Israeli soldiers used Palestinians as human shields in Gaza
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The only times the Palestinian man wasn't bound or blindfolded, he said, was when he was used by Israeli soldiers as their human shield.
Dressed in army fatigues with a camera fixed to his forehead, Ayman Abu Hamadan was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen, he said. When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next.
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The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Another Gaza-bound aid ship stopped by Israeli forces in international waters
ISRAELI FORCES HAVE intercepted another humanitarian aid ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists in international waters, in what campaigners have called an 'unlawful' and 'violent' act against civilians attempting to deliver relief to Gaza. The Handala, a refurbished fishing boat operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was stopped last night around 100km off the coast of Gaza and 50km from Egypt. The vessel was carrying aid supplies including baby formula, nappies, food, and medicine, intended for civilians in the besieged territory. In a statement on X, Israel's foreign ministry said its navy had prevented the Handala, registered as Navaren, from 'illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza'. It said the vessel was 'safely making its way to the shores of Israel' and that 'all passengers are safe'. 'Unauthorised attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts,' the statement added. Video footage from the Handala showed passengers with their hands raised in surrender and singing the anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao as Israeli soldiers boarded. The Handala has just been illegally intercepted by the Zionist entity of Israel while carrying baby formula to starving children — Thiago Ávila | Gaza Freedom Flotilla (@thiagoavilabr) July 26, 2025 The livestream was cut shortly afterward, and the FFC later said that communication systems and cameras on board had been disabled. 'The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized,' the FFC said. The group claims the vessel was intercepted in international waters at 11.43pm local time. Advertisement Among the 21 people aboard were human rights campaigners, two Al Jazeera journalists, and elected representatives from France's national and European parliaments. One of the coalition's steering committee members, Ann Wright, said in a statement that the ship's seizure 'is not a matter of internal Israeli jurisdiction.' 'These are foreign nationals operating under international law in international waters. Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end,' Wright said. Gaza blockade The interception comes just over a month after another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Madleen, was stopped en route to Gaza. That ship carried 12 activists, including Greta Thunberg, and was also attempting to deliver aid in defiance of Israel's naval blockade. Activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aboard the Madleen boat in June. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The blockade, enforced by Israel since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, has been widely criticised for exacerbating a humanitarian crisis. Since 2 March, Israel has largely restricted the entry of aid into the territory, prompting warnings from the UN and humanitarian organisations of mass starvation and a looming famine. The Handala's mission was part of what the flotilla organisers called a 'people's humanitarian corridor'. The group has called for the immediate release of those on board and for governments to intervene. Today, Israel's military announced the opening of humanitarian corridors and limited daily pauses in military operations to allow the delivery of aid . Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
25 killed by Israeli fire across Gaza, says civil defence
Gaza's civil defence agency has said Israeli fire has killed 25 people in the Palestinian territory devastated by more than 21 months of war. Agency spokesman Mahmoud Bassal told AFP the dead included nine people killed in three separate air strikes in Gaza City. Eleven people were killed in four separate strikes near the southern city of Khan Younis, while two were killed in a drone strike in Nuseirat refugee camp, he added. Mr Bassal said three people were killed by Israeli gunfire while waiting for aid in three separate incidents in northern, central and southern Gaza. One of the three was killed "after Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting for humanitarian aid" northwest of Gaza City, the agency said. Witnesses said that several thousand people had gathered in the area. One of them, Abu Samir Hamoudeh, 42, said the Israeli military opened fire "while the people were waiting to approach the distribution point", located near an Israeli military post in the Zikim area, northwest of Sudaniyah. The Israeli military said that its troops fired "warning shots to distance the crowd" after identifying an "immediate threat". The civil defence agency said another man was killed by a drone strike near Khan Younis, while one was killed by artillery fire in the Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza. The Israeli military said it was continuing its operations in Gaza, adding that it killed members of a "terrorist cell" which it accused of planting an explosive device. It said the air force had "struck over 100 terror targets" across Gaza over the previous 24 hours. Mr Bassal said civil defence teams also recovered the bodies of 12 people following Israeli bombardment north of Rafah the previous night. The recovery operation was conducted in coordination with the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), he said, adding that the bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after a deadly attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on 7 October 2023. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,676 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Gaza civil defence says Israeli forces kill 11 people
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli operations have killed 11 people in the Palestinian territory devastated by over 21 months of war. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the toll included four Palestinians killed in an air strike on the Al-Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City in the territory's north. One other person was killed "after Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting for humanitarian aid" northwest of Gaza City, the agency said. Eyewitnesses said that several thousand people had gathered in the area to wait for aid. One of them, Abu Samir Hamoudeh, 42, said the Israeli military opened fire "while the people were waiting to approach the distribution point", located near an Israeli military post in the Zikim area, northwest of Sudaniyah. Another man was killed by a drone strike near the southern city of Khan Younis, while one was killed by artillery fire in the Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza, the civil defence said. The Israeli military said it was looking into the matter. In a separate statement, the military said it was continuing its operations in Gaza, adding that it killed members of a "terrorist cell" which it accused of planting an explosive device targeting soldiers. It added that over the past day the air force had "struck over 100 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip". Mr Bassal also said that civil defence teams recovered the bodies of 12 people in the area of the Morag Corridor north of Rafah following Israeli bombardment the previous night. The recovery operation was conducted in coordination with the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), he said, adding that the bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,676 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after a deadly attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on 7 October 2023. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
