Hamas must accept its 'surrender': Barrot; more than 400 Gaza flotilla activists detained | LIVE

We are now closing our LIVE coverage of the region for the night. We will be back tomorrow morning with more news updates.

More than 400 pro-Palestinian activists aboard 41 ships in the aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip were arrested by Israeli naval forces, an Israeli official said.

"During an operation that lasted approximately 12 hours, Israeli Navy personnel thwarted a large-scale incursion attempt by hundreds of people aboard 41 ships who had declared their intention to violate the legal maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip," the official explained.

"At the conclusion of the operation, more than 400 participants were safely transferred to the port of Ashdod to be taken into custody by the Israeli police," he added.

A 14th member of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) staff was killed Thursday in an Israeli airstrike, which also seriously injured four others, one of whom is in critical condition, the NGO said.

"The attack occurred while our teams were waiting for a bus to take them to our mobile hospital in Deir al-Balah," MSF stated in a press release. "All were wearing MSF vests."

Omar Hayek, 42, is the 14th MSF staff member killed since the start of the war in Gaza, triggered by the unprecedented attack on Oct. 7, 2023, by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel. "Omar was a quiet man, of profound kindness and impeccable professionalism," MSF stated.

He had been working as an occupational therapist in an MSF clinic in Gaza City since June 2018. He was "evacuated" from the city on Sept. 13 "due to the relentless attacks and forced displacement carried out by Israeli forces," the NGO explained.

Several other healthcare workers, MSF staff members, and their relatives were injured in the attack, including a physiotherapist, an orthopedic surgeon, a logistics officer and a finance assistant. "One of our employees is in critical condition, injured by shrapnel," MSF stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Israeli navy for its interception of an international flotilla that had sought to break the Israeli maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"I congratulate the soldiers and commanders of the navy who carried out their mission on Yom Kippur in the most professional and effective manner," Netanyahu said in a statement. "Their important action prevented dozens of ships from entering the war zone and thwarted a campaign to delegitimize Israel."

Hamas "has no role" in the future of Gaza, asserted Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, whose country is acting as a mediator in the war between Israel and the Palestinian movement.

"There is complete agreement among us, as Arabs, as Muslims, and even among the members of Hamas themselves. They fully understand that they have no role to play in the future, and that is a fact," he stated during a conference held in Paris, as Hamas is still yet to respond to Donald Trump's plan to end the war.

Nearly 42,000 people in the Gaza Strip, a quarter of whom are children, are suffering from "disabling injuries" resulting from the ongoing conflict and will require medical care for years to come, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday.

In a new report, the organization stated that one quarter of the 167,376 injured people recorded since October 2023 have suffered permanent injuries. Among them, more than 5,000 have undergone amputations.

Other serious injuries recorded since the outbreak of war in Gaza, triggered by the unprecedented attack on Oct. 7, 2023, by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas against Israel, include more than 22,000 limb injuries, more than 2,000 spinal cord injuries, some 1,300 head injuries, and more than 3,300 severe burns.

The French foreign minister, currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, stated that Hamas had "lost" and must accept its "defeat," as the Palestinian movement considers a U.S. proposal to end the war in Gaza.

"Hamas bears a very heavy responsibility for the catastrophe suffered by the Palestinians. It has lost. It must accept its own defeat," Jean-Noël Barrot told AFP.

The Health Ministry announced that a grenade dropped earlier today by the Israeli army in Markaba (Marjayoun district) resulted in one injury.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded the "immediate" repatriation of the six Mexicans who were on board the Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israel in the Mediterranean.

"They must be released immediately because they have committed no crime. They must be repatriated immediately, and we, of course, must provide them with all the necessary support," Sheinbaum stated during her morning press conference.

The United States hopes and expects Hamas to approve the plan for Gaza presented by President Donald Trump earlier this week, and the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, told Reuters that the president would set a "red line" for any response from the Palestinian group.

