News Digest — 6/9/25
Activists Of The Flotilla To Gaza Claim That IDF Forces Took Control Of Their Ship
Participants of the “Madleen” flotilla, which was making its way to the shores of the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the maritime blockade imposed by Israel, reported early Monday morning (9th) that IDF troops boarded the ship and took control of it.
According to the reports, the activists on the ship were detained, and the ship is on its way to the port of Ashdod.
Earlier the activists reported that an alarm had sounded on deck. Later they clarified that it was a false alarm.
“An alarm was sounded on deck, and life jackets are ready in case of an attempted take over of the ship,” the flotilla’s Telegram group reported. A few minutes later another message was posted, “The vessel that approached us has left. All eyes on deck, all eyes on Gaza.”
The activists on the flotilla further claimed that drones surrounded the ship and sprayed it with a white, irritating substance.’
In response to the activists’ claims, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement in English which said, “the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law.
“The yacht is claiming that it is delivering humanitarian aid. In fact, it is a media gimmick for publicity, which includes less than a single truckload of aid, “a selfie yacht.’”
“Humanitarian aid is delivered regularly and effectively via different channels and routes, and is transferred through established distribution mechanisms. Over the past two weeks, more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza,” the Foreign Ministry said.
“The Gaza maritime zone remains an active conflict area , and Hamas has previously exploited sea routes for terrorist attacks, including during the October 7 massacre. Unauthorized attempts to reach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts,” it continued.
“We call on all actors to act responsibly and to channel humanitarian aid through legitimate coordinated mechanisms, not through provocation.”
In a subsequent statement, the Foreign Ministry said, “The Israeli Navy is currently communicating with the ‘selfie yacht.’ Using an international civilian communication system, the Israeli Navy has instructed the ‘selfie yacht’ to change its course due to its approach toward a restricted area.”
The “Madleen” flotilla is led by left-wing activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, “Game of Thrones” star Liam Cunningham, and French European Parliament member Rima Hassan.
Earlier Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to act decisively against the flotilla. He ordered that the ship be prevented from reaching Gaza, using any operational measures deemed necessary.
“The State of Israel will not allow anyone to violate the maritime blockade on Gaza, which exists primarily to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas – a murderous terrorist organization that holds our hostages and commits war crimes,” Katz stated.
“I have instructed the IDF to ensure that the Madleen flotilla does not reach Gaza. To the anti-Semitic Greta and her Hamas-propaganda- spreading friends, I say this clearly: ‘you’d better turn back – you will not reach Gaza. Israel will act against any attempt to break the blockade or support terrorist organizations – by sea, air or land.’”
The Israeli defense establishment has been preparing for the flotilla’s arrival. The Navy recently conducted exercises simulating the interception of the approaching vessel. Before it enters Israeli territorial waters, naval forces will contact the ship’s crew and warn them that they are entering without authorization.
Navy personnel have been given clear instructions: If the organizers agree to turn back, they will be allowed to leave. If they refuse, Shayetet 13 naval commandos will board the ship and escort it to the port of Ashdod.
As of Monday morning (9th), the Shayetet 13 naval unit, around 3 a.m., intercepted the Gaza flotilla, according to the ship’s operators and defense officials.
The IDF boarded the Madleen, and took the crew and the ship to the Port of Ashdod, where they would be sent back to their respective countries, with Defense Minister Israel Katz instructing that the passengers view footage from Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
US Said To Mull Dissolving UN Peacekeeping Force In Southern Lebanon
US officials are considering pulling American support from UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, in a bid to cut costs associated with its operations, Israel Hayom first reported Sunday evening (8th), with US sources later confirming to the Times of Israel that the option was on the table.
Should the US move ahead with its decision to pull support from the UN body, Israel will back the decision, Israel Hayom reported, both out of a desire to align itself with the administration of US President Donald Trump and in light of the security establishment’s cooperation with the Lebanese army since the ceasefire in November.
According to the outlet, the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon has proven relatively effective in beating back the threat of Hezbollah and keeping the terror group from rearming itself, making much of UNIFIL’s operations in the region redundant.
Sources familiar with the matter told the Times of Israel that the US has not yet made up its mind regarding its future support for UNIFIL, but that it wants to see major reforms, which could mean pulling support.
As UNIFIL’s mandate is granted through a UN Security Council resolution each year, the US could simply veto the next resolution, due to be put forward in August.
UNIFIL has been operating in southern Lebanon since 1978, when it was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area following the end of a conflict between the two nations.
The UN peacekeeping force expanded its mission following the 2006 Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to deploy along the Israeli border to help the Lebanese military extend its authority into the country’s south for the first time in decades.
Aimed at ending the 2006 war, Resolution 1701 also called for a full cessation of Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities and the disarmament of Hezbollah. UNIFIL’s mandate has been renewed annually ever since, although critics have questioned the efficacy of the force.
Following the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which put an end to more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war, the Lebanese army moved into southern Lebanon to enforce the terms of the ceasefire, which itself is based on Resolution 1701.
The resolution requires Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River – about 19 miles from the border – and dismantle all military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told the Wall Street Journal last month that his government had achieved 80 percent of its objectives regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah and other militias in the country’s south.
At the same time, the IDF has continued to launch targeted strikes on Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, alleging violations of the truce agreement. According to the IDF, over 180 Hezbollah operatives have been killed in that time.
