Events happening thick and fast

June 2025

Two major events have happened in the past few days in relation to the worsening situation in Gaza. A boat trying to make a symbolic visit to Gaza with food and other aid was intercepted in international waters by Israel. Today (10 June) the UK government joined others in sanctioning two members of the Israeli government. The Secretary General of Amnesty said:

By forcibly intercepting and blocking the Madleen (pictured) which was carrying humanitarian aid and a crew of solidarity activists, Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice

The operation carried out in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and put the safety of those on the boat at risk. The crew were unarmed activists and human rights defenders on a humanitarian mission, they must be released immediately and unconditionally. They must also be protected from torture and other ill-treatment pending their release. 

During its voyage over the past few days the Madleen’s mission emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians amid persistent international inaction. However, this very mission is also an indictment of the international community’s failure to put an end to Israel’s inhumane blockade. Activists would not have needed to risk their lives had Israel’s allies translated their rhetoric into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza

Israel’s interception of the Madleen despite global calls for it to be granted safe passage underscores the longstanding impunity Israel enjoys which has emboldened it to continue to commit genocide in Gaza and to maintain a suffocating, illegal blockade on Gaza for 18 years. 

Until we see real concrete steps by states worldwide signalling an end to their blanket support for Israel, it will have carte blanche to continue inflicting relentless death and suffering on Palestinians.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International

UK government announces sanctions

Today, the UK government announced sanctions against two members of the Israeli government, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for their various statements about the conflict in Gaza. Smotrich is quoted as saying:

“Gaza will be entirely destroyed” as a result of an Israeli military victory, and that its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries”

raising fears of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory.

He is also quoted as saying that he wants life for the Palestinians to be as dire as possible by confining them to a narrow strip of land:

“They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.”

These and other quotes are not from a hot-head or someone on the fringes of Israeli society but from the Security Minister (Gvir) and Finance Minister (Smotrich). Nor are they isolated statements said in the heat of the moment but part of a pattern of similar statements. The Israeli foreign affairs minister said it ‘was outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kinds of measures [UK sanctions]’,

The UK government has been under a huge amount of pressure to act especially as the blockage and its appalling effects began to be seen. Shooting people desperate for food after weeks of a blockade has been widely condemned.

Neither event will have much of an impact on Israel so long as America continues its unwavering support. More and more countries, under pressure from people who are outraged by what they see, are beginning to take a tougher line however. There are no viable peace talks taking place at present. The word ‘genocide’ is being used more and more: the deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of a large number of people from a particular national or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group. Just under 55,000 thousand have died in Gaza.

Sources: Jerusalem Post; Palestine Chronicle; Haaretz; Guardian.