When asked about the possibility that Hamas might reject the plan, Leavitt stated in an interview with Fox News: "This is a red line that the President of the United States will have to draw, and I am confident that he will do so."

The Netherlands has announced that it will accept a "very limited" number of injured children from Gaza for medical treatment, reversing its previous policy and joining several other European countries in doing so.

In a letter co-signed by Foreign Minister David van Weel, the government stated that it is examining the possibility of providing temporary care in the Netherlands for some of these children.

These are children "who require highly specialized, complex medical care, who are in immediate danger of death, and for whom no immediate assistance is currently available" in the region surrounding the Gaza Strip, the letter explains.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be welcomed in Rome in early November to discuss, among other things, U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas, the Italian foreign minister announced on Thursday.

"On Nov. 7, we are ready to host President Abbas here in Rome to continue the dialogue and work together to strengthen the Palestinian Authority with a view to its reconstruction," Antonio Tajani said in a statement to the Senate on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry told AFP that the discussions would include U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan to end the war between Hamas and Israel, which is supported by the far-right government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

FIFA called for "peace" in Gaza on Thursday, but its president, Gianni Infantino, stated that the organization "cannot solve geopolitical problems." He also declined to address the growing calls to suspend the Israeli football federation.

Referring to "the current situation in Gaza" at the start of the closed-door meeting of the FIFA Council, the Italian-Swiss official emphasized that "the power of football lies in bringing people together in a divided world," by offering "a message of peace and unity."

The Gaza Civil Defense reported that at least 13 Palestinians were killed on Thursday in the Israeli army's offensive across the Gaza Strip, including an employee of Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

The relief agency stated that 10 people were killed in raids in central Gaza, two in the Khan Younis area in the south, and one child in a strike in Gaza City in the north of the war-ravaged territory.

When contacted by AFP, the Israeli army said it was unable to immediately comment on this information.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital in Deir al-Balah (central Gaza) reported receiving nine bodies after several strikes on nearby areas.

The Brazilian-Lebanese activist Mohammad Sami al-Qadri, originally from Ghazzeh in West Bekaa, is among those arrested by the Israeli army along with other activists from the Freedom Flotilla, which was heading to Gaza to break the blockade imposed on the enclave, our correspondent reports.

Qatar demands immediate release of all flotilla detainees

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels and described the mass seizure as a “threat to maritime safety and freedom of navigation,” Al Jazeera reports, citing a ministry statement.

The ministry called for the immediate release of those detained and demanded “those responsible be held accountable.”

“The ministry reiterates Qatar’s call on the international community to uphold its moral and legal responsibilities by taking decisive action against the continued violations of international law by Israeli occupation authorities,” it said.

“The ministry further stresses the importance of ensuring the safe, unimpeded, and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip.”

Two killed, three injured in Manchester synagogue attack

Two people were killed and three seriously wounded in an attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, U.K., earlier today. The man believed to have been the attacker was also shot and killed, the Guardian reports.

The attacker's identity could not be confirmed due to "suspicious items on his person," the Greater Manchester Police stated. A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the scene.

The police were called in after reports of a car ramming and stabbing outside the synagogue. According to the Guardian, the U.K.'s terrorism threat level is currently under review.

Israeli army announces the flotilla has been entirely thwarted, save one 'at a distance'

The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement on X saying that none of the Global Sumud Flotilla's ships have succeeded in breaking the siege on Gaza.

"The Hamas-Sumud provocation is over," the statement reads. "None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade."

The flotilla consisted of at least 44 vessels carrying more than 500 activists, politicians and lawyers, and humanitarian supplies aimed at breaking the blockade imposed by Israel on the Strip, currently in the grips of malnutrition and, in some areas, famine. Hundreds of people have already died from hunger as a result of Israel's blockade.

"All the passengers are safe and in good health," the ministry claimed. "They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe."

"One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented."

Car ramming and stabbing attack outside England synagogue

Four people were wounded in a car ramming and stabbing attack at a Manchester synagogue this morning, Haaretz reports, citing British outlets.

