Tel Aviv and Gaza Strip — At least 60 Palestinians were killed on Monday in a wave of Israeli air strikes across Gaza, including 14 people near a humanitarian aid hub in southern Rafah, according to health officials. The strikes came as Israeli forces intercepted and seized the Madleen, an aid ship carrying food and medical supplies to the besieged enclave.
Among those detained on board was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. She and 11 others, including journalist Omar Fayyad, were taken into Israeli custody and are now being deported, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed. The Madleen was towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
“They have been transferred to Ben Gurion Airport and are in the process of deportation,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The seizure sparked criticism from rights groups and climate organisations. Greenpeace called the interception “illegal,” accusing Israel of blocking humanitarian relief and “violating international law.” Climate Action Network echoed the condemnation, demanding the “immediate release of the crew” and the lifting of the Gaza blockade.
Thunberg, who has spoken out frequently against the war in Gaza, was reportedly aboard to raise awareness of the humanitarian situation and to accompany the aid delivery.
Bloodshed at Aid Centres
Meanwhile, violence escalated on the ground in Gaza, where what were supposed to be safe zones for receiving aid have become increasingly dangerous.
At least 20 people were killed while waiting for assistance near the so-called Netzarim Corridor, south of Gaza City, according to al-Quds Hospital staff cited by media reports. Another eight died in an air strike on a home in Deir al-Balah.
“Aid centres have turned into death traps,” said Adi Dabour of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. “People are collapsing in the streets from hunger, and medical workers are being directly targeted.”
Three paramedics were among the dead on Monday after Israeli strikes hit Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood. Gaza’s Medical Services Directorate said the medics were responding to an earlier attack.
Hamas called the targeting of medical workers a “war crime” and urged the United Nations to intervene.
“This is an attempt to destroy every means of survival in Gaza,” the group said in a statement. “We call on the international community to act before it’s too late.”
Sports Infrastructure in Ruins
Beyond the immediate casualties, the war’s long reach has devastated Gaza’s sporting community. According to the Palestinian Olympic Committee, at least 270 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed.
Among those killed are national coaches and prominent athletes, including karate champion Nagham Abu Samra and Olympic football coach Hani al-Masdar.
“This isn’t just loss it’s erasure,” said Asaad al-Majdalawi, vice president of the committee. “These athletes were symbols of unity and hope. Losing them has wounded our society deeply.”
UN: War Crimes Committed
In a separate development, the United Nations accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. In a new report, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry said the destruction of schools, religious sites, and civilian infrastructure in Gaza amounted to “a widespread and relentless assault.”
“These attacks are not just indiscriminate; they reflect a clear pattern of targeting civilian life and culture,” the commission stated.
The report also examined alleged violations in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. On Monday, Israeli forces arrested several Palestinians during raids in Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin. Meanwhile, settlers reportedly set fire to a vehicle and vandalised property in Qalqilya.
A Deepening Crisis
Nine more bodies were recovered from Jabalia following overnight strikes, and the toll is expected to rise. Medical teams say many are still trapped under the rubble.
As the blockade tightens and aid grows scarcer, many in Gaza are left clinging to what little hope remains.
“We are not asking for miracles,” said Dabour, the aid official. “Just food, medicine, and the chance to live another day.”
The conflict, now in its ninth month, has shown few signs of slowing. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, fighting continues to escalate, with civilians bearing the brunt on both sides of the border.
