IDF intercepts Gaza aid ship, assaults US labour activist Chris Smalls
London: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday night intercepted an aid vessel bound for Gaza and reportedly assaulted American labour rights activist Chris Smalls, according to The Guardian. The vessel was part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international initiative aiming to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, in operation since 2010.
Chris Smalls, best known for co-founding the Amazon Labor Union, was among 21 passengers detained by Israeli forces. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition stated on Instagram that Smalls was “physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals” while in Israeli custody. “They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back,” the statement alleged. Lawyers who later met Smalls reported that he was surrounded by six special unit officers.
The ship Handala was reportedly carrying humanitarian aid, including food, baby formula, diapers, and medical supplies. It was intercepted while attempting to breach the naval blockade on Gaza. The coalition claims the interception took place amid what it describes as a "worst-case scenario of famine" in the besieged enclave.
Among those detained were parliamentarians, medics, engineers, journalists, and civilians from various countries. This is not the coalition’s first such mission, an earlier flotilla in June, which included climate activist Greta Thunberg, was similarly intercepted by Israeli authorities, resulting in her arrest.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, when Israeli commandos killed 10 activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid ship, sparking international outrage.
Calls for international action against Israel’s blockade and treatment of aid workers have intensified in recent days, with some prominent Israeli figures themselves urging global sanctions over what they term the deliberate starvation of Gaza's civilian population.
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Kantara mimicking case: HC extends interim relief given to actor Ranveer Singh till March 9
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka High Court on Monday extended the interim relief given to Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh till March 9, in a case related to mimicking a character from the movie, 'Kantara Chapter-1', and allegedly mocking a deity.
The actor had approached the High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR against him for mimicking Rishab Shetty's role as 'Chavunda' deity in the movie.
While mimicking, Singh had called the deity a "ghost". The actor was asked to appear before the court in person on Monday.
Appearing on behalf of the actor, his counsel Sajjan Poovayya said Singh was stuck in London and was unable to reach Bengaluru due to the conflict in West Asia.
The complainant, who is a lawyer, alleged that his religious sentiments were hurt by calling the deity a ghost. On the directions of a local Court, the police registered a case against the actor.
The High Court on February 24 granted interim relief to the actor with directions to the police not to take any coercive steps against him.
