The Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad says the newly reached ceasefire between the Israeli regime and Hamas is a direct outcome of the steadfastness and sacrifices of the Palestinian people, and not a favor granted by foreign powers.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad stressed that the ceasefire, including the exchange of the remaining Israeli captives in Gaza with Palestinian prisoners, “are not a gift from anyone,” underscoring that they were achieved through the “sacrifices” and steadfastness of the Palestinian people.

“We emphasize the enormous sacrifices made by our Palestinian people, and the courage and bravery of its fighters on the ground who confronted the enemy forces and showed unprecedented courage in combat,” it said.

The Islamic Jihad also paid tribute to Palestinians killed in the fighting, calling them “great martyrs” whose sacrifices were instrumental in sustaining the resistance movement.

“In these historic moments, our people will not forget their great martyrs who played the most important role in keeping the resistance steadfast,” it stressed.

While the group did not dismiss the role of international efforts in facilitating the ceasefire, it framed the agreement as a testament to Palestinian perseverance rather than diplomatic concessions.

Israel and Hamas reached the deal following three days of indirect negotiations in Egypt. The agreement is aimed at ending two years of genocide in the Gaza Strip based on a proposal forwarded by US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the political bureau of Hamas, also said that the ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip is the fruit of the great sacrifices and legendary patience of the Palestinian people, and the strength and steadfastness of the resistance.

“This agreement stems from our historical responsibility toward our great people, our commitment to our legitimate rights, and the culmination of our resistance's achievements on October 7,” he stressed,

He also emphasized that the ceasefire agreement is a remarkable national achievement, reflecting the unity of “our people” and their commitment to resistance as a means of confronting the Zionist occupation.

Hamas announced early Thursday that it reached a deal to end Israel’s war on Gaza, secure the occupation’s withdrawal, allow aid deliveries, and facilitate the exchange of the remaining Israeli captives in Gaza with Palestinian prisoners.

The regime launched the genocide on October 7, 2023, after a historic operation staged by Gaza’s resistance fighters against the occupied Palestinian territories. Al-Aqsa Flood saw the fighters storm Israeli bases and take hundreds of Zionists captive.

More than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since then. 

Press TV’s website 

The Israeli military has warned Palestinians not to return to northern Gaza, as it carries out fresh airstrikes across the blockaded territory despite a newly announced ceasefire meant to halt the genocidal war.

In a statement on Thursday, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, claimed that the area north of Wadi Gaza - the valley dividing the central and northern regions of the war-torn territory- remains “a dangerous combat zone.”

He stressed that Israeli troops continue to encircle Gaza City, warning that returning to the area poses a severe risk as the area is “still considered a dangerous combat zone.”

Adraee further urged Palestinians to stay away from northern Gaza and from locations where Israeli forces are active across the territory, including its southern and eastern parts, until further official guidance is issued.

“For your safety, refrain from returning north or approaching areas where [Israeli forces] are stationed and operating throughout the sector, including in the south and east of the sector, until official instructions are issued,” he stressed.

Despite reports of a ceasefire deal, Israel continues its military assaults across the besieged Gaza Strip.

Israeli airstrikes targeted western Gaza City, hitting at least one home in the Shati refugee camp, according to Al Jazeera Arabic. Furthermore, Israeli forces detonated an explosive-laden armored vehicle near residential areas in the Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City.

Which one is accounted as the authentic phrase [in Saqlayn hadith]:

وعترتي) and my household) or وسنتي) and my tradition)?

 In their Hadith books, the narrators have recorded Saqlayn hadith,

which is of high credit, in two versions, and now, we are about to find out

the authentic one:

1st.بيتي اهل وعترتي هللا كتاب) God‟s Book and my household)

2nd. وسنتي هللا كتاب) God‟s Book and my tradition)

The answer:

 The Prophet‟s true and authentic hadith is the one, which includes the

phrase بيتي اهل و) and my household), and the authenticity of its

documentary sources is beyond doubt, while the documents, presented for

سنتي و) and my tradition) seem unsound.

