**Israel Blocks Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg from Reaching Gaza**

In a decisive move, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz commanded the military to intercept an aid boat aimed at reaching the Gaza Strip. The vessel, Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, seeks to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged area and featured climate activist Greta Thunberg among its 12 passengers.

"The Madleen flotilla will not be allowed to reach Gaza," Katz declared in a firm statement issued from his office on Sunday. He scathingly referred to Thunberg and her fellow activists as "Hamas propaganda mouthpieces," instructing them to turn back. The passengers aboard the Madleen include individuals from Germany, France, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands, notably Rima Hassan, a European Parliament member.

The activists have received backing from over 200 European lawmakers, who signed an open letter urging Israel to permit the Madleen to deliver its humanitarian cargo to Gaza. Having departed from Italy on June 1, the vessel was near Gaza after navigating through Egyptian waters. Katz justified the military's actions by emphasizing that the naval blockade is pivotal in preventing weapons from reaching Hamas.

Adding to the region's turmoil, Gaza's civil defense agency reported Israeli military actions that resulted in the death of at least 10 people on Sunday. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency, stated that five individuals were killed and many others injured when Israeli forces opened fire on civilians at an aid distribution center near Rafah. The Israeli military argued the civilians ignored warnings and entered an "active combat zone."

Meanwhile, another tragic incident unfolded near Nasser Hospital, where emergency workers transported numerous casualties. Among those killed were two young girls in a strike on the Al-Mawasi displaced persons camp. Despite Bassal's denials of any affiliation with Hamas, Israeli authorities accused him of connections to the militant organization, producing supposed Hamas membership lists as evidence.

The conflict, which erupted following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has led to profound losses on both sides. As of the latest reports, the war has claimed the lives of 1,218 Israelis and approximately 54,880 individuals in Gaza, primarily civilians. The United Nations has recognized the reported figures as credible.

As tensions continue to escalate, the international community watches closely, with humanitarian efforts persistently thwarted, and the region remains on edge.