Israel vows to 'act accordingly' as Thunberg sails toward Gaza on Palestinian-flagged vessel
Israel said that it will "act accordingly" to stop the Freedom Flotilla Coalition carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is en route to the Gaza Strip. Thunberg, 22, a Swedish eco-warrior, set sail this week aboard the Madleen hoisting a Palestinian flag with 11 other activists. It will try to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip to bring in some aid and raise awareness over the humanitarian crisis there. "We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying," Thunberg said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Wednesday that it was monitoring the flotilla. "For this case as well, we are prepared," IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told the Times of London. "We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly." Defrin did not disclose any details of how Israel would respond to Thunberg's arrival. Among those joining the crew of the Madleen are "Game of Thrones" actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent. She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza. Last month, an earlier Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship was damaged just before arriving in the Mediterranean island of Malta to pick up Thunberg for a similar mission, the New York Post reported. The group accused Israel of attacking the vessel with drones. During her voyage, which began in the Sicilian port of Catania in southern Italy, Thunberg has been filming content for social media, including swimming in the sea. "Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the livestreamed genocide," she said before setting sail.
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
International aid ship en route to Gaza will be stopped, warns Israeli military
A ship belonging to an international non-profit organisation is nearing the critical stage of its journey to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza after a previous attempt failed due to a drone attack on a separate vessel in the Mediterranean. By Wednesday, Madleen, which belongs to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), had covered more than 700km of its 2,000km journey, skirting Greek territorial waters and entering the eastern Mediterranean. It set sail from the Italian port of Catania on Sunday. Israel's army radio has said the Madleen will be prevented from reaching Gaza. Last month the ship Conscience, carrying aid to Gaza, was crippled by drone strikes in international waters off Malta. The FFC blamed Israel for the attack. READ MORE The FFC says it wants to raise awareness of the conflict in Gaza and deliver urgently needed aid to the strip. The ship is carrying baby formula, flour, rice, nappies, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches and children's prosthetics. Among its 12-member crew is prominent Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan. Before departure, Thunberg said: 'We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying. Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide.' Although facing a case of genocide at the International Court of Justice, Israel has strongly denied the accusation and claimed its 19-month military campaign in Gaza is to rescue Israeli captives and eliminate Hamas, which killed 1,200 people and abducted another 250 from southern Israel on October 7th, 2023. Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza on March 2nd, halting supplies of food, water, medicine and fuel and abandoning the three-month ceasefire on March 18th. [ Ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists to Gaza attacked by drones, NGO says Opens in new window ] In more than 600 days of war, 54,510 Palestinians have been killed and 125,000 wounded, Gaza's Hamas-run health authority has reported. In August 2008, the Free Gaza Movement mounted the first maritime missions to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza, which was tightened a year earlier when Hamas seized power. In August 2008, two Greek fishing boats, the Free Gaza and the SS Liberty, set sail from Larnaca in Cyprus. Carrying hearing aids for children, the boats were greeted by thousands of Gazans and spent a week in the strip. In October 2008, the movement's yacht Dignity sailed from Cyprus to Gaza's fishing port with medical supplies. Two months later, during Israel's 2008-2009 war on Gaza, Dignity, carrying 3.5 tonnes of medical aid, was rammed and forced to dock in Lebanon. Activists blamed Israeli naval ships. In May 2010, the Free Gaza Movement, the Turkish Relief Foundation and other humanitarian organisations mounted the largest challenge to Israel's blockade, with three cargo ships laden with basic supplies and four vessels carrying 600 passengers. Helicopter-borne Israeli commandos attacked the former Istanbul ferry Mavi Marmara, killing nine activists and wounding several dozen. Israel said several soldiers were injured, one seriously. Israel called the raid a 'clear case of self-defence.' – Additional reporting: Reuters
The Independent
12 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Madleen route tracker: Follow Greta Thunberg's aid boat as it sails for Gaza