Footage online shows police shooting at a man at Heaton Park Shul. In a radio interview with the BBC, the mayor said the suspect was likely killed.

A person at the scene "witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and one man had been stabbed," police said in a statement. The suspect did not enter the building and the incident is being treated as a terror attack, police told The Telegraph.

Lina al-Tabbal raising a Lebanese flag on the flotilla. (Photo posted by Tabbal on X/@lynaPERON)

Lebanese activist aboard Gaza flotilla among those detained by Israel

Lebanese activist Lina al-Tabbal, who was aboard the flotilla heading toward Gaza, has allegedly been arrested by Israeli forces after the boat was intercepted. Activists and friends of Tabbal have posted on social media, urging Lebanese authorities to demand her release.

Tabbal, who is based in France, holds a doctorate in international law and teaches international law at HEICR. She had been frequently posting updates from the flotilla, including moments where she was seen raising the Lebanese flag.

Tabbal appeared in a video filmed by one of the activists aboard the ship as the Israeli army intercepted the vessel. Tabbal is seen raising her hands alongside her colleagues in front of Israeli naval forces, who appeared to arrest those on board in preparation for deportation. The video ends with the boat empty of all its crew, including Tabbal.

All but two flotilla ships intercepted, Mikeno reaches Gaza waters

According to the flotilla website's vessel tracker, all but two ships have been intercepted by the Israeli navy: The Marinette, which was further behind the bulk of the flotilla, and the Mikeno, which was the only ship to enter Gaza's territorial waters. Its GPS last pinged at 11:21 local time, according to the tracker.

According to Turkish media, the Mikeno is a mere 15 kilometers from the shores of Gaza.

Irish Senator Chris Andrews, of the Sinn Féin party, is among the activists detained by Israeli forces from the Global Sumud flotilla. In a prerecorded video, released in the event of his detention by Israel, Andrews says, "If you're watching this, it means I've been kidnapped by the Israeli occupational forces against my will. Our humanitarian mission was non-violent and abiding by international law."

A navy vessel arrives at Ashdod port after Israel intercepted some of the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla. (Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters)

According to Times of Israel, at least four of the flotilla’s vessels are stuck at sea due to various technical problems unrelated to the military’s actions. The navy is set to detain the activists on those boats as well, or tow them to the port, the outlet reports.

The Israeli navy is also reportedly scanning the area to ensure no boats "managed to sneak past and reach the Strip," TOI writes.

Al Jazeera correspondent aboard flotilla confirms boats still en route to Gaza

Al Jazeera's Hassan Massoud, aboard one of the freedom flotilla's ships, has told the agency that several ships that have managed to evade interception or have not yet been approached by the Israeli navy are still en route to Gaza.

“We are monitoring all the cameras and we can confirm that several boats are still trying to reach Gaza," Massoud said. "Even if just one of the boats reaches Gaza, this would achieve their goal to break the siege.”

He said another flotilla is now sailing towards Gaza after leaving from Sicily, Italy, signaling activists are continuing efforts to reach the starving Palestinian people and put a spotlight on Israel’s total blockade of food, water, and medicine.

Lawyers present on the fleet's ships are documenting Israel's violations of international humanitarian and marine law, Massoud also said. The collected evidence will be sent to the U.N.'s International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Malaysian PM says will use 'all legitimate and lawful means' to hold Israel to account for flotilla

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this morning that his government would "use all legitimate and lawful means at our disposal to ensure that Israel is held to account, especially in matters concerning Malaysian citizens," of whom there are 12 currently being detained by Israel, according to a Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry statement.

"By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world," Ibrahim wrote on X. "As long as the Palestinian people are denied their fundamental rights and aspirations, Malaysia will stand unflinchingly with them."

Turkey calls interception of flotilla an 'act of terror,' launches investigation

Turkey’s foreign ministry called Israel’s “attack” on the flotilla “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians, Reuters reports.