The evidence of the phrase بيتي اهل و) and my household):

 Two grand narrators have narrated the following text:

1- In his book, entitled „Sahih‟, Moslem narrates from Zeid

Ibn Argham that once the Prophet (peace be upon him and

his descendants) delivered a sermon next to Khum, a pool in

a region between Mecca and Medina, in which he praised

God and admonished the people as saying,

اال ايها الناس، فانما انا بش ٌر يوشك ان ياتي رسول ربي فاجيب و انا تارك فيكم ثقلين :

اولهما كتاب هللا فيه الهدي و النور، فخذوا بكتاب هللا و استمسكوا به – فحث علي كتاب هللا

و رؼب فيه ثم قال : و اهل بيتي، اذكركم هللا في اهل بيتي ، اذكركم هللا في اهل بيتي ،

* اذكركم هللا في اهل بيتي

(O, people! Verily, I am a man, and soon the angel of death

will come to me, and I will submit myself to his call. I leave

behind two invaluable things: the Divine Book, which is the

light and guidance, so adhere to it. He then went on, and my

household, and my household, and my household.)

Darami in his „Sonan‟ has recorded this sermon, too,** and the

authenticity of these two documentary sources is beyond doubt.

2-Tirmizi has also narrated this hadith with the phrase بيتي اهل عترتي و

(and my household) as follows,

اني تارك فيكم ما ان تمسكتم به لن تضلوا بعدي؛ احدهما اعظم من االخر: كتاب هللا حبل

ممدود من السماء الي االرض و عترتي اهل بيتي ، لن يفترقا حتي يردا علي الحوض،

* فانظروا كيؾ تخلفوني فيها

(I leave behind among you two things. You will never go astray

if you hold fast to them; and one of them is greater than the

other: the Book of Allah, which is a string from the heaven to

the earth, and my household (Ahlul-Bait). They will never be

separated from each other until they join me at the pond.

Beware how you will treat my trusts.)

 This proves the authenticity of our assertion that Moslem and

Tirmizi, the authors of „Sahih‟ and „Sonan‟, have highlighted the

phrase بيتي اهل و) my household), and its authenticity is beyond doubt.

The evidence of the phrase وسنتي) and my tradition):

 The tradition, having applied the phrase وسنتي) and my tradition), is a

fake, and in addition to its unsound documents, it is believed that the

Umayyad agents have faked it:

1- In his „Mostadrak‟, Hakem Neishaburi has narrated the below

tradition from the following narrators:

 Abbas Ibn Abi Ovays narrated from Abi Ovays from Thur Ibn

Zeidul Deilami from Akramah from Ibn Abas that the holy Prophet

(peace be upon him and his descendants) said,

* يا ايها الناس إني قد تركت فيكم، ان اعتصمتم به فلن تضلوا ابدا: كتاب هللا و سنه نبيه

(O, people! I leave behind two things; you will never go astray

if you hold fast to them: the Book of Allah and His Prophet‟s

tradition.)

 Ishmael Ibn Abi Ovays and Abi Ovays, the father and the son, twoof the narrators of this hadith, are not only unreliable, but also charged

of forgery and lie.

The genealogists’ views on them:

 Hafez Mazi, a genealogical scholar, in his book, entitled „Tahzibul

Kamal‟ writes about Ishmael and his father as such:

 “Yahya Ibn Moe‟en (one of the great scholars in the field of

genealogy) believes that Abi Ovays and his son are unreliable”. He

has been narrated as saying that they have committed breach of trust

about the hadiths. With regard to Abi Ovays‟ son, he said, “He is

unreliable”, and Nesaee believes that Abi Ovays‟ son is unsound and

untrustworthy. Abul Qasem Lalkaee said, “Nesaee has a lot of

assertions against him such as, “his narrations ought to be

abandoned”.