A flotilla carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg is currently sailing past the Greek island of Crete on a weeklong journey to Gaza to break Israel's naval blockade, a tracker has shown. The Madleen ship and its crew of 12 volunteers set off from Catania, Sicily on 1 June, carrying a nominal amount of humanitarian aid. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), responsible for the boat, says the trip is aimed at trying 'to break Israel's more than 17-year illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip '. The 1,250-mile journey is expected to take seven days, provided there are no disruptions. The ship's location is being monitored live by Forensic Architecture and using a Garmin live tracker on board. Who is on the boat? Named after Gaza's only female fisher, the vessel is carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and French- Palestinian Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, among others. Ms Thunberg shot to notoriety in 2018 when she decided to skip school as a 15-year-old in an attempt to persuade the Swedish parliament to take more action on climate change. Speaking aboard the Madleen, Ms Thunberg told Middle East Eye: 'We have promised ourselves and we have promised the Palestinian people to do everything we can. 'When our governments are failing us … then it falls on us to step up and be the adults in the room. 'We are just human beings, very concerned about what's happening, and do not accept what is going on.' The other activists on board the vessel are: Yasemin Acar (Germany), Baptiste Andre (France), Thiago Avila (Brazil), Omar Faiad (France), Pascal Maurieras (France) Yanis Mhamdi (France) Suayb Ordu (Turkiye), Sergio Toribio (Spain) Marco van Rennes (The Netherlands) and Reva Viard (France). What is their plan? The FFC says the boat intends to spend at least seven days travelling to Gaza to break the naval blockade that has been in place since 2007. There have been concerns that the boat may be attacked. Last month, another vessel operated by the FFC, the Conscience, was reportedly bombed by drones off Malta en route to Gaza. Ms Thunberg said at the time that she planned to board the boat in Malta. The FFC accused Israel of carrying out the attacks. Israel did not respond to those accusations. On 3 June, the FFC said that an Israel-made Hellenic Coastguard drone (IAI Heron UAV) was seen hovering over the Madleen. In a statement shared on social media, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said: 'At 11:12pm CEST+1, 68km away from Greek territorial waters, a drone began to hover above the 'Madleen'. The drone is no longer there.' What has Israel said? Brigadier General Effie Edfrin, an Israeli army spokesperson, suggested Israel may confront the Madleen before it reaches the shores of the Gaza Strip. 'We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly,' he told reporters when asked about the vessel. 'We are well prepared.'
The Journal
13 hours ago
- General
- The Journal
Israel vows to 'protect' maritime space as Gaza-bound aid boat reports drones overhead
ISRAEL HAS VOWED to 'protect' its maritime space as a boat full of activists continues its route to Gaza to deliver vital aid to the local population in the besieged strip. The Madleen, one of the boats of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition whose stated aim is to end Israel's blockade of Gaza, departed Sicily on Sunday carrying a dozen people along with long with fruit juices, milk, tinned food and protein bars. Among the crew members are environmentalist Greta Thunberg and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, as well as other activists from Germany, Brazil and Spain. Senator Lynn Ruane saw the boat off before it left. They set sail in response to Israel's total aid blockade of the Palestinian enclave since 2 March which has resulted in the deaths of many children due to starvation. More than 90% of the enclave's 2.3 million people are facing acute food shortages, according to aid groups. Advertisement 'Together, we can open a people's sea corridor to Gaza,' the coalition said. But Israel's military responded yesterday, stating it was ready to 'protect' the country's maritime space. When asked about the Freedom Flotilla vessel, army spokesman Effie Defrin said 'for this case as well, we are prepared', declining to go into detail. Israel has stepped up its offensive in Gaza in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@gazafreedomflotilla) Overnight, Brazilian activist onboard the Madleen, Thiago Ávila, shared a post to Instagram claiming the vessel is being tightly tracked by Israeli overhead surveillance drones. 'Things are settling down. The drones are now pretty much on a permanent basis around us,' he said. 'We were training all of our participants, and everyone should be prepared for scenario like this. We had two nights of rest. On the third night, the drone started to show up.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thiago Ávila (@thiagoavilabrasil) Related Reads Israel's defence minister vows to build 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied West Bank UN warns all of Gaza at risk of famine as far-right Israeli minister calls for 'full force' Israel announces plans to create 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank The health ministry in Gaza said at least 4,240 people have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 54,510, mostly civilians. The IDF said three of its soldiers had been killed in northern Gaza, bringing the number of Israeli troops killed in the territory since the start of the war to 424. It comes as 27 people were killed yesterday in southern Gaza when Israeli troops opened fire near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid site, with the military saying the incident was under investigation. The GHF announced today that it is suspending its operations as the IDF declared all roads leading to aid distribution centres are from now on 'considered combat zones'. With reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who's onboard the Madleen Gaza flotilla, and where has it reached so far?
