Latest news with #Genocide
Irish Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Israeli cruise ship turned away from Greek island by Gaza war protest
A cruise liner carrying Israeli tourists has been forced to reroute to Cyprus after being turned away from the Greek island of Syros after a quayside protest over the Gaza war. Around 1,600 Israeli passengers on board the Crown Iris were prevented from disembarking amid safety concerns. More than 300 demonstrators on the Cycladic isle made clear they were unwelcome over Israel's conduct of the war and treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. A large banner emblazoned with the words 'Stop the Genocide' was held aloft alongside Palestinian flags. A statement from the protesters also took issue with Greece's increasingly close 'economic, technological and military' relationship with Israel. 'As residents of Syros but more so as human beings, we are taking action that we hope will contribute to stopping this destruction from the genocidal war that is taking place in our neighbourhood,' it said. Some passengers on the vessel reacted by raising Israeli flags and chanting patriotic slogans, eyewitnesses said. Confirming the incident, Mano Maritime, the Israeli shipping firm operating the vessel, said: 'The ship arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark.' Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the incident, the Greek foreign ministry confirmed. It did not release any details of their discussion. During the delay at the port, passengers told Israel's Channel 12 news that they had been told by onboard security to remain indoors, rather than to go out onto the deck. One Israeli passenger told Israel's Kan public broadcaster, however, that when one of the passengers saw the protest, 'we raised Israeli flags and some of us started singing'. 'We felt safe inside the ship, but the children are a little stressed,' the passenger said. In recent years, Greece has become popular among Israeli tourists, reflecting the increasingly close ties between the two Mediterranean nations. An estimated 621,000 visited the Hellenic Republic in 2024 alone. Although the protest concluded without injuries nor arrests, the episode highlighted mounting disquiet in Greece over Israel's actions in Gaza. Anti-Israeli graffiti have proliferated across the country, as has signage in support of Palestinians. Israel's national security council's current guidelines for travel to Greece put the country's threat level at two, of a possible four, meaning Israelis and Jews are advised to take 'increased precautionary measures' there. - The Guardian and agencies
Irish Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Israeli cruise ship turned away from Greek island after locals protest over Gaza war
A cruise liner carrying Israeli tourists has been forced to reroute to Cyprus after being turned away from the Greek island of Syros after a quayside protest over the Gaza war . Around 1,600 Israeli passengers on board the Crown Iris were prevented from disembarking amid safety concerns when more than 300 demonstrators on the Cycladic isle made clear they were unwelcome over Israel's conduct of the war and treatment of Palestinians in Gaza . A large banner emblazoned with the words Stop the Genocide was held aloft alongside Palestinian flags. A statement from the protesters also took issue with Greece's increasingly close 'economic, technological and military' relationship with Israel. 'As residents of Syros but more so as human beings, we are taking action that we hope will contribute to stopping this destruction from the genocidal war that is taking place in our neighbourhood,' it said. BREAKING: Hundreds of Israelis are stranded aboard a Mano Maritime cruise ship at the port of Syros, Greece, after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked their disembarkation. The demonstration was in response to Israel's genocide in Gaza. — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) Some passengers on the vessel reacted by raising Israeli flags and chanting patriotic slogans, eyewitnesses said. Confirming the incident, Mano Maritime, the Israeli shipping firm operating the vessel, said: 'The ship arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark.' Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the incident, the Greek foreign ministry confirmed. It did not release any details of their discussion. In recent years, Greece has become popular among Israeli tourists, reflecting the increasingly close ties between the two Mediterranean nations. Although the protest concluded without injuries nor arrests, the episode highlighted mounting disquiet in Greece over Israel's actions in Gaza. Anti-Israeli graffiti have proliferated across the country, as has signage in support of Palestinians. - Guardian
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia a target for Israeli spies over Gaza stance, Anwar warns
Malaysia is being targeted by Israel 's Mossad intelligence agency over its support for the Palestinian cause, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has claimed, vowing to boost his country's own surveillance and security against potential infiltrators. The Muslim-majority nation has been the leading Southeast Asian voice accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza , where the enclave's health ministry says at least 59,000 people have been killed, with the toll spiking daily as they are gunned down queuing for food. Malaysia has also called for Israel's expulsion from the United Nations for what it says were numerous war crimes and persistent violations of international law against Palestinians, as well as genocide. Anwar on Tuesday said international intelligence agencies, particularly Mossad, were operating in the country, pointing to a recent gun smuggling case that involved a local couple who were believed to have worked for an alleged Israeli agent. Israeli Shalom Avitan (centre) being escorted by Royal Malaysia Police officers to Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on April 12, 2024. Avitan was sentenced to seven years' jail in February. Photo: EPA-EFE
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: 500 Palestine Action activists plan to be arrested at massive protest for terrorist group that will 'overwhelm justice system'