Besides, Ibn Adi (the genealogist) says, “Ibn Abi Ovays has narrated a

number of queer traditions from Malek, his uncle, that nobody

believes in them”.*

 Ibn Hejr in the preface of his book „Fath Ul-Bari‟ has asserted,

“One cannot rely on Ibn Abi Ovays‟ narrations, because Nesaee has

reprimanded him”.**

 In his book, called „Fathul Molk Ul-Ala‟, Hafez Seyed Ahmad Ibn

Sediq quoted Salmat Ibn Sheid that he had heard from Ishmael Ibn

Abi Ovays saying, “When the people of Medina have a diversity of

opinion about something and fall in two groups, I fake some

traditions”.***

 Thus, Ishmael Ibn Abi Ovays in accused of faking hadiths, and Ibn

Moe‟en has ascribed the mendacity to him. In addition, his narrations

have never been recorded in any sound books, including „Sahih‟ by

both Moslem and Tirmizi.

 Moreover, Abu Hatam Razi in „Jarh and Tadil‟ writes, “Abu Ovays‟

hadiths have been recorded in some of the books, but no one relies onthem in his debates, because they are not trustworthy”.*

The traditions,

narrated by them, are unsound and in cases, contradict the sound and

authentic ones.

 It is worthy to mention that the hadith transmitter, i.e., Hakem

Neishaburi, has rectified the lack of authenticity of the hadith

narrators, so he has not endeavored to rectify it. On the contrary, he

has presented evidence, proving the authenticity of the hadith content,

but this evidence adds invalidity to it, and here is his unsound

evidence:

The second evidence of the phrase سنتي و) and my tradition):

 Hakem Neishaburi has narrated the following as Marfu hadith **

from Abu Hurirah,

اني قد تركت فيكم شيئين لن تضلوا بعدهما: كتاب هللا و سنتي و لن يفترقا حتي يردا علي

*** الحوض

 Hakem has narrated this hadith with the following chain

of transmission:

 Alzabi narrated from Saleh Ibn Musa Al-Talhi from Abdul Aziz Ibn

Rafi from Abi Saleh from Abi Hurirah.

Like the previous one, this hadith is a fake. Saleh Ibn Musa Al- Talha

is one of the narrators, and below are the great genealogists‟ views on

him:

 Yahya Ibn Moeen says, “Saleh Ibn Musa is not reliable”. Abu

Hatam Razi reprimands him as saying, “his narrations are not sound,

and he ascribes some invalid statements to the trustworthy individuals.

Nesaee believes, “his narrations ought to be abandoned ”.*

 In „Thahzib Ul-Tahzib‟, Ibn Hejr refers to Ibn Habaen as saying,

“Saleh Ibn Mosa ascribes some statements to the trustworthy

individuals, while they have no conformity with their speech”. He

then adds, “his narrations are not reliable, and Abu Naeem also

believes that his narrations should not be trusted, because he alwaysnarrated null and void narrations”.** Also, Ibn Hejr in

„Taqrib‟***writes, “his narrations are abandoned”, and Zahabi in

„Kashef‟****says, “His narrations are unreliable”. He also in „Mizan

Ul-Etedal‟*

has quoted the above-mentioned tradition, asserting that it

was one of Salih‟s invalid traditions.

The third evidence of the phrase وسنتي) and my tradition):

 Ibn Abdul Ber in „Tamhid‟ **has recorded the same tradition with

the following chain of transmission:

Abdul Rahman Ibn Yahya narrated from Ahmad Ibn Saeed from

Mohammed Ibn Abraham Aldabili from Ali Ibn Zeidul Faraezi, from

Al-Honaini from Kathir Ibn Abdollah Ibn Amro Ibn Ouf from his

father from his grandfather.

 With regard to Kathir Ibn Abdollah, Imam Shaffee said, “He is one

of the pillars of mendacity”.*** Abu Dawud also asserted, “He is of the

liars”. Ibn Haban stated, “Abdollah Ibn Kathir has narrated a book of

traditions from his father and grandfather which is a fake from the

base, and any excerption from the book or narration from Abdollah is

prohibited, save for criticism or rebuttal”.****

 Nesaee and Darul Ghatna are of the opinion that his narrations are

unreliable, and Imam Ahmad confirms that his narrated hadiths are

unsound and therefore, rejected, and Ibn Moe‟en is of the same

opinion.

