Skip next section Gaza flotilla activists accuse Israel of ‘intercepting’ their vessels
10/01/2025October 1, 2025
Gaza flotilla activists accuse Israel of ‘intercepting’ their vessels
Activists aboard the Gaza aid flotilla accused Israeli forces of “illegally intercepting” their vessels and coming aboard as the flotilla approached the Israeli blockade.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was sailing toward Gaza with more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 people. Among them are parliamentarians from various countries, lawyers and activists, including the Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The announcement came through the flotilla’s X account, with organizers saying they were “working to confirm the safety and status of all participants on board.”
Many of the live feeds from the convoy’s ships continued to work with the people seen on board sitting calmly.
https://p.dw.com/p/51NAM
Skip next section Israel warns Gaza flotilla to change course
10/01/2025October 1, 2025
Israel warns Gaza flotilla to change course
Israel’s government has warned the Gaza aid flotilla to change course as the activist boats approached waters under Israeli blockade.
“The Israeli Navy has reached out to the … flotilla and asked them to change course,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “Israel has informed the flotilla that it is approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade.”
The occupants of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla said the Israeli navy had begun intercepting their vessels, writing on social media accounts that they had been ordered to shut down their engines.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was sailing toward Gaza with more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 people. Among them are parliamentarians from various countries, lawyers and activists, including the Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
Despite repeated warnings from Israel not to approach Gaza’s coast, the caravan of boats had pressed on, although the people aboard expected to be halted by Israel’s navy.
https://p.dw.com/p/51N51
Skip next section UN Human Rights office says 103 civilians killed in Lebanon since ceasefire
10/01/2025October 1, 2025
UN Human Rights office says 103 civilians killed in Lebanon since ceasefire
The UN Human Rights Office reports that it has verified the deaths of 103 civilians in since an agreed ceasefire.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for renewed efforts to bring about a permanent end to fighting.
According to the United Nations, Israel has committed “thousands of violations of the agreement” since a ceasefire on November 27, 2024.
Israel has regularly launched strikes on what it says are targets in southern Lebanon, despite the US-brokered truce.
“We are still seeing devastating impacts of jet and drone strikes in residential areas, as well as near UN peacekeepers in the south,” Türk said.
The rights office reported that more than 80,000 people remained displaced in Lebanon because of the violence.
“I urge all parties to double down on transitioning to a permanent cessation as laid out by the UN Security Council,” Türk said.
https://p.dw.com/p/51MnW
Skip next section Germany arrests three suspected Hamas operatives
10/01/2025October 1, 2025
Germany arrests three suspected Hamas operatives
Prosecutors in Berlin said they have arrested three suspected Hamas operatives. The suspects were preparing attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions in Germany, authorities said.
The three men, two Germans and one Lebanese national, were identified by authorities as Abed Al G., Wael F. M., and Ahmad I. Their last names were not disclosed, in line with German privacy rules.
The men are suspected of being involved in gathering firearms and ammunition to be used for acts of violence.
“The weapons were to be used by Hamas for assassinations targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions in Germany,” according to the Office of the Federal Public Prosecutor General.
Security forces found various weapons during the arrest, “including an AK-47 assault rifle, several pistols and a considerable amount of ammunition.”
https://p.dw.com/p/51MUB
Skip next section Israeli warship approaches Gaza aid flotilla, activists say
10/01/2025October 1, 2025
Israeli warship approaches Gaza aid flotilla, activists say
A consisting of more than 40 private boats has been approached by an Israeli warship shortly before reaching its destination, activists said on Wednesday, with organizers saying preparations were being made “for an imminent attack” by Israeli naval vessels.
An activist on board posted a video on X that appears to show an armed patrol boat drawing close to one of the vessels in the flotilla.
, which contains symbolic aid provisions as a protest against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The boats departed from Barcelona at the end of August and is expected to arrive in Gaza in a few days.
All previous attempts by such flotillas to reach Gaza and dock there since 2010 have been thwarted by Israeli forces.
https://p.dw.com/p/51M0X
Skip next section Red Cross to suspend Gaza City acitivities — statement
10/01/2025October 1, 2025
Red Cross to suspend Gaza City acitivities — statement
The humanitarian organization Red Cross said on Wednesday that had forced it to suspend its activities there.
“The intensification of military operations in Gaza City has forced the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to temporarily suspend operations at its Gaza City office and relocate staff to ICRC offices in southern Gaza to ensure staff safety and operational continuity,” it said in a statement.
The statement said, however, that “tens of thousands … face harrowing humanitarian conditions” in the city.
The Red Cross announcement came days after medical charity Doctors Without Borders said it had been forced to suspend its work in Gaza City because of Israel’s offensive.
https://p.dw.com/p/51Lpa
Skip next section Israel’s Katz tells Gaza City residents to flee now or never
10/01/2025October 1, 2025
Israel’s Katz tells Gaza City residents to flee now or never
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned residents of Gaza City to flee south or miss their last chance to do so, saying the military is tightening its encirclement of the city.
“This is the last opportunity for residents who wish to do so to move south and leave Hamas operatives isolated in Gaza City,” Katz posted on X, adding that anyone who remained would “be considered terrorists and terrorist supporters.”
He said the Israeli army had seized the Netzarim corridor in the central Gaza Strip, which he said cut off the north of the territory from the south.
Katz said people leaving Gaza City for the south would have to pass through Israeli military checkpoints.
The warning comes as witnesses reported heavy bombardment in the city, the largest urban center in the Palestinian territory.
https://p.dw.com/p/51Lwi
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage10/01/2025October 1, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
DW reports on events in the Middle East as Israel’s offensive in Gaza — launched following the deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 — continues unabated even as Hamas scrutinizes a .
The world, and our newsroom, is watching closely as a privately organized aid flotilla heads for Gaza, with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on board one of the vessels.
The fighting has caused the Red Cross to suspend its activities in Gaza City, where Israel has intensified its operations in recent weeks.
Read here for headlines and analysis from and about Israel, Gaza and the wider Middle East region.
https://p.dw.com/p/51Lsf
The post Middle East: Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla — activists appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
