Latest news with #internationalWaters
ABC News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Gaza aid ship seized
Annie Guest: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it's taking a group of pro-Palestinian activists to Israel after Israeli commandos seized their vessel in international waters. The ship, called the Medline, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was about 160 kilometres from Gaza when it was stopped, with allegations made about the possible use of chemical weapons on the activists. Dijana Damjanovic reports. Dijana Damjanovic: The charity organisation running the mission says this video, which is yet to be verified, shows the moment the Medline was intercepted. The group says just after 1am local time, four speedboats approached their ship and then two drones sprayed a thick, white, paint-like substance onto the vessel before Israeli soldiers boarded it. Yasmin Akar is a 37-year-old activist from Germany. This video of her was posted on the group's social media account. Yasemin Acar: We are masking our face right now. We have protectors right above our heads. We don't know what this is, if this is paint or some chemical. No idea, but please sound the alarm. Dijana Damjanovic: The group says all on board have been detained and contact with them has been lost. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a group of international activists attempting to deliver aid and supplies into Gaza, including food, baby formula and crutches. It's understood prominent Swedish activist, 22-year-old Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French ambassador of the European Parliament, are part of the crew. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the crew was taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. In a written statement, it described the ship as a selfie yacht full of celebrities. It also said: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs: While Greta and the others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity, and which included less than a single truckload of aid, more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two years. And in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. They do not involve Instagram selfies. Dijana Damjanovic: Francesca Albanese is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories. Annie Guest: Dijana Damjanovic reporting there.
ABC News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Israel seizes Gaza aid ship
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs says its taking a group of pro-Palestinian activists to Israel, after Israeli commandos seized their vessel in international waters.
Al Jazeera
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Why was a Gaza ‘Freedom Flotilla' ship attacked?
Drones struck a Freedom Flotilla ship carrying aid bound for Gaza. Organisers believe Israel was behind the attack. Drones struck the Conscience, a ship carrying humanitarian aid in international waters, after more than two months of an Israeli blockade on all aid trying to enter Gaza. Freedom Flotilla Coalition organisers believe Israel, which has attacked their ships in the past, is responsible. Israel has not commented on the strikes. What does this attack mean for Palestinians in Gaza – and activists trying to break the siege?