 It is a wonder that Ibn Hejr in „Al- Taghrib‟ has only sufficed it to

describe him as „unsound‟ and has called those who have charged him

with mendacity as extravagant, whereas the leaders of genealogy have

accused him of mendacity and fake; as Zahabi says, “his words are

invalid and unfounded”.

The narration with no evidence:In his „Al-Movata‟, Malek has narrated this tradition without

evidence or chain of transmission, and it is evident that such a

tradition is of no credit.*

This study clearly proves that the mendacious

narrators or the Umayyad agents through imitating the real hadith

have faked this hadith. Due to this fact, the mosque speakers and

preachers have to abandon this tradition, which has not been narrated

by the Messenger of God, and instead, acquaint the people with the

sound tradition; the tradition, which Moslem has recorded in his

„Sahih‟ as بيتي اهل) my household) and Tirmizi as بيتي اهل و عترتي) my

household and Ahlul-Bait). Moreover, the seekers of knowledge

should study the hadith science so as to distinguish the sound hadiths

from the unauthentic ones.

 It is noteworthy to mention that what the Prophet (peace be upon

him and his descendants) meant by the phrase بيتي اهل was his

household, such as Fatima, Hasan, and Hussein (a.s), because Moslem

in his „Sahih‟ *

and Tarmazi in his „Sonan‟ ** have quoted from

Ayesha as saying,

نزلت هذه االية علي النبي – صلي هللا عليه [ و آله ] وسلم – انما يريد هللا ليذهب عنكم

الرجس اهل البيت و يطهركم تطهيرا ، في بيت ام سلمة ، فدعا النبي – صلي هللا عليه [ و

فاطمة و حسناً و حسيناً آله ] وسلم – فجللهم بكساء و علي خلؾ ظهره فجلله بكساء ثم قال

م تطهيرا. قالت ام سلمه و انا معهم يا ً : اللهم هوالء اهل بيتي فاذهب عنهم الرجس و طهره

نبي هللا ؟ قال : انت علي مكانك و انت الي خير.

انما يريد هللا ليذهب عنكم الرجس اهل البيت و يطهركم تطهيرا verse The(

(Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanliness from you, O,

People of the house! And to purify you a thorough

purification)was revealed in the house of Omme Salameh.

Then, the holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his

descendants) covered Fatima (a.s), Hasan, and Hussein under

the cloak while Ali was behind him. He also covered Ali with

the cloak and said, “O, my Lord! These are my household.

* Al- Movata, Malek, p.889, hadith no.3

*

 Sahih, Moslem, vol.4, P. 1883, hadith no.2424.

** Sonan, Tirmizi, vol.5, P.663

Remove from them the impurity and purify them”. Then,

Omme Salameh asked the Prophet (peace be upon him and his

descendants), “Am I considered as your household?” and the

Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants.s) replied,

“Stay in your place (Do not come under the cloak); you are on

the way of goodness”.)

The concept of Saqlayn hadith:

 Two conclusions are drawn from the fact that the holy Prophet

(peace be upon him and is descendants) mentioned his household

alongside the holy Quran, and then called both of them as the Divine

authority over his nation:

1- Like the holy Quran, the words of the Prophet‟s household serve

as the Divine authority, and they must adhere to them in the religious

affairs. Although the Muslims were divided into two groups on the

issue of Caliphate and the management of the nation‟s political affairs

after the Prophet‟s demise and each of them had their own ideologies,

there remains no room for any difference among them on the Ahlul-

Bait (a.s) as the religious authority, because all of them agree on the

validity of Thaqlayn hadith, which calls for the holy Quran and the

Prophet‟s household as the source of ideology and Divine laws. It is

evident that if the Islamic nations act in accordance with this hadith,

their differences will be less and less, and as a result, they will reach

to unity.

2- The holy Quran is immune from the error, because it is the Word

of God, and He describes it as such,

* ال ياتيه الباطل من بين يديه و ال من خلفه تنزيل من حكيم حميد

(No falsehood finds way to it in the present or future; the

descending of it is by the Source, the Wisdom, the Praised.)

 If the holy Quran is immune from the error, its mate should be so,

because it is not sensible that the fallible or sinful persons

accompany the Divine Book.

