Israel's plan for 'humanitarian city' in Rafah sparks outrage
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Toronto Star
3 hours ago
- Toronto Star
59 Palestinians in Gaza killed by Israeli airstrikes or shot dead while seeking aid
At least 31 Palestinians were fatally shot on their way to an aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said. The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots toward people it said were behaving suspiciously to prevent them from approaching.
Globe and Mail
7 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Democrat and Republican lawmakers at odds after state-arranged tour of ‘Alligator Alcatraz' detention centre
Democratic lawmakers condemned Florida's new Everglades immigration detention centre after visiting Saturday, describing it as crowded, unsanitary and bug-infested. Republicans on the same tour said they saw nothing of the sort at the remote facility that officials have dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' The state-arranged tour came after some Democrats were blocked earlier from viewing the 3,000-bed detention centre that the state rapidly built on an isolated airstrip surrounded by swampland. So many state legislators and members of Congress turned up Saturday that they were split into multiple groups. 'There are really disturbing, vile conditions and this place needs to be shut the hell down,' U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat, told reporters after visiting the agglomeration of tents, trailers and temporary buildings. 'This place is a stunt, and they're abusing human beings here.' U.S. detainees describe worm-filled food, inhuman treatment at 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant centre Cage-style units of 32 men share three combination toilet-sink devices, the visitors measured the temperature at 28°C in a housing area entranceway and 29°C in a medical intake area, and grasshoppers and other insects abound, she and her fellow Florida Democrats said. Although the visitors said they were not able to speak with the detainees, Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, also a Democrat, said one called out 'I'm an American citizen!' and others chanted 'Libertad!,' Spanish for 'freedom.' State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a Republican from Florida, countered that he had seen a well-run, safe facility where the living quarters were clean and the air conditioning worked well. 'The rhetoric coming out of the Democrats does not match the reality,' said Ingoglia, who said he toured in the same group as Wasserman Schultz. Ingoglia said a handful of detainees became 'a little raucous' when the visitors appeared, but he did not make out what they were saying. State Sen. Jay Collins was in another group and said he also found the detention centre to be clean and functioning well: 'No squalor.' Collins, a Republican, said he saw backup generators, a tracking system for dietary restrictions and military-style bunks with good mattresses. The sanitation devices struck him as appropriate, if basic. 'Would I want that toilet-and-sink combination at my bathroom at the house? Probably not, but this is a transitional holding facility,' Collins said by phone. Journalists were not allowed on the tour, and lawmakers were instructed not to bring phones or cameras inside. U.S. Supreme Court keeps block on Florida immigration law Trump tours Florida immigration lockup, jokes about escapees having to run from alligators Messages seeking comment were sent to the state Division of Emergency Management, which built the facility, and to representatives for Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican. DeSantis spokesperson Molly Best highlighted one of Ingoglia's upbeat readouts on social media. Across the state in Tampa, federal Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that of the Everglades detention centre that 'any issues that were there have been addressed.' She added that she has talked with five unnamed Republican governors about modelling other facilities on it. DeSantis and fellow Republicans have touted the makeshift detention centre, constructed in days as an efficient and get-tough response to President Donald Trump's call for mass deportations. The first detainees arrived July 3, after Trump toured and praised the facility. Described as temporary, it is meant to help the Republican president's administration reach its goal of boosting migrant detention capacity from 41,000 people to at least 100,000. The Florida facility's remote location and its name – a nod to the notorious Alcatraz prison that once housed federal inmates in California – are meant to underscore a message of deterring illegal immigration. Ahead of the facility's opening, state officials said detainees would have access to medical care, consistent air conditioning, a recreation yard, attorneys and clergy members. But detainees and their relatives and advocates have told The Associated Press that conditions are awful, with worm-infested food, toilets overflowing onto floors, mosquitoes buzzing around the fenced bunks, and air conditioners that sometimes shut off in the oppressive South Florida summer heat. One man told his wife that detainees go days without getting showers. Judge orders Trump administration to curtail immigration arrests in California Division of Emergency Management spokesperson Stephanie Hartman called those descriptions 'completely false,' saying detainees always get three meals a day, unlimited drinking water, showers and other necessities. 'The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order,' she said. Five Democratic state lawmakers tried to visit the site July 3 but said they were denied access. The state subsequently arranged Saturday's tour. The lawmakers have sued over the earlier denial, accusing the DeSantis administration of impeding their oversight authority. A DeSantis spokesperson has called the lawsuit 'dumb.'
Canada News.Net
7 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Houthi strike on cargo vessel disrupts key global trade route
DUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's Houthi rebels on July 9. This incident has drawn significant attention due to its profound implications for maritime safety in a region vital for international trade, where an estimated US$1 trillion worth of cargo passes annually. Reports indicate that, out of the 25 crew members on board, only six have been rescued, while at least three others have lost their lives in the assault. The attack on the Eternity C marks the most aggressive action taken by the Houthis along the Red Sea trade route recently. This escalation raises alarming concerns regarding the safety of maritime operations in the Red Sea, which had previously seen a cautious revival as vessels began to return to these waters. Furthermore, the incident comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which the Houthis claim to support through their military actions targeting commercial shipping. From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis have reportedly launched over 100 attacks on vessels in the region, utilizing missiles and drones. However, there had been a pause in their aggression during a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Following this, they became the target of significant U.S.-led airstrikes, ordered by President Trump. The simultaneous attack on the Eternity C and the sinking of a separate vessel, the Magic Seas, prompts critical questions regarding maritime security in the Red Sea. Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, expressed grave concern regarding the recent hostilities, emphasizing the potential for further civilian casualties and environmental degradation. He referred to the attacking forces as Ansar Allah, another name for the Houthis, and reiterated the need for protecting civilian infrastructure. A statement from the European Union's naval mission confirmed that the crew of the Eternity C comprised 22 sailors, predominantly from the Philippines, alongside a security team that included members from different nations. The nature of the attack was brutal; armed militants reportedly employed rocket-propelled grenades and small arms before utilizing drones and drone boats equipped with explosives to engage the vessel. The ship ultimately sank around 7:50 AM local time. The Eternity C was owned by a Greek company and had been targeted, likely due to its connections with Israel, similar to the Magic Seas attack. Notably, neither of the vessels sought protection from the European naval force stationed in the area. While the U.S. military maintains an operational presence in the region with aircraft carriers like the USS Nimitz and USS Carl Vinson, their location in the Arabian Sea places them far from the scene of the attacks, which, interestingly, had no direct ties to American interests. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthis, claimed responsibility for the attack via a pre-recorded message, detailing the group's military capabilities in a video showcasing the missile launches aimed at the ship. The footage displayed extensive damage to the Eternity C and indicated a significant oil leak. Observers noted the rebels' chants celebrating the attack, which underscores the deep-seated ideological motivations behind their actions. In the aftermath, Philippe's Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac communicated that the government is actively engaging with families of the Filipino sailors to provide updates on the ongoing search and rescue efforts. This proactive approach stems from a recognition of the emotional turmoil families face during such distressing times. The international community has condemned these assaults. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce highlighted the ongoing risks posed by the Houthi rebels to freedom of navigation and regional maritime security, affirming the U.S. commitment to protecting commercial shipping interests. The situation in the Red Sea reflects a complex interplay of geopolitical tensions that extend far beyond Yemen. A balanced approach to diplomacy and conflict resolution is necessary for the region's stability.
