Israeli attack on Gaza-bound aid flotilla amounts to terrorism: Hamas

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has deplored Israel’s attack on a flotilla of Gaza-bound humanitarian aid ships as an act of terrorism, calling for global condemnation of the regime’s crime.

Hamas released a statement on Wednesday, one day after the Global Sumud (Steadfastness) Flotilla (GSF) said several of its boats reported explosions and unidentified objects being dropped, as well as drones overhead and communications jamming. 

“The occupation army's drone aircraft targeting of several ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla in the international waters constitutes terrorism and dangerous behavior that paves the way for more severe attacks against the flotilla's ships and the activists on board,” it said.

The Israeli attack, it added, is aimed at deterring activists from carrying out their humanitarian mission of delivering aid to Palestinians who are subject to systematic genocide and starvation in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The resistance group also urged the international community, concerned countries, humanitarian groups, and UN bodies to denounce Israel’s recent crime.

It further demanded global measures to protect the flotilla and its crew, ensure the delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza, and hold the “fascist occupation” accountable for its atrocities against the Palestinian people and humanitarian aid convoys.

The flotilla, including about 50 vessels and over 500 volunteers from dozens of countries, set sail from ports across the Mediterranean carrying humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, for Palestinians in Gaza.

However, it was attacked on Tuesday as part of a sustained Israeli campaign of intimidation.

“In the final days before reaching Gaza, the GSF is experiencing an alarmingly dangerous escalation,” with the attack “causing significant damage and widespread obstruction in communication,” the flotilla said.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan demanded an “independent, impartial and thorough investigation” into Tuesday’s attack.

UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, called on the international community to protect the boats, declaring, “Hands off the Flotilla!”

Hamas hails Spain’s arms embargo on Israel

In a statement, Hamas said Spain’s move reflects the European country's moral and political commitment towards Palestinians and constitutes an “important step” to pressure Israel to stop its genocide and ethnic cleansing of the oppressed nation.

It also reiterated its call on all countries to “impose a comprehensive boycott on the rogue Zionist entity” and “isolate it legally, politically, and economically” in support of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of their sovereign state with al-Quds as its capital.

Spain imposes total arms embargo on Israel amid Gaza genocide

The Spanish Government has taken a decisive step against Israel, approving a complete arms embargo and further restrictions on trade linked to illegal settlements.

Israel began its campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out the historic Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The regime has killed at least 65,419 Palestinians, mostly women and children, so far, according to the health ministry of Gaza.

Gaza is also suffering mass starvation caused by Israel’s deliberate blockade of aid into the territory. 

Several countries have ceased the sale of weapons to Israel in response to the regime’s war crimes. On Tuesday, the Spanish government approved a “total” arms embargo on the Tel Aviv regime.

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