*

 Foselat Sura, verse no. 42

** Ale-Imran Sura, verse no. 42

This tradition certifies the infallibility of the Prophet‟s household,

but it is noteworthy to mention that infallibility is not always

accompanied with prophecy. There are some infallible persons who

are not the prophets. In accordance with the verse,

** إن هللا اصطفاك و طهرك واصطفاك علي نساء العالمين

(Allah has chosen you and purified you and has preferred you

over the women of the world), the holy Mary is pure from

sins, but not the prophet.

Book: Shia responses

On the second anniversary of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the regime's forces continue to perpetrate massacres against defenseless Palestinians amid “shameful international silence and unprecedented Arab failure.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hamas described the October 7, 2023, Al-Aqsa Flood Operation as “a major turning point in the political and military landscape of West Asia.”

On that day, the resistance movement launched an unprecedented attack against the occupying regime. Hours later, Israel unleashed the campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Ever since, over 76,000 Palestinians have been killed or gone missing.

Israel continues to commit “massacres against defenseless civilians, amid shameful international silence and complicity and unprecedented Arab failure," read the statement by Hamas.

"Two years on, our people remain rooted in their land, clinging to their legitimate rights in the face of plans for liquidation and forced displacement,” Hamas said, praising Palestinians’ “steadfastness, resistance, and heroism.”

The statement also reaffirmed Hamas’s commitment to defending Palestinian rights and resisting occupation, reiterating that “popular steadfastness” remains the backbone of the struggle.

Gaza Health Ministry shares grim toll on civilians, healthcare

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in Gaza released alarming new figures on the human and infrastructural toll of Israel’s two-year offensive.

According to the ministry, at least 67,173 Palestinians have been killed, including 20,179 children, while 169,780 others have been wounded over the last two years.

The number of medical personnel killed has risen to 1,701, with 362 others detained under conditions described as “forced disappearance.”

The report also highlighted the worsening famine in Gaza, with 460 deaths from starvation and malnutrition, including 154 children. More than 51,000 children under the age of five are suffering from severe malnutrition.

Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has also been devastated by the regime’s attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, worsened by Israel's blockade that restricts essential supplies and aid.

Twenty-five out of 38 hospitals are now out of service, and the remaining facilities are operating under extreme pressure. Hospital bed occupancy has soared to 225 percent, compared with 82 percent during the same period last year.

Israel has also destroyed 103 of 157 primary healthcare centers, and more than half of essential medicines are unavailable, while 66 percent of medical equipment is lacking, the ministry said.

As the devastating war enters its third year, Hamas and local health authorities warn that the combined effects of relentless bombardment, a tightening blockade, and a collapsing medical system are pushing the besieged territory toward a “total societal breakdown.”

Hospitals are overwhelmed, food shortages are widespread, and essential services are failing, leaving civilians—especially children, the elderly, and the sick extremely vulnerable.

Officials warn that unless immediate humanitarian access is granted and the violence is halted, the social, economic, and health crises in Gaza could spiral into an irreversible catastrophe.

Press TV’s website

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has called al-Aqsa Flood Operation a turning point that “exposed the true face of the Israeli entity and its American backer.”

In a statement marking the second anniversary of Al-Aqsa Flood, the resistance movement described the October 7, 2023, operation as “a battle of sacrifice, liberation, and defiance.”

Hezbollah denounced the US's unconditional support for Israel and Washington’s complicity in the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza.  

“Hezbollah renews its pledge that it stands with the resistant and steadfast people of Palestine, who have inscribed with their steadfastness and patience mixed with tragedies and pains the highest lessons of pride and dignity in the face of the most brutal Israeli criminal entity, managed by a brutal American administration,” the statement read.

It further stated that the war revealed Israel’s “criminal and expansionist nature,” stressing that the Tel Aviv regime crossed all lines by committing massacres, collective punishment, and genocide in the besieged Palestinian territory.

“This sacred battle has revealed from its first moment the true face of the criminal Zionist entity, stripped of any human attribute, supported by the arrogant American tyrant, trampling on all laws, international resolutions, and humanitarian considerations, violating the sovereignty of states by attacking them and their peoples, deeply involved in committing massacres, genocide, and waging a war of starvation and displacement against the people of Gaza, openly revealing its expansionist and aggressive plans,” the Hezbollah statement noted.