The Madleen ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), is en route towards Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and human rights activists protesting against Israel's illegal blockade of Gaza. The vessel has set sail in response to Israel's total aid blockade of the Palestinian enclave since March 2, which has resulted in the deaths of dozens of children due to starvation. More than 90 percent of the enclave's 2.3 million people are facing acute food shortages, according to aid groups. The Madleen, named after Gaza's first and only fisherwoman, departed Catania, Sicily on June 1, just one month after Israeli drones bombed Conscience, another Freedom Flotilla aid ship, off the coast of Malta. The 2,000km (1,250-mile) journey is expected to take seven days, provided there are no disruptions. The ship's location is being monitored live by Forensic Architecture through its onboard tracking system. The latest location as of June 3, at 15:00 GMT was some 600km (375 miles) from Sicily. There are 12 activists onboard the Madleen: Greta Thunberg – Swedish climate activist Rima Hassan – French-Palestinian Member of European Parliament Yasemin Acar – Germany Baptiste Andre – France Thiago Avila – Brazil Omar Faiad – France Pascal Maurieras – France Yanis Mhamdi – France Suayb Ordu – Turkiye Sergio Toribio – Spain Marco van Rennes – the Netherlands Reva Viard – France We are doing this because no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. by - Greta Thunberg The FFC has emphasised that all volunteers and crew aboard Madleen are trained in nonviolence and are sailing unarmed in a peaceful act of civil resistance against Israel's actions in Gaza. Last month, another ship carrying aid to Gaza was hit by drones in international waters off Malta. The ship had been seeking to deliver aid following Israel's genocidal blockade of the besieged enclave. The FFC told Al Jazeera that the attack on the Conscience at 12:23pm local time (10:23 GMT) on May 2 blew a hole in the vessel and set the engine years ago, Israeli commandos carried out a deadly attack on Mavi Marmara, the largest ship in an aid flotilla carrying Turkish activists. The so-called Gaza Freedom Flotilla was carrying 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid and had set out from Istanbul in an attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. Nine humanitarian volunteers were killed on May 31, 2010. Gaza has been under an Israeli land, sea and air blockade since 2007. According to a press release from the FFC, the Madleen is carrying supplies urgently needed by people in Gaza, including medical supplies, flour, rice, baby formula, nappies, women's sanitary products, water desalination kits, crutches and children's prosthetics. One in five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is facing starvation because of Israel's three-month-long total blockade of the Strip. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, 1.95 million people – 93 percent of the enclave's population – are facing acute food shortages. The IPC says Israel's continued blockade 'would likely result in further mass displacement within and across governorates', as items essential for people's survival will be depleted. Despite an Israeli-led and US-backed aid distribution organisation called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation being set up last month to deliver aid into Gaza, its new distribution hub disintegrated into chaos within hours of opening on May 27 and has been marred with even more controversy following deadly shootings at aid distribution sites. Israel has been accused of luring Palestinians to aid centres and killing more than 100 of them in the past eight days. Israel has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians since it launched its devastating offensive on October 7, 2023.