The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said it had launched an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens on board vessels in the flotilla on charges including deprivation of liberty, seizure of transport vehicles and damage to property, Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

Protesters from the Pro Pal network and students from the Self-Organized University Collective occupied the platforms of Naples Central Station, blocking incoming and outgoing train traffic, following the Israeli interception the flotilla, on October

39 of the flotilla's boats heading toward Ashdod Port, Greece says

Thirty-nine of the more than 40 ships that make up the Global Sumud flotilla for Gaza are reaching the Israeli Port of Ashdod, just north of the Palestinian enclave, Reuters reports, citing the Greek foreign minister.

The flotilla consists of an estimated 47 ships. According to the live tracker on the flotilla's website, one of the ships, the Mikeno, had entered Gaza's territorial waters this morning around 6 a.m. local time. Most ships are listed as either "intercepted" or "assumed intercepted," while several are still listed as "sailing."

According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli navy is still attempting to intercept the remaining boats, with whom communication has been cut, likely due to jamming from the Israeli army or because the protocol on board was that activists would throw their phones away as Israeli troops neared.

The victims pictured here while in the field working for Jihad al-Bina. (Photo sent to L'Orient Today by residents)

Victims of this morning's Israeli strike part of Hezbollah's civilian reconstruction organization

The two people killed in this morning's Israeli drone strike, Ahmed Saad and Mostafa Rizk, were employees of Hezbollah's civilian reconstruction organization. Founded in 1988 in the wake of Israel's invasion of Lebanon, Jihad al-Bina ("Struggle for Construction") had helped rebuild the areas of southern Lebanon hard hit in the summer of 2006, with funds from Iran, as well as allocations from the Lebanese state and donations from Arab countries, principally Qatar.

The two victims, from Nabatieh district's Kfar Roummane, were on a mission to assess the damage to border villages caused by Israeli bombardment and demolition operations during the last war and since the cease-fire. They were killed on their way to one of the sites they were to evaluate, according to our correspondent.

Protestors marching in Spain in support of the Sumud Flotilla. (Credit: AFP)

Israel intercepts Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla near Gaza

Starting last night and into this morning, Israeli naval forces intercepted 13 ships heading toward the Gaza Strip, including one carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, after Israel ordered the flotilla to change course.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, transporting medicine and food to Gaza, consists of more than 40 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.

Israel's interception of the flotilla sparked protests in Italy, Colombia, Spain, Germany and Mexico.

More details here.👈

Colombia expels Israeli diplomat

Following Israel's interception of the humanitarian aid flotilla, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel’s remaining diplomatic staff in the country, following the severing of ties in May 2024.

Petro also denounced the free trade agreement with Israel, calling for its cancellation, and demanded the release of two Colombian nationals on board the flotilla.

More details here.👈

To catch up on what you might've missed yesterday and know what to expect today, read our Morning Brief.👈

(Credit: Image sent by locals to our correspondent, Muntasser Abdallah)

⚡ Israeli drone strike kills 2 near Kfar Roummane, south Lebanon

An Israeli drone struck a car in the early hours today on the new highway east of Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh district) near the Khardali River bridge on the Jarmaq road (Jezzine district), north of the Litani River, our regional correspondent reported.

Medical sources said two people were killed and another was wounded. The two dead are believed to be engineers.

Videos and photos from the scene show the car engulfed in flames.

Rescue teams from the al-Rissala Scout Association, affiliated with the Amal Movement, recovered at least one body and transported it to Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital in Toul, Nabatieh.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.

Since Monday night, the region has been waiting for Hamas' response to Trump’s proposed plan aimed at securing a truce in the Gaza war.

Throughout the day, we'll be bringing you the latest from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have continued unabated despite the November cease-fire. We’ll also report on developments in Syria, Iran and the Red Sea, after Yemen's Houthis targeted a ship on Tuesday.

