Israel intercepts support flotilla headed for Gaza : NPR

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Israel’s interception of a flotilla of a whole bunch of activists, legal professionals and politicians bringing support to Gaza has been met with widespread worldwide condemnation. There have been huge protests and diplomatic fallout in a number of international locations. In the meantime, Israel is urgent on with its floor operation towards Hamas in Gaza, the place it has ordered residents of probably the most populous metropolis to depart, giving them one final likelihood, it says. Right here to debate all of this and extra is NPR’s Ruth Sherlock, who’s in Rome. Hello, Ruth.

RUTH SHERLOCK, BYLINE: Hello.

CHANG: So let’s begin with this flotilla. I imply, we have seen digital camera footage of Israeli troopers boarding the boats of activists and legal professionals and politicians. What is the scenario now?

SHERLOCK: Effectively, Israel’s now intercepted most of these vessels, and it is doubtless going to deport these on board again to their house international locations, so the activists have not succeeded in that mission to interrupt the naval blockade and ship support to Gaza. However, Ailsa, it is a PR nightmare for Israel. , stopping the flotilla has sparked all these protests all all over the world. Right here in Rome, the place I’m, one thing like 10,000 individuals got here to the streets type of spontaneously…

CHANG: Wow.

SHERLOCK: …Final night time in response. Yeah. And Italy’s nationwide unions have been calling for an enormous strike this week. And Israel’s repeatedly mentioned it considers the flotilla a Hamas-linked provocation with no permission to enter its waters, however many international locations do not see it that means. Colombia has expelled all remaining Israeli diplomats over this. Turkey, Mexico, Eire, Malaysia – these are simply a number of the international locations which have condemned Israel’s actions.

And, you realize, this flotilla journey, it lasted weeks, and it was dwell streamed by the activists, and it is turn into this sort of automobile that individuals have gotten behind to specific the anger they really feel on the scale of the loss of life toll and struggling in Gaza.

CHANG: Yeah. And whereas this has been taking place, an Israeli airstrike hit support staff in Gaza, proper? And now Israel, as we have talked about, is saying that Palestinians have one final alternative to depart Gaza Metropolis.

SHERLOCK: Yeah. So the charity Medical doctors With out Borders has advised NPR that 5 of its employees had been hit in an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. 4 of these had been badly wounded, and a fifth – an occupational therapist – was killed. The charity is saying they had been on their solution to work at a burns and trauma discipline hospital.

And as you say, you realize, Israel’s floor operation is now centered on taking Gaza Metropolis, probably the most populus metropolis in Gaza. And the shelling has been so intense that support teams have pulled out. , a number of the final medical assist has needed to depart. About 400,000 Palestinians have fled the combating. And Israel’s protection minister has now mentioned everybody there has to depart and that those that stay might be thought of militants. However there are nonetheless a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals there. Many are aged, wounded or sick or haven’t got the sources to flee, they usually concern that there is nowhere secure to go.

CHANG: Effectively, whereas all of that has been taking place, President Trump made a 20-point proposal for ending the struggle. The place does that proposal stand now?

SHERLOCK: Effectively, everybody’s ready for a response from Hamas. I imply, the proposal asks Hamas to let out its hostages and Israel to launch a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners. However to finish the struggle, Hamas additionally has to surrender energy in Gaza and disarm. The proposal – it has been accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it surely’s inflicting anger amongst far-right ministers in Israel necessary to his governing coalition, who don’t need Palestinians to be allowed to stay in Gaza in any respect.

And as for Hamas, Qatar is attempting to assist mediate, and its prime minister advised Al Jazeera that extra dialogue and negotiation is required. Nevertheless it’s by no means clear that the Trump administration is open to any additional negotiations, so we’ll should see.

CHANG: That’s NPR’s Ruth Sherlock in Rome. Thanks, Ruth.

SHERLOCK: Thanks a lot.

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