IDF Said It Targeted Hamas Member In Drone Strike In Southern Syria
An Israeli drone strike targeted a member of the Hamas terror group in the southern Syrian village of Beit Jinn on Sunday (8th), the Israel Defense Forces said.
Beit Jinn is some 4.3 miles from the Israel-Syrian border, just outside a buffer zone currently controlled by the IDF.
No further details were given by the IDF on the target of the strike.
Hamas had a significant foothold in Syria until civil war broke out in the country in 2011, but has since reduced its presence, its status in the country has become uncertain following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December,, as the regime of Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, seeks to consolidate power, take arms out of the hands of non-governmental groups, and avoid confrontation with Israel.
After the Assad regime fell, Israel launched an aerial campaign against Syrian military targets to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups, and seized parts of Mount Hermon in Syrian territory that was a buffer zone between the countries following the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Israeli military operations in Syria have since escalated, with Jerusalem saying it will not tolerate an armed Islamist presence in southern Syria.
Last week, airstrikes were carried out near the coastal city of Latakia, and the IDF said its fighter jets targeted weapons depots used to store anti-ship missiles. One civilian was killed, according to Syrian state media.
The latest strikes have come even as Israel and Stria are reportedly in direct contact and have in recent weeks held face-to-face meetings aimed at calming tensions and preventing conflict in the border region between the two longtime foes.
The contacts mark a significant development in ties between states that have been in conflict in the Middle East for decades, as the US encourages the new Islamist rulers in Damascus to establish relations with Israel.
Last month, Sharaa confirmed indirect talks with Israel that he said were aimed at calming tensions with Israel.
Israel has also cautioned against swift recognition of the new government in Syria, expressing deep skepticism about Sharaa, who until recently had a $10 million bounty on his head from the US.
But the strikes and the criticism have substantially subsided in recent weeks.
IDF Uncovers Explosives Lab, Arrests 35 Suspects Across Judea And Samaria
During an IDF operation in Tulkarm in the Ephraim Brigade area, last Wednesday (3rd), an explosive device workshop was discovered containing gas balloons and materials for making explosives. The workshop was destroyed by the forces.
Over the weekend, IDF troops, Shin Bet [Israel Security Agency] and the Judea and Samaria District Police carried out arrests of wanted individuals and confiscations of weapons throughout Judea and Samaria.
As part of the operations, 35 wanted suspects were arrested, and weapons, combat materials and terror funds were seized.
In Kafir Malik in the Benjamin Brigade area, tens of thousands of shekels in terror funding were confiscated in al-Mughayyir, and two terrorists who had thrown rocks at Israeli civilians were arrested. In Qalqilya, within the Ephraim Brigade area, another terrorist was arrested for throwing rocks at IDF forces during a disruption of order..
The IDF reported that the terrorist suspects and seized weaponry were transferred to security forces for further investigation.
First Permanent October 7 Memorial Center Opens In Sderot
Just a short distance from the Gaza border, Sderot inaugurated the first permanent memorial center dedicated entirely to the October 7 Hamas massacre.
The center, launched by the ISRAEL-is organization in partnership with the Sderot municipality, is intended to preserve the memory of that traumatic day and document the testimonies of survivors.
Located in an area that itself endured the horrors of the terror attack, the center offers a guided tour that includes real-time audio testimonies, a lookout point toward Gaza, and a virtual reality experience featuring five personal survivor accounts. Visitors are taken on an emotional journey through voices, images, and scenes that present the events from a deeply personal and human perspective.
To learn more about the Memorial Center, those interested can get the Ynetnews app on their smartphone, Google Play, or Apple App Store.
Hamas Is Losing Its Grip On Gaza’s Civilians – Yaakov Lappin
Prof. Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, told JNS that “Hamas is definitely in real strategic distress. Its entire command and control mechanism has been destroyed. Other than the Gaza Brigade commander, Ezzidin al-Haddad, there is no senior figure left capable of managing the organization.
“The organization’s military capabilities have been severely damaged. In fact, Hamas today has no ability to operate as an organized military framework. What remains is entirely residual.” Hamas has “switched to sporadic terror and guerrilla warfare, making efforts to place mines, and place IEDs on [military] traffic routes and quickly emerge from tunnels to fire anti-tank missiles and then swiftly escape back into the tunnels.”
Moreover, “Hamas is losing its grip on governing civilians. The civilians see the barrier of Hamas eroding, and the humanitarian aid distribution centers are operating in a way that draws many civilians there, despite Hamas’ attempts at disruption.”
Michael added that the heavy IDF military pressure, civilian departures from northern Gaza, and strikes on multi-story buildings and civilian facilities used by Hamas are further destabilizing the group.
Oded Ailam, former head of the counterterrorism division in the Mossad and currently a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, told the Jerusalem Press Club on May 29 that for the first time, “Hamas is losing its grip on the population… They did everything in their power in order to discourage the population from reaching [the distribution centers] and receiving food, because controlling the food and controlling the supply is controlling the population, and they are losing it.”
“Right now, what we are seeing is the first step in the collapse of the Hamas regime in Gaza, and it’s extremely important that it continues, and we should encourage those steps.” Israeli observers all agree that any Gaza solution leaving Hamas in power would signify a dangerous victory for the group.
(jns.org)
