American activist Hannah Smith joins Global Sumud Flotilla to break Israel’s siege on Gaza
American activist Hannah Smith told Middle East Eye that she is joining the Global Sumud Flotilla to amplify her advocacy, as governments worldwide and international organisations have failed to stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Smith sent a message of solidarity to the Palestinian people in Gaza, stating that although the international community has failed them, “the free people of the world stand with Palestine.” She also thanked Palestinian journalists who have been killed and are risking their lives “to tell the truth.” “What you’ve done is not just report on Palestine; you have awakened the entire world,” Smith said.
Dozens of boats and ships from over 40 countries will set sail on 31 August to reach the shores of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. This mission is set to be the largest maritime civilian effort since Israel’s siege began in 2007.
It’s Bisan, And Gaza’s Heroes Tried To Save My Cousins
When the Israeli army bombs schools, hospitals or apartments in Gaza, it’s the Civil Defense crew that rushes in to pull people out from the rubble. Since Israel has blocked rescue equipment from entering the Gaza, rescue teams use simple tools and their bare hands to pull people, including children, from the ruins.
Before the rescue teams enter the bombed sites, they coordinate with the Israeli military to make sure they won’t be bombed too. But Israel often targets the same location many times, leading to even more civilian casualties. Since the beginning of the genocide, at least 139 Civil Defense workers have been killed by Israel.
Filmmaker Bisan Owda follows the rescuers through some of the war’s darkest days. She calls them Gaza’s heroes – the first line of defense that is standing up to Israel’s attacks When an Israeli strike ignites a deadly fire at a school shelter killing some of Bisan's relatives, it is the Civil Defense who rush in to try to save them.
Global famine deaths rise as leaders use food as a weapon
As food insecurity increases at a rapid rate, World Peace Foundation's Alex de Waal joins Matt Frei to discuss how world leaders are using food as a weapon as starvation spreads through Gaza and Sudan. A famine was officially declared in the Gaza Governate by a UN backed body earlier this month. The area includes Gaza City, which is home to around 500,000 people, surrounding towns and various refugee camps. Rejecting the findings of the UN-backed reports, Israel refuted existence of a famine in Gaza and claimed it was "Hamas lies". It has also said Gaza will be destroyed if Hamas does not agree to disarm and release all hostages.
Sudan is also experience one of the biggest displacement crises in the world, as famine unfolds due to conflict in the country. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), are on a rampage in Sudan’s North Darfur, particularly in the city of El Fasher and in Zamzam camp, which hosts an estimated half a million displaced people.