It emphasized that Israel and its US-led Western backers “understand only the language of force, strength and confrontation.”

The Lebanese group said that the stability of West Asia depends on “Arab and Islamic unity” and on “translating opposition to Israeli aggression into concrete action.”

Lebanon and all Muslim nations “must realize that this entity is a dagger planted in the region’s heart, a malignant cancerous tumor that must be excised before it spreads and leads wherever it settles to destruction and ruin,” the statement added.

It called on the entire Muslim world to form a united front under the banner of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in order to confront the US and Israeli aggression in Gaza and elsewhere across the region. 

Hezbollah reiterated its commitment to the “path of resistance” and paid tribute to its martyred leader Hassan Nasrallah and other martyrs who, it said, sacrificed their lives for the cause of al-Quds and Palestine.

“On this anniversary, we send a salute of reverence and respect to the righteous leader and all the martyrs who stood, supported, and sacrificed for al-Quds and Palestine.”

The group also expressed gratitude to Iran, Yemen, Iraq, and “free nations around the world” that have supported Gaza and voiced solidarity with its people.

Press TV’s website

At least two people have been killed when the Israeli military carried an airstrike in the Nabatieh governorate of southern Lebanon.

It marked the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement in place since November 2024 between Lebanon and the Israeli regime.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a civilian car in the village of Zebdine on Monday, killing a man as well as his wife and injuring another person.

NNA identified the man as Hassan Atwi, who was wounded and lost his sight when Israel blew up hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members last year.

His wife, Zainab Raslan who was driving, was also killed.

According to the Lebanese official media, the couple had two sons killed during Israel’s recent nearly 14-month aggression.

Israel on Monday deported the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and about 170 other participants in a flotilla that tried to deliver aid by sea to Gaza but was intercepted by the Israeli authorities, the foreign ministry said.

By Humaira Ahad

Tens of thousands of people in different countries took to the streets on Friday and Saturday in response to the Israeli attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, highlighting the mission’s success in awakening nations to the ongoing genocide and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Demonstrators rallied in cities across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, condemning Israel’s genocidal war and the detention of hundreds of activists who attempted to deliver aid to the besieged territory.

Some of the biggest rallies were held in Italy and Spain, including the one in Barcelona on Saturday that many described as the largest march in history in the Spanish city.

The flotilla, comprising at least 44 civilian vessels carrying around 500 activists from different countries, faced its first interception on Wednesday evening.

Israeli forces boarded multiple boats and detained volunteers, including renowned Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and several European lawmakers, taking them to a jail in the occupied territories.

By Thursday noon, the Israeli military reported that all but one vessel had been seized. On Friday morning, a livestreamed video showed Israeli forces boarding the Polish-flagged Marinette, the last operational vessel of the flotilla, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza. The Marinette reportedly had a crew of six.

Most of them were deported back to their countries on Saturday and Sunday. Some of them spoke to the media in Istanbul about how Thunberg was abused, tortured, dragged and forced to kiss the Israeli flag – apparently on the orders of Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who referred to them as “terrorists.”

Activists reported that Israeli naval forces had deliberately damaged communications on several vessels to block distress signals and livestreams as they approached Gaza.

Even in the weeks leading up to the interception and abduction, the flotilla’s vessels had faced repeated attacks.

Two unnamed American intelligence officials reported that, following Netanyahu’s orders, Israeli forces on September 8 and 9 launched drones from a submarine and dropped incendiary devices onto the boats that were moored outside the Tunisian port of SidiBou Said, causing a fire.

According to a report by CBS News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly approved drone strikes on two vessels that were part of the Gaza-bound Sumud flotilla

On September 8, an incendiary device struck the Family, a Portuguese-flagged vessel, one night after Portuguese lawmaker Mariana Mortágua had been on board.

The next day, the Alma, a British-flagged vessel, was attacked in the same way. Both boats sustained fire damage.

In separate incidents in late September, a group of activists said it was attacked by 15 low-altitude drones while sailing south of Greece.

