Israeli fire killed at least 12 people and wounded others as they headed toward two aid distribution points in the Gaza Strip run by an Israeli and US-backed group, Palestinian health officials and witnesses said on Sunday. Israel’s military said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces. The past two weeks have seen frequent shootings near the new hubs where thousands of Palestinians — desperate after 20 months of war — are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials. Associated Press reported that, in total, at least 108 bodies were brought to hospitals in Gaza over the past 24 hours, the territory’s health ministry said. Israel’s military said it struck dozens of militant targets throughout Gaza over the past day. Eleven of the latest bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. Palestinian witnesses said Israeli forces fired on some at a roundabout around a kilometre from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF, in nearby Rafah. Israel’s military said it fired warning shots at approaching “suspects” who ignored warnings to turn away. It said the shooting happened in an area that is considered an active combat zone at night. Al-Awda Hospital said it received the body of a man and 29 people who were wounded near another GHF aid distribution point in central Gaza. A GHF official said there was no violence in or around its distribution sites, all three of which delivered aid on Sunday. The group closed them temporarily last week to discuss safety measures with Israel’s military and has warned people to stay on designated access routes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. It’s 9am in Israel where activists on board a Gaza-bound aid ship have reportedly been transferred to an Israeli port after they were intercepted at sea by the country’s navy. Here’s the latest: Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen after it tried to break a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, and detained its crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. The British-flagged ship, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. The FFC said the boat was boarded during the night before it could reach shore. In a post online, the organisation said the ship was “unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo—including baby formula, food and medical supplies—confiscated.” The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed the Madleen was under Israeli control and “making its way to the shores of Israel,” adding that its passengers are “expected to return to their home countries.” Referring to the aid-vessel as a “selfie yacht”, the ministry said all passengers were safe and unharmed and that the aid on board “will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels.” A social media account belonging to MEP Rima Hassan - who was on board the vessel - said “the crew of the Freedom Flotilla was arrested by the Israeli army in international waters around 2am.” A picture posted on the account showed the crew seated on the boat, all wearing lifejackets, with their hands in the air. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, congratulated the Israeli army on the “quick and safe takeover” of the Madleen and confirmed the passengers on board would be transported to the port of Ashdod. Katz added that he had instructed the IDF to “show the flotilla passengers the video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre.” Earlier on Sunday, Katz ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas. Katz said that the blockade was essential to Israel’s national security as it seeks to destroy Hamas. The United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said she had been in touch with the Madleen before communication had been lost. “Madleen’s journey may have ended, but the mission isn’t over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid & solidarity to Gaza,” she wrote on X. Palestinian rights organisation Al-Haq has called for the “safe passage and protection of the crew of The Madleen, a ship of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and to ensure a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.” Detained activists must be released & protected now. Let the #Madleen sail to Gaza.” If you’re just joining us, Israeli forces have taken command of a vessel that tried to challenge its naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, with the boat and its crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg now heading to a port in Israel, officials said on Sunday. The British-flagged yacht Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. However, the boat was boarded in the early hours of Monday before it could reach shore, the FFC said on its Telegram account. The Israeli foreign ministry later confirmed that it was under Israeli control. You can read our full report here: The Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs has called on the crew of the Madleen to be protected. In a post on X, the ministry – based in the West Bank – said it “appreciates their efforts and the extreme hardships and dangers they endured at sea in pursuit of this noble humanitarian goal of standing by our people in the Gaza Strip.” The Ministry calls on the international community and all countries to heed the call of international activists and their humanitarian message. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has congratulated the Israeli army on the “quick and safe takeover” of the Madleen , the Gaza-bound aid vessel. Confirming that the passengers onboard – including climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan – will be transported to the port of Ashdod, Katz added that he had instructed the IDF to “show the flotilla passengers the video of the horrors of the October 7 massacre.” Referring to Thunberg personally, as well as the other activists on board, Katz said he wanted them to “see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organization they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself.” The current war in Gaza began after a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed more than 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally. Gaza’s health ministry says over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of that campaign. Who is Greta Thunberg? Greta Thunberg, 22, became the face of youth climate activism as her weekly protests, which started in 2018 in front of the Swedish parliament, quickly grew into a global movement with large rallies across continents. She is a vocal campaigner against the war in Gaza. She had been due to board a previous Freedom Flotilla ship last month. That attempt to reach Gaza by sea in early May failed after another of the group’s vessels, the Conscience, was allegedly attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off the coast of Malta. Before the Madleen departed, Thunberg said “We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying.” Last month another aid ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. At the time, the FFC said “armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull.” Greta Thunberg – who was on Sunday’s intercepted aid vessel – told Reuters she had been supposed to board the ship last month. “I was part of the group who was supposed to board that boat today to continue the voyage towards Gaza, which is one of many attempts to open up a humanitarian corridor and to do our part to keep trying to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza,” she said. “This