Latest news with #TheConscience
RTÉ News
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Actor Liam Cunningham on Gaza: 'The world cannot stand by and allow this to continue'
Irish actor Liam Cunningham has said the world "cannot stand by" and allow the ongoing war in Gaza to continue. The United Nations has said the situation in Gaza is the worst since the war between Israel and Hamas began 19 months ago, despite a resumption of limited aid deliveries in the Palestinian enclave where famine looms. The Dublin actor is currently in Sicily, Italy, where final preparations are being made for a flotilla of aid, mainly containing medical supplies, to depart for Gaza. Cunningham and climate activist Greta Thunberg are among those on the boat to support the flotilla of aid, which is scheduled to depart on Sunday morning. Speaking on Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin on RTÉ Radio 1 from Sicily, Cunningham said that the hope was the flotilla would get through and not be attacked – as was the case with the Freedom Flotilla ship, The Conscience which was damaged in a drone strike off the coast of Malta on 2 May. "If anything happens to the boat, it's not a confrontation – it's a deliberate attack," he said. Asked about whether he had experienced any pushback professionally for the stance he has taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people, the actor said: "I'm indifferent to any criticisms over this. "If you look at it realistically, I play dress-up for a living. I love my job. I commit as much energy as I possibly can, but that's the bottom line." The Game of Thrones and 3 Body Problem star continued: "I'm in my sixties. Like like a lot of people, I've paid off my mortgage. I own my car, I don't have any bills. "I do not have an iota of interest in any consequences that will come because of this. I have to be able to look at my grandkids when they when they hit their teens and say to me, 'What did you do during this?' "I do not want to be one of those people that said, 'I didn't do anything'. "In World War Two, there was an excuse that you didn't know what was going on with the Holocaust - an obscene event that was going on - there was an excuse to say, 'I didn't know'. "Your only answer to your grandkids, or your kids, when they grow up is, 'I didn't care'."
Shafaq News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Gaza access impaired: Humanitarian efforts in despair
Shafaq News/ Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continue, as humanitarian agencies warned that ongoing restrictions on aid deliveries are accelerating the enclave's collapse. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that strikes targeted homes in Jabalia al-Balad and Sheikh Radwan, killing nine Palestinians in 24 hours, injuring several others, and damaging residential structures. More than 52,400 Palestinians have been killed and over 118,000 wounded since the start of Israel's campaign, according to health authorities in the territory. Humanitarian groups report near-total shortages of essential supplies since Israel halted aid access in early March. Medical facilities are struggling to operate amid fuel and equipment scarcities, and food insecurity continues to escalate. 'Basic infrastructure is disintegrating,' a representative of Médecins Sans Frontières reported. 'The health system cannot sustain operations under these conditions.' The United Nations has also warned of looming social collapse if restrictions are not eased. Earlier, The Conscience, a humanitarian ship headed to Gaza, was hit by a drone in international waters off Malta. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the mission, attributed the strike to Israel. The incident triggered a fire on board, though no casualties were reported. Israel has not responded to the allegation, but the attack drew condemnation from international rights groups, urging an independent probe and demanding protection for humanitarian corridors. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations remain stalled. Israel's security cabinet has approved plans to expand military operations in Gaza, indicating no immediate intention to de-escalate. Hamas, however, has proposed a five-year truce in exchange for the release of hostages, troop withdrawal, an end to the blockade, and reconstruction access.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activists say ship aiming to sail to Gaza was attacked by drones
Activists who were planning to sail an aid ship to Gaza say it was struck by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta - appearing to accuse Israel of being behind the attack. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said its ship The Conscience was targeted at 00:23 local time on Friday and issued an SOS signal right after the attack. The group said it had planned to sail to Gaza and "challenge Israel's illegal siege and blockade" there. The Maltese government said everyone aboard the ship is "confirmed safe" and that a fire onboard the ship was "brought under control overnight". The NGO called for Israeli ambassadors to be summoned to answer for "violation of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel". The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the attack. Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among those who had planned to board the ship once it departed for Gaza on Friday. Speaking to journalists in Valetta, she said the attack on the ship by two drones "caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission". Thunberg adds that as far as she's aware, the ship is still at the location of the attack because moving it would let too much water in. "What is certain is that we human rights activists will continue to do everything in our power to do our part, to demand a free Palestine and demand the opening of a humanitarian corridor," she said. The Maltese government said that 12 crew and four activists were on board the boat, while the NGO said 30 activists had been on board. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition uploaded a video showing a fire on the ship. It said the attack appeared to have targeted the generator, which left the ship without power and at risk of sinking. The Maltese government said a tugboat was sent to the scene to extinguish the fire, which they say was under control by 01:28 local time. "By 2:13, all crew were confirmed safe but refused to board the tug," the statement said, adding the ship remains outside territorial waters. Cyprus responded to the SOS signal by dispatching a vessel, the charity said, but that it was not "providing the critical electrical support needed". The coalition is campaigning to end Israel's blockade of Gaza. Two months ago, Israel shut all crossings to Gaza – preventing all goods, including food, fuel and medicines from entering - and later resumed its military offensive, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 52,418 people have been killed in Gaza during the ensuing war, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gaza activist ship 'attacked by drones' off coast of Malta, NGO says
Activists who were planning to sail an aid ship to Gaza say it was attacked by drones in international waters off the Maltese coast in the early hours of Friday. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said its ship The Conscience was targeted at 00:23 local time (22:23 GMT) and issued an SOS distress signal right after the attack. The group said it had planned to sail to Gaza and "challenge Israel's illegal siege and blockade" Maltese government said a fire onboard the ship was "brought under control overnight" and that the ship was being monitored by "relevant authorities". It said no casualties had been reported. The Maltese government said 12 crew and four activists were on board the boat, while the NGO said 30 activists had been on board. The NGO appeared to accuse Israel of being behind the incident and called for Israeli ambassadors to be summoned to answer for "violation of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel".The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition uploaded a video showing a fire on one of its ships but did not indicate whether anyone had been hurt. It said the attack appeared to have targeted the generator, which left the ship without power and at risk of sinking. The ship was 17 nautical miles (31.5 kilometres) east of Malta when it was hit. Cyprus responded to the SOS signal by dispatching a vessel, the charity said, but that it was not "providing the critical electrical support needed". The coalition is campaigning to end Israel's blockade of months ago, Israel shut all crossings to Gaza – preventing all goods, including food, fuel and medicines from entering - and later resumed its military offensive, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken least 52,418 people have been killed in Gaza during the ensuing war, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
