Gaza Latest: Evacuation Orders in the North and Humanitarian Ship Intercepted at Sea

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Between immediate evacuation orders and the interception of humanitarian aid ships, Israel continues to impose its blockade on the Gaza Strip, while international warnings mount over the worsening humanitarian crisis on the ground.

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The Israeli army has issued immediate evacuation orders for areas in northern Gaza. These include: Jabalia, Jabalia camp, the old town, and the neighborhoods of Al-Nahda, Al-Rawda, Al-Salam, Al-Nour, Al-Tuffah, Al-Daraj, and Tel Al-Zaatar.

The army spokesperson stated on his official X account (formerly Twitter): “Returning to these areas, which are active combat zones, puts your life in danger.”

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Escalation at Sea

In the Mediterranean Sea, Israeli forces intercepted a humanitarian aid vessel headed for Gaza, carrying well-known activists. The ship was redirected to Israel, and the activists were detained for deportation to their home countries.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that the Israeli army boarded the ship “Maddeline”, which was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.

After more than 600 days of war and an 11-week-long Israeli blockade, Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are sinking into a deeper hunger crisis.

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Passengers on board said that quadcopters surrounded the ship and sprayed it with a white paint-like substance, while communications were disrupted.

A video released by Israel’s Foreign Ministry appears to show a navy officer broadcasting a message via radio: “The maritime area off the Gaza coast is closed.”

Israel has repeatedly vowed to prevent the aid ship from reaching Gaza.  Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Sunday: “I instructed the army to ensure the flotilla (Maddeline) does not reach Gaza.”

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Following the detention of the crew, a spokesperson for Gallant said the minister ordered that videos of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack be shown to the activists upon arrival at Ashdod Port.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry labeled the group’s effort as a “media stunt aimed solely at gaining propaganda value.”

In a previous statement, the ministry described such unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade as “dangerous, illegal, and undermining ongoing humanitarian efforts.”

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Who is Maddeline?

“Maddeline” is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an organization campaigning against Israel’s blockade on Gaza. The coalition has long tried to break the blockade through maritime efforts.

The vessel set sail from Sicily last Sunday, aiming to deliver aid to Gaza and defy Israel’s blockade, which has tightened significantly since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023.

Famine Risk

Israel halted all humanitarian aid to Gaza in early March. As a result, no supplies entered the strip for 11 consecutive weeks.

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Facing growing international pressure, Israel has begun allowing limited aid shipments, which represent only a fraction of the pre-war flow.

Humanitarian organizations have warned of a deepening crisis and the growing risk of widespread famine.

A UN-backed report released in late April warned that one in five people in Gaza now faces starvation.

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