Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla near Crete and detains 175 activists

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Pro-Palestinian activists say 22 boats from a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza have been intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near the Greek island of Crete.

The organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) denounced the action as "piracy", saying those on board were seized unlawfully more than 965km (600 miles) from Gaza, which is under an Israeli naval blockade.
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The flotilla set sail two weeks ago, with a total of 58 vessels joining from Spain, France and Italy, aiming to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.

On Thursday, the GSF said Israeli naval forces had "intercepted, boarded, and systematically disabled and destroyed various boats" in the flotilla during a "violent raid in international waters" north-west of Crete overnight.

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g4lk9m77vo

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Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General, speaking to the Security Council:

The tensions and hostilities that have upended the Middle East over the past weeks have shifted attention from the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Away from the spotlight, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is steadily worsening. The population in Gaza faces ongoing and deadly Israeli strikes and dire humanitarian conditions, while in the West Bank, violence including rampant settler violence, displacement, and accelerating settlement activity are threatening entire communities and further eroding the prospects for a political process that will resolve the conflict on the basis of a viable two-State solution.
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Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing violence. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, since the ceasefire began, approximately 800 Palestinians, including more than 200 children, and seven humanitarian personnel, have been killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes, shelling and gunfire. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has stated that its strikes have targeted Hamas militants and facilities.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian needs on the ground remain overwhelming. Some 1.8 million people – nearly the entire population of Gaza – are displaced and living in IDP camps, and are dependent on aid amid ongoing hostilities, devastated infrastructure, and rising public health risks. While some improvements in access and aid delivery have been observed in recent weeks, unpredictable access, limited operational crossings, and restrictions on critical humanitarian items termed “dual-use” items by Israel continue to constrain the UN response. Food security remains a challenge, while essential services — particularly water, sanitation, and health — are again on the brink of collapse.

Plans must be advanced urgently, not only for humanitarian aid, but also for early recovery and reconstruction. On 20 April, the UN and the European Union released the final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), conducted jointly with the World Bank. According to the assessment, recovery and reconstruction needs in Gaza are estimated at USD 71.4 billion over the next decade, including USD 26.3 billion required in the first 18 months to restore essential services, rebuild critical infrastructure, and support economic recovery.

https://www.un.org/unispal/document/security-council-briefing-delivered-by-asg-khiari-28apr26/