We are now closing our LIVE coverage of the region for the night. We will be back tomorrow morning with more news updates.

More than 400 pro-Palestinian activists aboard 41 ships in the aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip were arrested by Israeli naval forces, an Israeli official said.

"During an operation that lasted approximately 12 hours, Israeli Navy personnel thwarted a large-scale incursion attempt by hundreds of people aboard 41 ships who had declared their intention to violate the legal maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip," the official explained.

"At the conclusion of the operation, more than 400 participants were safely transferred to the port of Ashdod to be taken into custody by the Israeli police," he added.

A 14th member of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) staff was killed Thursday in an Israeli airstrike, which also seriously injured four others, one of whom is in critical condition, the NGO said.

"The attack occurred while our teams were waiting for a bus to take them to our mobile hospital in Deir al-Balah," MSF stated in a press release. "All were wearing MSF vests."

Omar Hayek, 42, is the 14th MSF staff member killed since the start of the war in Gaza, triggered by the unprecedented attack on Oct. 7, 2023, by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel. "Omar was a quiet man, of profound kindness and impeccable professionalism," MSF stated.

He had been working as an occupational therapist in an MSF clinic in Gaza City since June 2018. He was "evacuated" from the city on Sept. 13 "due to the relentless attacks and forced displacement carried out by Israeli forces," the NGO explained.

Several other healthcare workers, MSF staff members, and their relatives were injured in the attack, including a physiotherapist, an orthopedic surgeon, a logistics officer and a finance assistant. "One of our employees is in critical condition, injured by shrapnel," MSF stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Israeli navy for its interception of an international flotilla that had sought to break the Israeli maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"I congratulate the soldiers and commanders of the navy who carried out their mission on Yom Kippur in the most professional and effective manner," Netanyahu said in a statement. "Their important action prevented dozens of ships from entering the war zone and thwarted a campaign to delegitimize Israel."

Hamas "has no role" in the future of Gaza, asserted Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, whose country is acting as a mediator in the war between Israel and the Palestinian movement.

"There is complete agreement among us, as Arabs, as Muslims, and even among the members of Hamas themselves. They fully understand that they have no role to play in the future, and that is a fact," he stated during a conference held in Paris, as Hamas is still yet to respond to Donald Trump's plan to end the war.

Nearly 42,000 people in the Gaza Strip, a quarter of whom are children, are suffering from "disabling injuries" resulting from the ongoing conflict and will require medical care for years to come, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday.

In a new report, the organization stated that one quarter of the 167,376 injured people recorded since October 2023 have suffered permanent injuries. Among them, more than 5,000 have undergone amputations.

Other serious injuries recorded since the outbreak of war in Gaza, triggered by the unprecedented attack on Oct. 7, 2023, by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas against Israel, include more than 22,000 limb injuries, more than 2,000 spinal cord injuries, some 1,300 head injuries, and more than 3,300 severe burns.

The French foreign minister, currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, stated that Hamas had "lost" and must accept its "defeat," as the Palestinian movement considers a U.S. proposal to end the war in Gaza.

"Hamas bears a very heavy responsibility for the catastrophe suffered by the Palestinians. It has lost. It must accept its own defeat," Jean-Noël Barrot told AFP.

The Health Ministry announced that a grenade dropped earlier today by the Israeli army in Markaba (Marjayoun district) resulted in one injury.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded the "immediate" repatriation of the six Mexicans who were on board the Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israel in the Mediterranean.

"They must be released immediately because they have committed no crime. They must be repatriated immediately, and we, of course, must provide them with all the necessary support," Sheinbaum stated during her morning press conference.

The United States hopes and expects Hamas to approve the plan for Gaza presented by President Donald Trump earlier this week, and the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, told Reuters that the president would set a "red line" for any response from the Palestinian group.

When asked about the possibility that Hamas might reject the plan, Leavitt stated in an interview with Fox News: "This is a red line that the President of the United States will have to draw, and I am confident that he will do so."