Hundreds of Palestine Action supporters plan to get arrested in a mass summer demonstration, planning documents reveal. At least 500 radical activists are preparing to sit in London for 60 minutes or 'until arrest' on August 9th while holding signs which state: 'I oppose Genocide. I support Palestine Action'. Palestine Action was proscribed (banned) on July 5 by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after protesters associated with the group broke into Britain's largest airbase and vandalized two RAF Voyager aircrafts. It is a criminal offence to support them. The 15-page document, titled 'Lift the ban, De-proscribe Palestine Action' and was last updated on Sunday, details the group's extensive plot to overwhelm the police and the justice system until - it claims - the Government is forced to U-turn and reverse the ban. Their protest, planned for next month, would be the largest escalation in a series of similar protests that have taken place across the UK since the ban. So far dozens of people have already been arrested for holding similar signs expressing support for the prohibited group. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Daily Mail: 'The Government simply cannot allow a proscribed group to overwhelm our justice system. 'Anyone assisting the group must face immediate justice. 'There can be no doubt in people's minds: if they support a terrorist group, they will be punished.' Lord Walney, the former government extremism adviser, added: 'People shouldn't be duped - this stunt will do nothing to help Palestine but it will land you with a criminal record that could ruin your life. 'The police are doing their job but now need to act quickly to show there are serious consequences for supporting a proscribed group.' Under the heading 'The Action', the document explains: '[The protest on August 9] will be a conditional commitment action, which means it will only go ahead if 500 people have committed to taking action on the same day. It continues: 'The intention is for a mass action on a scale that makes it almost impossible for the police to intervene. 'Although there's a substantial risk of arrest, and all taking part should be prepared for that, the indications from the past three Saturdays are that the stakes for action-takers are relatively low, in comparison to the worst-case scenarios. 'No-one has yet been charged with an offence, and no-one has been remanded.' The document also advises supporters what to do 'in case of arrest' and how to respond to house raids from police. It also links to a pre-prepared statement which activists are encouraged to read during police interviews and information about 'Preparing For Prison' which includes advice about ordering vegan meals and how to receive books behind bars. A Community Security Trust (CST) spokesperson said: 'Palestine Action is now a proscribed organisation, and the public will expect the police to continue fully enforcing the law, as they have done to date.' A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries - the group organising these protests - said: 'It's disgraceful that a Labour Home Secretary imagines that with a stroke of her pen, she can abolish our ancient freedoms. 'Visitors to Parliament Square, watching the Met's finest haul away priests and teachers for holding simple cardboard signs, opposing genocide, are wondering whether they've been misdirected to Tiananmen Square. 'A number of police forces around the country, such as in Edinburgh, Chichester and Kendal, have exercised common sense to leave protestors be. 'Police chiefs embracing the Orwellian approach should think twice. 'Once the proscription order is ruled unlawful (and it is just a matter of time) they will be paying out substantial compensation for wrongful arrest and trespass to property.' A Met Police spokesperson said: 'While we would not go into the details of our approach, the public can be reassured that we will have a detailed plan in place to respond to any eventuality. 'Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done over the past three weekends.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Bersamin: No ICC warrant for Bato, but PH authorities will act if there is one
No warrant of arrest has been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Senator "Bato" dela Rosa in relation to the previous administration's war on drugs, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Sunday. However, should the ICC issue an arrest warrant for the senator through Interpol, Philippine authorities may arrest him, he said. 'Wala (There is none),' Bersamin told reporters who covered the departure of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for the US at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. 'If there should be a warrant, we'll probably do the same thing that we did in the case of the former president [Rodrigo Duterte], if the warrant is coursed through the Interpol because we continue to be a member of the Interpol," Bersamin said. 'We are not going to do things differently unless the Supreme Court in those pending cases makes a different announcement about how we should proceed,' he added. This move, Bersamin said, is non-discriminatory since it is in accordance with the law. 'Nothing discriminatory that we will ever undertake. We're always clear about that, hindi kami (we're not) politically motivated. All those attributions to us were unfair,' Bersamin said. GMA News Online contacted the office of dela Rosa to get his comment on the matter but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. The Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity stated that Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation. 'Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties,' the measure read. Dela Rosa, a staunch ally of the Duterte family, served as police chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte's administration. Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11 based on a warrant issued by the ICC through Interpol. He is currently detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for crimes against humanity charges in connection with the killings under his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president of the Philippines. In March, Dela Rosa was named among the co-perpetrators of Duterte in the war on drugs, as shown in the application of warrant of arrest posted on the ICC website. He was identified as the architect of "Oplan Tokhang," which was first implemented in Davao City when he was then the local police chief. According to police records, drug war deaths totaled about 6,000 Human rights groups however claimed that the death toll was 30,000, including vigilante killings. —KG, GMA Integrated News
