The Handala set off from Italy final week for Gaza with meals and different humanitarian assist provides however was “violently intercepted by the Israeli army in worldwide waters about forty nautical miles from Gaza”, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition mentioned an announcement.
Israeli army personnel take management of the Handala. Credit score: Freedom Flotilla Coalition
“At 11.43 Palestine time, the Occupation lower the cameras on board Handala and we have now misplaced all communication with our ship,” it mentioned in an announcement. “The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving provides when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers kidnapped, and its cargo seized. The interception occurred in worldwide waters outdoors Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, in violation of worldwide maritime regulation.”
Livestreamed footage from the boat confirmed Israeli army personnel on board and crew members sitting down with their arms up.
Australians Robert Martin and Tania “Tan” Safi are among the many 21 human rights activists from 12 nations on the boat.Its seizure was confirmed by Israel’s overseas ministry, which mentioned it had been intercepted to forestall it “illegally coming into the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza”.
“The vessel is safely making its strategy to the shores of Israel,” the overseas ministry mentioned. “All passengers are secure.“One other activist ship on which Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was on board was stopped close to Gaza final month and Thunberg was deported by Israel. The Handala was carrying assist together with child formulation, diapers, meals, and medication.
At the very least 53 killed
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Israeli airstrikes and gunshots killed not less than 53 folks in Gaza in a single day and into Saturday, most of them shot lifeless whereas looking for assist, in response to Palestinian well being officers and the native ambulance service.
Lethal Israeli gunfire was reported twice near the Zikim crossing with Israel within the north. Within the first incident, not less than a dozen folks ready for assist vans have been killed, mentioned employees at Shifa hospital, the place our bodies have been taken. Israel’s army mentioned it fired warning photographs to distance a crowd “in response to a direct risk.”
A witness, Sherif Abu Aisha, mentioned folks began working once they noticed a lightweight that they thought was from assist vans, however as they received shut, they realised it was Israel’s tanks. That’s when the military began firing, he informed The Related Press. He mentioned his uncle was amongst these killed.
“We went as a result of there isn’t any meals … and nothing was distributed,” he mentioned.
Palestinians mourn in the course of the funeral of people that have been killed whereas attempting to achieve assist vans coming into northern Gaza by way of the Zikim crossing with Israel.Credit score: AP
On Saturday night, Israeli forces killed not less than 11 folks and wounded 120 others once they fired in direction of crowds who tried to get meals from an coming into UN convoy, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa hospital, informed the AP.
“We predict the numbers to surge within the subsequent few hours,” he mentioned. There was no rapid army remark.
AP video confirmed a gaggle of weary Palestinian males carrying a physique together with sacks of flour. They mentioned he was hit by a truck however had no particulars. “You die to fetch some meals in your youngsters,” mentioned one man, Fayez Abu Riyala, skinny and sweating.
Within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, Israeli forces shot lifeless not less than 9 folks attempting to get assist coming into by way of the Morag hall, in response to the hospital’s morgue data. There was no rapid army remark.
Elsewhere, these killed in strikes included 4 folks in an house constructing in Gaza Metropolis and not less than eight, together with 4 youngsters, within the crowded tent camp of Muwasi in Khan Younis, hospitals mentioned.
Turning to airdrops, with a warning
The airdrops have been requested by neighbouring Jordan, and a Jordanian official mentioned they primarily will drop meals and milk formulation. The United Arab Emirates mentioned airdrops would begin “instantly.” Britain mentioned it plans to work with companions to airdrop assist and evacuate youngsters requiring medical help.
However the head of the United Nations company for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that airdrops are “costly, inefficient and might even kill ravenous civilians” and gained’t reverse the growing hunger or stop assist diversion.
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Whereas Israel’s military has mentioned it permits assist into the enclave with no restrict on the vans that may enter, the UN says it’s hampered by army restrictions on its actions and felony looting. The Hamas-run police had supplied safety for assist supply, nevertheless it has been unable to function after being focused by airstrikes.
Israel on Saturday mentioned over 250 vans carrying assist from the UN and different organisations entered Gaza this week. About 600 vans entered per day in the course of the newest ceasefire that Israel led to March.
Israel faces rising worldwide strain. Greater than two dozen Western-aligned nations and over 100 charity and human rights teams have known as for an finish to the warfare, harshly criticising Israel’s blockade and a brand new assist supply mannequin it has rolled out.
Greater than 1000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since Could whereas attempting to get meals, largely close to the brand new assist websites run by the GHF, an American contractor, the UN human rights workplace says.
The charities and rights teams mentioned their very own employees struggled to get sufficient meals.
Inside Gaza, youngsters with no preexisting situations have begun to starve to loss of life.
“We solely need sufficient meals to finish our starvation,” mentioned Wael Shaaban at a charity kitchen in Gaza Metropolis as he tried to feed his household of six.
Stalled ceasefire talks
Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have been at a standstill after the US and Israel recalled negotiating groups on Thursday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Friday his authorities was contemplating “various choices” to talks. A Hamas official, nevertheless, mentioned negotiations have been anticipated to renew subsequent week and known as the delegations’ recall a strain tactic.
Egypt and Qatar, which mediate alongside the USA, mentioned talks would resume however didn’t say when.
“Our family members wouldn’t have time for an additional spherical of negotiations, and they won’t survive one other partial deal,” mentioned Zahiro Shahar Mor, nephew of hostage Avraham Munder, one among 50 nonetheless in Gaza from Hamas’ assault on October 7, 2023, that sparked the warfare. Mor spoke at a weekly rally in Tel Aviv.
Greater than 59,700 Palestinians have been killed in the course of the warfare, in response to Gaza’s Well being Ministry. Its rely doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians, however the ministry says that greater than half of the lifeless are girls and kids. The ministry operates beneath the Hamas authorities. The UN and different worldwide organisations see it as essentially the most dependable supply of information on casualties.