The Netherlands has announced that it will accept a "very limited" number of injured children from Gaza for medical treatment, reversing its previous policy and joining several other European countries in doing so.

In a letter co-signed by Foreign Minister David van Weel, the government stated that it is examining the possibility of providing temporary care in the Netherlands for some of these children.

These are children "who require highly specialized, complex medical care, who are in immediate danger of death, and for whom no immediate assistance is currently available" in the region surrounding the Gaza Strip, the letter explains.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be welcomed in Rome in early November to discuss, among other things, U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas, the Italian foreign minister announced on Thursday.

"On Nov. 7, we are ready to host President Abbas here in Rome to continue the dialogue and work together to strengthen the Palestinian Authority with a view to its reconstruction," Antonio Tajani said in a statement to the Senate on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry told AFP that the discussions would include U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan to end the war between Hamas and Israel, which is supported by the far-right government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

FIFA called for "peace" in Gaza on Thursday, but its president, Gianni Infantino, stated that the organization "cannot solve geopolitical problems." He also declined to address the growing calls to suspend the Israeli football federation.

Referring to "the current situation in Gaza" at the start of the closed-door meeting of the FIFA Council, the Italian-Swiss official emphasized that "the power of football lies in bringing people together in a divided world," by offering "a message of peace and unity."

The Gaza Civil Defense reported that at least 13 Palestinians were killed on Thursday in the Israeli army's offensive across the Gaza Strip, including an employee of Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

The relief agency stated that 10 people were killed in raids in central Gaza, two in the Khan Younis area in the south, and one child in a strike in Gaza City in the north of the war-ravaged territory.

When contacted by AFP, the Israeli army said it was unable to immediately comment on this information.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital in Deir al-Balah (central Gaza) reported receiving nine bodies after several strikes on nearby areas.

The Brazilian-Lebanese activist Mohammad Sami al-Qadri, originally from Ghazzeh in West Bekaa, is among those arrested by the Israeli army along with other activists from the Freedom Flotilla, which was heading to Gaza to break the blockade imposed on the enclave, our correspondent reports.

Qatar demands immediate release of all flotilla detainees

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels and described the mass seizure as a “threat to maritime safety and freedom of navigation,” Al Jazeera reports, citing a ministry statement.

The ministry called for the immediate release of those detained and demanded “those responsible be held accountable.”

“The ministry reiterates Qatar’s call on the international community to uphold its moral and legal responsibilities by taking decisive action against the continued violations of international law by Israeli occupation authorities,” it said.

“The ministry further stresses the importance of ensuring the safe, unimpeded, and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip.”

Two killed, three injured in Manchester synagogue attack

Two people were killed and three seriously wounded in an attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, U.K., earlier today. The man believed to have been the attacker was also shot and killed, the Guardian reports.

The attacker's identity could not be confirmed due to "suspicious items on his person," the Greater Manchester Police stated. A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the scene.

The police were called in after reports of a car ramming and stabbing outside the synagogue. According to the Guardian, the U.K.'s terrorism threat level is currently under review.

Israeli army announces the flotilla has been entirely thwarted, save one 'at a distance'

The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement on X saying that none of the Global Sumud Flotilla's ships have succeeded in breaking the siege on Gaza.

"The Hamas-Sumud provocation is over," the statement reads. "None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade."

The flotilla consisted of at least 44 vessels carrying more than 500 activists, politicians and lawyers, and humanitarian supplies aimed at breaking the blockade imposed by Israel on the Strip, currently in the grips of malnutrition and, in some areas, famine. Hundreds of people have already died from hunger as a result of Israel's blockade.

"All the passengers are safe and in good health," the ministry claimed. "They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe."

"One last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented."

Car ramming and stabbing attack outside England synagogue

Four people were wounded in a car ramming and stabbing attack at a Manchester synagogue this morning, Haaretz reports, citing British outlets.

Footage online shows police shooting at a man at Heaton Park Shul. In a radio interview with the BBC, the mayor said the suspect was likely killed.

