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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Barber held for beating man to death over 'bidi' in east Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): A 32-year-old barber was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly beating a man to death following an altercation over a 'bidi' in east Delhi's Pandav Nagar area, police said.
A call regarding the incident that occurred near the bus stand road in Shashi Garden was received at 1.24 am, they said.
The victim was identified as Deepak (28), while the accused was Manoj, he added.
According to the police, during an argument, the accused picked up a wooden stick lying nearby and struck the victim repeatedly on the head. Multiple injuries and bruise marks were also found on the victim's forehead.
"Deepak was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead," an officer said.
An FIR has been registered and further investigation is underway, the officer added.
