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Israeli Military intercepts Aid Yacht, Announces Humanitarian Measures Amidst Gaza Crisis
The Israeli military intercepted a yacht carrying 12 activists, including prominent environmentalist Greta Thunberg, approximately 185 kilometers (115 miles) west of Gaza. This action occurred during an expedition organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which aimed to deliver aid to Gaza and draw attention to the humanitarian situation there, in defiance of Israel’s blockade.
At the time of the interception, the Israeli foreign ministry characterized the vessel as a “selfie yacht” with “less than a single truckload of aid.” The ministry stated that the aid, which included baby formula and medicine, would be rerouted to Gaza through “real humanitarian channels.”
The blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt began in 2007 after Hamas gained control of the territory by ousting it’s rivals, a year after winning legislative elections.
On March 2, Israel halted all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies to Gaza. Two weeks later, it resumed its military offensive, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. Israel has as been prioritizing aid distribution via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an initiative it supports along with the United States. However,the United Nations and othre aid organizations have declined to cooperate with this new system,citing its conflict with the humanitarian principles of neutrality,impartiality,and independence.
In response to international pressure and a worsening hunger crisis in the Palestinian territory, the Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had conducted an airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Subsequently, the Israel defense Forces (IDF) stated its intention to open humanitarian corridors for aid convoys within Gaza. These routes are scheduled to be operational daily from 06:00 to 23:00 local time (04:00 BST to 21:00 BST), facilitating the delivery of food and medicine by the UN and other organizations to Palestinians across the strip.
Furthermore, the IDF announced a “local tactical pause in military activity” for “humanitarian purposes” in three specific areas: Al Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and gaza City. These pauses are set to occur daily from 10:00 to 20:00 local time (08:00 BST to 18:00 BST) until further notice.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza was initiated in response to the Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the taking of 251 hostages. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 59,676 people have been killed in the territory since the commencement of the Israeli military operation.