A person at the scene "witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and one man had been stabbed," police said in a statement. The suspect did not enter the building and the incident is being treated as a terror attack, police told The Telegraph.

Lina al-Tabbal raising a Lebanese flag on the flotilla. (Photo posted by Tabbal on X/@lynaPERON)

Lebanese activist aboard Gaza flotilla among those detained by Israel

Lebanese activist Lina al-Tabbal, who was aboard the flotilla heading toward Gaza, has allegedly been arrested by Israeli forces after the boat was intercepted. Activists and friends of Tabbal have posted on social media, urging Lebanese authorities to demand her release.

Tabbal, who is based in France, holds a doctorate in international law and teaches international law at HEICR. She had been frequently posting updates from the flotilla, including moments where she was seen raising the Lebanese flag.

Tabbal appeared in a video filmed by one of the activists aboard the ship as the Israeli army intercepted the vessel. Tabbal is seen raising her hands alongside her colleagues in front of Israeli naval forces, who appeared to arrest those on board in preparation for deportation. The video ends with the boat empty of all its crew, including Tabbal.

All but two flotilla ships intercepted, Mikeno reaches Gaza waters

According to the flotilla website's vessel tracker, all but two ships have been intercepted by the Israeli navy: The Marinette, which was further behind the bulk of the flotilla, and the Mikeno, which was the only ship to enter Gaza's territorial waters. Its GPS last pinged at 11:21 local time, according to the tracker.

According to Turkish media, the Mikeno is a mere 15 kilometers from the shores of Gaza.

Irish Senator Chris Andrews, of the Sinn Féin party, is among the activists detained by Israeli forces from the Global Sumud flotilla. In a prerecorded video, released in the event of his detention by Israel, Andrews says, "If you're watching this, it means I've been kidnapped by the Israeli occupational forces against my will. Our humanitarian mission was non-violent and abiding by international law."

A navy vessel arrives at Ashdod port after Israel intercepted some of the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla. (Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters)

According to Times of Israel, at least four of the flotilla’s vessels are stuck at sea due to various technical problems unrelated to the military’s actions. The navy is set to detain the activists on those boats as well, or tow them to the port, the outlet reports.

The Israeli navy is also reportedly scanning the area to ensure no boats "managed to sneak past and reach the Strip," TOI writes.

Al Jazeera correspondent aboard flotilla confirms boats still en route to Gaza

Al Jazeera's Hassan Massoud, aboard one of the freedom flotilla's ships, has told the agency that several ships that have managed to evade interception or have not yet been approached by the Israeli navy are still en route to Gaza.

“We are monitoring all the cameras and we can confirm that several boats are still trying to reach Gaza," Massoud said. "Even if just one of the boats reaches Gaza, this would achieve their goal to break the siege.”

He said another flotilla is now sailing towards Gaza after leaving from Sicily, Italy, signaling activists are continuing efforts to reach the starving Palestinian people and put a spotlight on Israel’s total blockade of food, water, and medicine.

Lawyers present on the fleet's ships are documenting Israel's violations of international humanitarian and marine law, Massoud also said. The collected evidence will be sent to the U.N.'s International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Malaysian PM says will use 'all legitimate and lawful means' to hold Israel to account for flotilla

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this morning that his government would "use all legitimate and lawful means at our disposal to ensure that Israel is held to account, especially in matters concerning Malaysian citizens," of whom there are 12 currently being detained by Israel, according to a Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry statement.

"By blocking a humanitarian mission, Israel has shown utter contempt not only for the rights of the Palestinian people but also for the conscience of the world," Ibrahim wrote on X. "As long as the Palestinian people are denied their fundamental rights and aspirations, Malaysia will stand unflinchingly with them."

Turkey calls interception of flotilla an 'act of terror,' launches investigation

Turkey’s foreign ministry called Israel’s “attack” on the flotilla “an act of terror” that endangered the lives of innocent civilians, Reuters reports.

