2 w. ago Toilet water, snatched hijabs: Malaysian activists recount Israeli detention

Malaysians who joined a multinational flotilla seeking to break Israel’s sea blockade of Gaza have returned home with disturbing allegations of mistreatment in Israeli custody, including the confiscation of hijabs and being forced to drink toilet water. The group of 34 Malaysians, ranging from musicians and actors to rappers and influencers, had joined hundreds of international activists in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail this summer on a humanitarian mission to the besieged...

Politics

2 w. ago Thunberg deported from Israel, as Gaza activists allege mistreatment

Israel said it deported on Monday, campaigner Greta Thunberg and another 170 activists from an international flotilla it prevented last week from delivering aid to Gaza, sending them to Greece and Slovakia. Earlier, Swiss and Spanish activists from the flotilla said they were subjected to inhumane conditions during their detention by Israeli forces. Monday’s expulsions brought to 341 the total number deported from 479 detained. Israel’s foreign ministry issued a statement, accompanied by photos...

Politics

2 w. ago Released Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment by Israeli forces

Some of the activists detained while trying to reach Gaza by sea have returned to their home countries to describe mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards, claims that Israel denies. Some 450 activists were arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory. Those detained between Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel, where many...

Politics

2 w. ago Some Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained in Israel

Some of the activists detained while trying to reach Gaza by sea have returned to their home countries to describe mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards, claims that Israel denies. Some 450 activists were arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the famine-stricken territory. Those detained between Wednesday and Friday were brought to Israel, where many...

Politics

2 w. ago Israel to deport intercepted Gaza flotilla activists, including Thunberg

Israel said on Thursday it will deport to Europe pro-Palestinian activists on an aid flotilla headed towards Gaza, as the Israeli navy intercepted vessel after vessel in the Mediterranean. The Global Sumud Flotilla of around 45 vessels began its voyage to Gaza last month, with politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg aiming to break Israel’s siege of the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations says famine has set in. The Israeli navy began...

Politics

2 w. ago Israel blocks all Gaza flotilla ships, vows to deport activists

Israel said on Thursday it would deport pro-Palestinian activists on an aid flotilla intercepted at sea as they headed towards Gaza, adding that none of the vessels had successfully breached its maritime blockade. The Global Sumud Flotilla of around 45 vessels began its voyage last month, with politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg heading to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has set in. The Israeli navy has intercepted vessel after vessel at sea...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Taken against my will’: Israel detains 12 Malaysians on board Gaza aid flotilla

At least 12 Malaysians on a humanitarian aid trip to Gaza have been detained by Israeli forces who stopped their flotilla outside the blockaded Palestinian enclave early on Thursday morning, triggering condemnation from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail in August, is seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade and spotlight the siege of a territory where 65,400 people have been killed according to the United Nations, which last month called Israel’s actions a...

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza flotilla sails on amid Israeli ‘intimidation’, ready for interception

A flotilla heading for Gaza, carrying aid for the war-torn Palestinian territory, announced on Wednesday that it would proceed with its mission despite what it described as “intimidation tactics” by the Israeli military. The group expressed its readiness for possible intervention by the Israeli navy as it nears the enclave. The flotilla of some 45 vessels carrying activists and politicians, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela, departed Spain...

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza aid flotilla says it has been intercepted by Israel’s warships

A flotilla carrying aid to Gaza said Israeli forces were on Wednesday intercepting its latest bid to break an Israeli blockade of the war-battered Palestinian territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla – around 45 vessels carrying activists and politicians including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg – left Spain last month aiming to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory, where the UN says famine has set in. “The warships are moving in to intercept the flotilla – only 81 nautical...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Keep us in your prayers’: Malaysian celebrities risk it all to sail to Gaza

Celebrity sisters, a rapper and an actress are among the 34 Malaysians sailing with a seaborne mission seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver urgent aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail in August, aims to spotlight conditions in a territory where more than 65,000 people have been killed according to United Nations estimates. Last month, the UN described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. The civilian-led convoy, comprising hundreds...

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