At least 13 explosions were heard on and around the flotilla, and objects were dropped on at least 10 vessels, causing damage.

Meanwhile, the flotilla organisers reiterated their commitment to continue speaking against the ongoing genocide aided and abetted by the US and its allies.

“The world must take note; attempts to silence, intimidate, or obstruct our commitment to the Palestinian cause and people will not succeed. We call for urgent, independent investigations into these attacks and full accountability for those responsible,” it said.

Global reach of the flotilla

The flotilla included participants from 37 countries, with significant contingents from Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, and Malaysia.

Over 400 activists were detained following Israel’s attack on the flotilla. The International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza reported that some detainees even launched hunger strikes in Israeli custody.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission (Al-Asir) announced that the Zionist regime imprisoned activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla in the Negev Desert prison, widely regarded as one of the regime’s most notorious detention facilities.

While the flotilla carried only a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, its primary goal was to establish a maritime corridor into Gaza and highlight the severe humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of genocidal war.

The flotilla departed in late August 2025 from ports in Spain and Italy, stopping in Greece and Tunisia en route to Gaza.

Activists reported hostile encounters, including suspected drone strikes near Malta and Crete, which damaged some vessels and forced withdrawals.

By the time the convoy neared the eastern Mediterranean, 44 vessels remained, capturing international attention and prompting Spain and Italy to deploy naval ships to monitor the flotilla and assist if necessary.

However, the two countries stopped accompanying the international flotilla once it got within 278 kilometres of the Gaza shore, fearing attack from the Israeli forces.

International reactions

Governments and international human rights bodies responded strongly to the interception and abduction of activists who were part of the flotilla.

Iran’s foreign ministry condemned it, with spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stating that the aggression represented “a blatant violation of international law and an act of terrorism.”

He praised the humanitarian efforts of activists who had “stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people and sought to break the cruel blockade.”

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas called the attacks on flotilla vessels, activists, and accompanying journalists a “treacherous attack, a crime of piracy, and maritime terrorism.”

They emphasised that intercepting the flotilla “is a criminal act that must be condemned by all free people of the world.”

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned Israel’s “intimidation and coercion” of vessels carrying “unarmed civilians and life-saving humanitarian supplies for Gaza.”

He stated that Israel had shown “utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world.”

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris expressed concern over the Israeli raids, describing the flotilla as “a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.”

In South America, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro expelled Israeli diplomats and ended the Free Trade Agreement with Israel as a mark of protest.

He described Netanyahu as demonstrating “his worldwide hypocrisy and why he is a worldwide criminal who must be captured.”

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil highlighted the blockade as “a tool of deliberate war, the continuation of genocide by other means, seeking to annihilate the population by starvation to complement their indiscriminate bombings.”

Turkey’s foreign ministry called Israel’s interception a “terrorist” act.

Protests across the globe

Mass demonstrations against the interruption of the Sumud Flotilla erupted in cities across Europe. In Italy, thousands gathered in Rome, Milan, Turin, Trento, Bari, and Palermo.

Large crowds marched from landmarks such as the Colosseum and central plazas, waving Palestinian flags and holding banners calling for an end to Israel’s blockade.

Commercial traffic at the port of Livorno was temporarily disrupted, and the national strike organised by Italian unions affected train services nationwide.

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, protests followed Friday prayers, with thousands marching in Karachi, Islamabad, and Dhaka. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and placards denouncing Israel’s actions.

In Malaysia, hundreds gathered in front of the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, expressing outrage over the abduction of activists and calling for an immediate end to the Gaza blockade.

Past flotilla attacks

The Global Sumud Flotilla was the most recent in a series of humanitarian maritime missions destined for Gaza, which was attacked by the Israeli occupation regime.

In May 2010, the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara, carrying over 600 activists, was stormed by Israeli forces in international waters, resulting in the deaths of 10 activists and injuries to dozens more.

Subsequent flotillas in 2011, 2015, and 2018 were similarly intercepted before reaching Gaza.

In 2025, following Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, new flotilla attempts met similar fates. The ship Conscience was struck by armed drones near Malta in early May, igniting a fire.