The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said it had launched an investigation into the detention of 24 Turkish citizens on board vessels in the flotilla on charges including deprivation of liberty, seizure of transport vehicles and damage to property, Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

Protesters from the Pro Pal network and students from the Self-Organized University Collective occupied the platforms of Naples Central Station, blocking incoming and outgoing train traffic, following the Israeli interception the flotilla, on October

39 of the flotilla's boats heading toward Ashdod Port, Greece says

Thirty-nine of the more than 40 ships that make up the Global Sumud flotilla for Gaza are reaching the Israeli Port of Ashdod, just north of the Palestinian enclave, Reuters reports, citing the Greek foreign minister.

The flotilla consists of an estimated 47 ships. According to the live tracker on the flotilla's website, one of the ships, the Mikeno, had entered Gaza's territorial waters this morning around 6 a.m. local time. Most ships are listed as either "intercepted" or "assumed intercepted," while several are still listed as "sailing."

According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli navy is still attempting to intercept the remaining boats, with whom communication has been cut, likely due to jamming from the Israeli army or because the protocol on board was that activists would throw their phones away as Israeli troops neared.

The victims pictured here while in the field working for Jihad al-Bina. (Photo sent to L'Orient Today by residents)

Victims of this morning's Israeli strike part of Hezbollah's civilian reconstruction organization

The two people killed in this morning's Israeli drone strike, Ahmed Saad and Mostafa Rizk, were employees of Hezbollah's civilian reconstruction organization. Founded in 1988 in the wake of Israel's invasion of Lebanon, Jihad al-Bina ("Struggle for Construction") had helped rebuild the areas of southern Lebanon hard hit in the summer of 2006, with funds from Iran, as well as allocations from the Lebanese state and donations from Arab countries, principally Qatar.

The two victims, from Nabatieh district's Kfar Roummane, were on a mission to assess the damage to border villages caused by Israeli bombardment and demolition operations during the last war and since the cease-fire. They were killed on their way to one of the sites they were to evaluate, according to our correspondent.

Protestors marching in Spain in support of the Sumud Flotilla. (Credit: AFP)

Israel intercepts Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla near Gaza

Starting last night and into this morning, Israeli naval forces intercepted 13 ships heading toward the Gaza Strip, including one carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, after Israel ordered the flotilla to change course.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, transporting medicine and food to Gaza, consists of more than 40 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.

Israel's interception of the flotilla sparked protests in Italy, Colombia, Spain, Germany and Mexico.

More details here.👈

Colombia expels Israeli diplomat

Following Israel's interception of the humanitarian aid flotilla, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel’s remaining diplomatic staff in the country, following the severing of ties in May 2024.

Petro also denounced the free trade agreement with Israel, calling for its cancellation, and demanded the release of two Colombian nationals on board the flotilla.

More details here.👈

To catch up on what you might've missed yesterday and know what to expect today, read our Morning Brief.👈

(Credit: Image sent by locals to our correspondent, Muntasser Abdallah)

⚡ Israeli drone strike kills 2 near Kfar Roummane, south Lebanon

An Israeli drone struck a car in the early hours today on the new highway east of Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh district) near the Khardali River bridge on the Jarmaq road (Jezzine district), north of the Litani River, our regional correspondent reported.

Medical sources said two people were killed and another was wounded. The two dead are believed to be engineers.

Videos and photos from the scene show the car engulfed in flames.

Rescue teams from the al-Rissala Scout Association, affiliated with the Amal Movement, recovered at least one body and transported it to Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital in Toul, Nabatieh.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.

Since Monday night, the region has been waiting for Hamas' response to Trump’s proposed plan aimed at securing a truce in the Gaza war.

Throughout the day, we'll be bringing you the latest from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have continued unabated despite the November cease-fire. We’ll also report on developments in Syria, Iran and the Red Sea, after Yemen's Houthis targeted a ship on Tuesday.