attack caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission.” Here is a bit of background on the aid situation in Gaza, via AFP: Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, after a more than two-month total blockade led to widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. It has recently started working with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to distribute aid via a handful of centres in south and central Gaza. But humanitarian agencies have criticised the GHF and the United Nations refuses to work with it, citing concerns over its practices and neutrality. Dozens of people have been killed near GHF distribution points since late May, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. It said Israeli attacks killed at least 10 people on Sunday, including five civilians hit by gunfire near an aid distribution centre. In a Guardian report from Sunday, Israel’s military said it had fired warning shots at people who had approached its forces. It acknowledged reports of injuries but did not specify how many people it believed had been affected. It’s 6.40am in Israel where activists on board a Gaza-bound aid ship have reportedly been transferred to an Israeli port after they were intercepted at sea by the country’s navy. Here’s the latest: Israeli forces intercepted the Madleen after it tried to break a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, and detained its crew of 12 including activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. The British-flagged ship, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there. The FFC said the boat was boarded during the night before it could reach shore. In a post online, the organisation said the ship was “unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo—including baby formula, food and medical supplies—confiscated.” The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed the Madleen was under Israeli control and “making its way to the shores of Israel,” adding that its passengers are “expected to return to their home countries.” Referring to the aid-vessel as a “selfie yacht”, the ministry said all passengers were safe and unharmed and that the aid on board “will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels.” Earlier on Sunday, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz ordered the military to prevent the Madleen from reaching Gaza, calling the mission a propaganda effort in support of Hamas. Katz said that the blockade was essential to Israel’s national security as it seeks to destroy Hamas. The United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said she had been in touch with the Madleen before communication had been lost. “Madleen’s journey may have ended, but the mission isn’t over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid & solidarity to Gaza,” she wrote on X. Among those on board the Madleen was Omar Faiad, a journalist with the Al Jazeera network. He was broadcasting from the vessel until communication was cut as it was intercepted by the Israeli navy. In a video shared by Al Jazeera, the passengers are seen sat around a table with their arms raised as light shines on to them from outside. A loudspeaker in the distance tells them “don’t be afraid.” One of the crew tells them to “assume their positions”. He goes on to say “we are being intercepted right now.” A voice then commands that “phones are thrown into the water”, but it is unclear who is saying this. International reaction to the Madleen’s interception continues to roll in. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – America’s largest Muslim civil rights organisation – condemned the move, calling it a “blatant act of international piracy.” In a statement, CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad said: “We applaud Greta Thunberg and the other activists of the Madleen who bravely risked their safety and freedom to help the starving people of Gaza.” We call on governments – especially western governments funding Israel’s genocide and Arab Muslim governments watching it happen – to show an iota of the courage demonstrated by those on the Madleen by using every tool at their disposal to force an end to the genocide.” In France, crowds are reportedly gathering at the Place de la République to protest the action. Among those on board the Madleen is Rima Hassan, a French member of the European parliament. And in Australia, snap protest have been called in at least three states – including Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. Israeli media are reporting that the Madleen and its passengers will be taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The Jerusalem Post has said that the the military’s naval unit, Shayetet 13, was responsible for the interception at around 3am local time. Earlier we had a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry, saying those on board would be “expected to return to their home countries.” Earlier, Israel’s foreign ministry released a video of a representative of the country’s navy communicating with the Madleen. In it, the official says over a loudspeaker that the coast of Gaza “is closed,” adding that if they wish to deliver aid they are able to through “established channels” via the Israeli port of Ashdod. In the hours before the Madleen was intercepted, Yasemin Acar, one of the activists who was on board, posted a series of videos online documenting the final moments of the voyage. In one, she films a drone flying above the ship, telling her followers they are taking cover. Later she says she is masking her face because a white liquid has been sprayed on the deck of the vessel. They did say they want to intercept us in a calm way, but this is not what is happening.” In the final video posted from on board she tells her supporters the Madleen is being “intercepted”. In the background, another activist tells the passengers to throw their phones overboard while a loudspeaker in the background says “don’t be afraid.” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, has called on others to send aid vessels to Gaza, adding “BreakingTheSiege is a legal duty for states, and a moral imperative for all of us.” While #Madleen must be released immediately, every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable.” The Madleen left the port of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy, on 1 June and was attempting to reach Gaza to bring in a symbolic amount of aid and raise international awareness of the continuing humanitarian crisis. A months-long aid blockade on the territory was slightly eased in mid-May, allowing a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the territory. But malnutrition is spreading, medics and aid workers have warned, with UN officials describing Gaza as “the hungriest place on Earth”. On Sunday, Israel’s foreign minister said he would “not allow anyone to break the naval blockade on Gaza, whose primary purpose is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas.” Israel’s plan to concentrate food delivery in hubs guarded by private security contractors and the Israeli military and provided by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has proved to be chaotic and dangerous, critics say. At least four people were killed and others wounded by Israeli fire on Sunday, about a kilometre from a food distribution point in Gaza, Palestinian medics and officials said. The deaths bring the number of people who have been killed while trying to find food in Gaza since 27 May, when GHF became responsible for