The war in the Gaza Strip is a brutal and long-lasting armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas, which has intensified particularly after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, Israeli forces have been conducting an intensive military operation in the vicinity of Gaza City, which has led to huge losses among the civilian population, destruction of infrastructure and deepening the humanitarian crisis. This conflict has deep political, religious and historical roots.
Hamas provided negotiators with a list of Israeli hostages
Hamas announced on Wednesday that it had provided negotiators with a list of Israeli hostages and a list of Palestinian prisoners who would be exchanged. The Palestinian terrorist group claims that it is optimistic about the ongoing talks in Egypt about the peace plan presented by US President Donald Trump.
The negotiations focus on mechanisms to end the conflict, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and an exchange agreement, Hamas added. During the talks held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the date for implementing the first phase of Trump's 20-point plan has not yet been agreed, Reuters reported, citing information obtained from Palestinian sources.
Hamas demands the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of the Palestinian “national technocratic body”, while Israel demands the disarmament of Hamas, Reuters recalled.
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Israel stopped another flotilla
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), whose ships were intercepted by the Israeli military on Wednesday, wanted to deliver humanitarian aid worth over PLN 110,000 to the Gaza Strip. dollars.
“In the early morning local time, the initiative ships of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Thousand Madleen were illegally intercepted by Israeli occupation forces. Participants, activists from around the world: humanitarians, doctors, journalists, elected politicians, were kidnapped and are being held in unknown conditions” — it was written on the website of the event organizers.
Conscience Captured by IsraelATEF SAFADI / PAP
The flotilla included a large passenger ship, Conscience, and eight smaller vessels. Conscience was boarded by navy commandos landing from a helicopter, while soldiers boarded smaller sailing ships from Israeli boats, the Times of Israel reported. About 150 activists were transported to Israel and will now be deported.
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Polish activists returned to the country. Radosław Sikorski was heavily criticized
Earlier, ships were stopped on their way to Gaza, including: Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF). A four-person Polish delegation took part in the action – Omar Faris, Nina Ptak and MP Franciszek Sterczewski, as well as a British journalist of Polish origin, Ewa Jasiewicz. Activists returned to the country on Wednesday evening.
— We were kept in Israeli custody for five days. It was not pleasant, we were not allowed to sleep, the guards shone flashlights in our eyes, we were played music from Israeli propaganda films for hours, we were set upon with dogs, spat on, and threatened with weapons – said Sterczewski after landing at Chopin Airport in Warsaw.
Sterczewski also criticized Polish politicians who, in his opinion, are not doing enough to force Israel to end its hostilities in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that he was disappointed with the attitude of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski. — Why did Minister Sikorski downplay the situation at a time when we were doing everything to end the genocide and draw the world's attention to what is happening in the Gaza Strip? We are disgusted and disappointed by this, said the MP.
More deaths in the Gaza Strip
According to the Gaza Strip health ministry, at least eight Palestinians have been killed and 61 wounded in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours. Al Jazeera writes on Wednesday that since Donald Trump announced a potential ceasefire plan, there has been a clear change in Israeli military tactics. Instead of easing the attacks, the bombardment of Gaza City allegedly intensified.
Videos and photos are published on social media showing the scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip.
“Palestinians report that Israeli forces are intensifying attacks aimed at systematically destroying the city's remaining infrastructure, destroying what remains of residential buildings, public facilities and entire neighborhoods,” writes Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud, who is based in Gaza.