The Madleen was intercepted 100 nautical miles from Gaza in June, and the Handala was boarded by Israeli forces in July, with all 21 activists detained and deported.

These repeated interventions illustrate Israel’s continued determination to prevent humanitarian aid from reaching the besieged strip, according to activists and observers.

Symbolism and significance

While the flotilla was attacked, the mission achieved a broader objective: awakening global awareness and mobilising public opinion against Israel’s brutal blockade of Gaza.

The mass protests, political condemnations, and widespread attention generated by the mission highlight its success in transforming a symbolic humanitarian operation into a global statement on justice, legality, and human rights.

Even though the flotilla did not reach Gaza, its representational effect in galvanising public opinion against the Israeli regime has been substantial.

The flotilla has underscored the capacity of civil society to hold governments accountable and challenge entrenched geopolitical power structures.

The mission exemplifies a shift in global engagement, where civil society and grassroots activism intersect with geopolitical issues to highlight human rights and humanitarian concerns.

Though the ships were stopped, the flotilla’s impact continues to ripple across the world.

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Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has openly defended the mistreatment of hundreds of international activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla.

In a Saturday post on X, an activist with the Gaza-bound flotilla, Ersin Celik, said Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was physically abused and forced to kiss an Israeli flag after regime forces raided the Gaza-bound vessels and detained those on board.

Amid widespread criticism, the Israeli Foreign Ministry on Sunday dismissed claims that Thunberg and other detainees from the Sumud flotilla were mistreated, calling the allegations “brazen lies.”

The Cradle news website reported on Monday that minutes after the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s denial, Ben-Gvir said he was proud that the flotilla activists are being treated as “terrorists”, explaining it as his policy.

“I am proud of the prison staff acting in accordance with the policy set by Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi and myself. I was on their ships; I saw neither aid nor humanity,” the website quoted the Israeli minister as saying.

Ben-Gvir expressed pride that during his visit to Israel’s Ktzi'ot Prison, the flotilla activists were treated as “supporters of terrorism.”

“Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the same conditions applied to terrorists,” he emphasized.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of over 50 vessels, set sail from Barcelona late last month to deliver aid to Gaza and challenge what human rights groups have condemned as one of the harshest and most inhumane blockades in the world.

Since Wednesday, the Israeli navy has illegally intercepted flotilla vessels in international waters as they neared Gaza, detaining about 500 activists from more than 40 countries.

Since March 2, when Israel violated its ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, the regime has sealed all border crossings into the enclave, blocking the entry of humanitarian aid and further deepening Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis.

The brutal blockade has pushed the famine-linked death toll to 460 people, including 154 children.

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The Yemeni Armed Forces have claimed responsibility for launching a new “hypersonic ballistic missile” attack against sensitive targets deep inside the Israeli-occupied territories in support of the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza.

Yemeni military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a televised statement aired by al-Masirah TV on Sunday that Yemeni forces struck sensitive targets in the occupied city of al-Quds with a multi-warhead Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile.

He noted that the operation could successfully achieve its desired objectives.

The missile attack reportedly caused widespread panic among illegal settlers, pushing thousands of them to seek refuge in bomb shelters.

“The Yemeni Armed Forces are monitoring the status quo in Gaza in light of recent developments. They reiterate that — with Allah's help and in coordination with the Resistance Front — are keeping a watchful eye on the situation, particularly those related to halting the Zionist aggression and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip,” Saree said.

The Yemeni military spokesperson vowed that his nation would continue to launch missile attacks against Israel until “the war and blockade on Gaza end.”

In light of the worsening genocidal war in Gaza that started in October 2023, Yemeni forces executed a strategic maritime blockade intended to obstruct the delivery of military resources to Israeli-occupied territories while urging the global community to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Concurrently, they conducted multiple missile and drone attacks on key targets located in the Israeli-occupied regions, demonstrating their support for the Palestinians in Gaza.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have stated unequivocally that they will continue their operations until Israel puts an end to its ground and aerial assaults in Gaza.

Israel has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in the besieged Gaza Strip since October 2023, according to the health ministry of Gaza.

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