civilian food provision, to 110. More than 1,000 have been injured. Last month, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said another of its vessels was bombed by drones and disabled while in international waters off Malta as it headed towards Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group operating the vessel, is posting a series of pre-recorded videos online of activist who were on board the Madleen. In one, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg says, “if you see this video we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters.” She calls on her supporters to put “pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.” In another, French activist Reve Viard says “If you are seeing this video, it means we got intercepted by the Israeli forces.” He asks that his supporters share the video, to “put pressure on the French government so the we could be released with our friends.” Before communication with the vessel was lost, Yanis Mhamdi, a French journalist on board the Madleen, posted this video online, which apparently shows a drone, flying over the ship. In the post he writes, “I am a journalist, and after covering the Freedom Flotilla convoy for a week, my arrest by the Israeli army is imminent. Humanitarian workers and journalists should not be arrested. I call on all my colleagues to mobilize.” Israel’s foreign ministry has posted a video of the activists from the Madleen, including French MEP Rima Hassan and climate activist Greta Thunberg. In its post, the ministry said “All the passengers of the ‘selfie yacht’ are safe and unharmed. They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.” The organisation behind the aid mission said in a statement earlier that the Israeli army boarded the vessel and “abducted” the crew. We had a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry in the last hour, saying those on board would be “expected to return to their home countries.” The team working for French MEP, Rima Hassan, who is on board the Madleen, say they have lost contact with her. They claim she was “arrested in international waters by the Israeli army.” In a post on her X account, they released the last image from a live feed on board the vessel. According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Madleen has 12 activists on board. Among them are Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, and Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament. Before leaving Sicily on board the Madleen, Thunberg told reporters: “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 livestreamed genocide.” In a statement just released, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has accused Israel of “forcibly intercepting” the Madleen and acting with “total impunity”. It says that at 3.02am CET, the ship was “unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo—including baby formula, food and medical supplies—confiscated.” “Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen,” said Huwaida Arraf, a Freedom Flotilla organiser. These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade—their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately.” Israel’s foreign ministry has said that the Madleen is “safely making its way to the shores of Israel.” In a post on X, the ministry says “The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.” While Greta and 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 weeks, 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.” Referring to the aid-vessel as a “selfie yacht”, the ministry says in the statement that the aid on board “will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels.” The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, who are operating the Gaza-bound aid vessel, has posted a video from the Madleen in the moment before communication was lost. It shows a chaotic scene, as activists wearing life jackets, gather as lights flash around them. One person calls for everyone to “ditch their phones” and throw them overboard. From outside, a loudspeaker can be heard. The activists then sit and raise their hands, in what appears to be a preparation to be boarded. One of the members, speaking on a phone, says “we are being boarded, right now … everyone here is safe. No one is wounded right now … Please raise the alarm.” Earlier, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the activist group operating the vessel, posted on Telegram, that the Madleen was “under assault in international waters.” Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white irritant substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.” Before communication was apparently lost with the Madleen, a number of activists on board the vessel posted video and images of a white substance on the deck of the boat. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European parliament, posted this image to her X account in the last hour. Multiple sources have reported that communications have been lost with the Gaza-bound Madleen, amid reports that it has been boarded by the Israeli army. Al Jazeeera, who have a journalist on board who has been running a live feed, said they lost communication with the vessel “after Israeli commandos intercepted it in international waters.” They demanded that everyone on board turn off their phones, and we have lost contact with Al Jazeera Mubasher journalist Omar Faiad as well as our live feed.” The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group operating the vessel, said that “connection had been lost with the Madleen.” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, has been in touch with the Madleen and says she lost connection with the captain a 1am UK time. I heard the soldiers speaking while the captain was on the phone with me. I lost connection with the captain as he was telling me that “another boat is approaching”. In a post online, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has said their aid ship, bound for Gaza, has been boarded by the Israeli army. Connection has been lost on the ‘Madleen’. Israeli army have boarded the vessel.” The Madleen says it is attempting to reach the shores of the territory to bring in a symbolic amount of aid and raise international awareness of the continuing humanitarian crisis. Earlier, there were reports from activist on board that Israeli drones were flying over head and spraying with “a white irritant substance.” The Israeli foreign ministry has said the navy is communicating with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s (FFC) ship bound for Gaza and has advised it to change course. The FFC has said its Gaza-bound ship was “under assault”. It said the Madleen has had its communications jammed and was surrounded by quadcopters. Earlier, the Israeli defence minister has threatened to “take all necessary measures” to prevent a humanitarian ship carrying climate campaigner Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza. The Madleen says it is attempting to reach the shores of the territory to bring in a symbolic amount of aid and raise international awareness of the continuing humanitarian crisis. But on Sunday, Israel Katz ordered the Israeli military to stop the ship from getting anywhere near Gaza. “I have instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act so that the hate flotilla … does not reach the shores of Gaza – and to take all necessary measures to that end,” Katz said in a statement. The situation is developing quickly. We will bring you the latest updates here.
Author: Jonathan Yerushalmy