The Gaza Civil Defence Agency reported that on Wednesday, Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting to enter a US-supported food distribution centre, killing 31 people and injuring around 200.
Israel fire near aid centre kills 31
“We have taken at least 31 dead and about 200 wounded from Israeli tank and drone fire on thousands of civilians who were heading to the American aid centre for food,” civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal told AFP.
The Israeli army did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.
On Tuesday, Gaza authorities reported that 163 people had been killed in Israeli attacks on people gathered at humanitarian aid distribution centres since 27 May. Nearly 1,500 people were injured.
Fate of Freedom Flotilla humanitarian mission
Activists who were forcibly detained by Israeli forces while sailing to Gaza with humanitarian aid, say they are being subjected to harsh treatment and threats by the authorities while being held in inhumane conditions, but urge the public to continue to monitor Israel’s destructive campaign in the walled-off Palestinian territory.
On Monday morning, Israeli naval forces intercepted the Madleen in international waters and detained all 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, who is of Palestinian origin. The civilian vessel had left Italy with the aim of delivering aid to Gaza and creating a maritime humanitarian corridor for the starving enclave in order to break Israel’s deadly blockade.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organised the humanitarian mission, said Israeli forces had demanded that the detained activists sign a document acknowledging “illegal entry into Israeli territory” in order to be deported back to their countries. Four of them have already been deported, but all activists categorically rejected Israel’s accusations of illegal entry.
“I did not admit that I entered the country illegally,” Thunberg told reporters upon arrival in France on Tuesday, adding that the document she signed did not contain this requirement. “I made it very clear in my testimony that we were kidnapped in international waters and taken to Israel against our will.”
Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg talks to journalists upon arrival at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport on June 10, 2025. Israel deported Thunberg after illegally detaining her on a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza along with 11 other activists.
The activists claim that the authorities also threatened them and subjected them to harsh treatment. Dr. Baptiste Andre, a French crew member who returned from custody, recalled “acts of violence” by Israeli forces against the activists, especially against Thunberg, who later said that any conditions she faced were “nothing compared to what people in Palestine are going through.”
Support from Europe
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), spoke out in support of the detained activists:
“We must isolate Netanyahu’s government and its representatives in France. In doing so, we will strengthen his opponents in Israel who are demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza. We thank the Israelis who expressed their support for the French people present on Rue de la Madeleine, in front of the French embassy in Tel Aviv.”
He also added:
“Israeli soldiers have invaded international waters. This is an act of piracy! You are not at home 180 kilometres off the coast of Gaza, Mr Netanyahu. As Rima Khaouja Hassan is a member of the French Parliament, she has immunity. She is the Republic! Shame on the hypocrites in power. You are Netanyahu’s lackeys!”
Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis wrote on X:
“Update on Freedom Flotilla Volunteers Held in Israeli Custody
Today, Adalah’s lawyers visited the detained volunteers. During the visit, they received updates on the conditions of detention, including recent punitive measures taken against them. The Israeli authorities transferred two of the volunteers — the Brazilian volunteer Thiago Ávila and the French-Palestinian European Parliament member Rima Hassan — to separate prison facilities, away from the others, and placed them in solitary confinement.
Tiago Ávila was placed in isolation in Ayalon Prison due to his ongoing hunger and thirst strike, which he began two days ago. He has also been treated aggressively by prison authorities, although this has not escalated to physical assault.
Rima Hassan was placed in isolation under inhumane conditions in Neve Tirza Prison after writing “Free Palestine” on a wall in Givon Prison. She was moved to a small, windowless cell with extremely poor hygienic conditions and has been denied access to the prison yard.
The act of isolation and transfer to separate prison facilities constitutes a serious violation of the volunteer’s rights and a clear attempt to exert mental and political pressure on them.
Adalah is demanding that the Israeli authorities release the volunteers from solitary confinement, cease all retaliatory actions against them, and immediately release all eight of them — either allowing their return to the ship to continue their humanitarian mission or facilitating their return to their countries of origin.”
