January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
JERUSALEM, July 27 — Israeli forces boarded a vessel from the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla group as it sailed toward Gaza yesterday, an operation that was briefly livestreamed by the activists.
In a statement on X, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said: “The Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza. The vessel is now en route to Israel. All passengers are safe.”
Footage shared by the activists showed passengers seated on the deck with their hands raised, singing the Italian anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao, as Israeli soldiers took control of the boat. The livestream, broadcast across three feeds, was cut off minutes later.
The vessel, named Handala by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was attempting to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a small amount of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the besieged territory.
“Handala has been intercepted and boarded illegally by Israeli forces while in international waters,” the coalition said in a social media post.
Earlier, Israel reaffirmed its intention to uphold the blockade, calling such unauthorized attempts “dangerous, unlawful, and undermining of ongoing humanitarian efforts.”
Tracking data showed the Handala was about 50 kilometres from Egypt’s coast and roughly 100 kilometres west of Gaza when it was intercepted.
On board were 19 activists, including European politicians and two Al Jazeera journalists who continued reporting until shortly before the vessel was seized. Among those detained were two French lawmakers, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of their party France Unbowed (LFI), condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, writing on X: “Netanyahu’s thugs boarded Handala. They attacked 21 unarmed people in waters where they had no right. Two French MPs are among the victims of this kidnapping.”
He urged the French government to respond.
The Handala’s crew had previously declared that they would go on a hunger strike if intercepted and detained by Israeli forces.
Gaza is currently grappling with severe shortages of food and other essentials, with the UN and various NGOs warning of an impending famine.
The last attempt by Freedom Flotilla, involving the ship Madleen, was also intercepted in international waters on June 9 and towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod. That vessel carried 12 campaigners, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who were later deported. — AFP
