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International Labour Day in Gaza finds the territory in its deepest economic crisis since the war began in October 2023. Unemployment has reached 80%, with over 250,000 workers losing their jobs, and more than 95% of the population relying on aid. Workers like Ibrahim Abu al-Eish and Yousef al-Rifi recount their daily struggles to survive on meager wages amid dangerous conditions.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has accused Israel of ‘kidnapping’ three journalists from the Global Sumud aid flotilla, which was intercepted in international waters while heading to Gaza. Al Jazeera expressed deep concern for its missing crew, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the interception as a violation of international law. The incident follows previous accusations of mistreatment of detainees and a pattern of abuses against Palestinian journalists.
International condemnation has followed Israel's interception of 22 aid vessels bound for Gaza. Organizers say 211 activists were detained, including a Paris city councilor. Countries like Italy, Spain, and Turkey decried the action as illegal and inhumane.
Over 20 major global news organizations, including BBC, CNN, Reuters and AP, have signed an open letter urging Israel to lift its ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza independently. The editors-in-chief argue that press freedom is essential and that the ceasefire makes independent reporting possible. Israel has not yet responded, while more than 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.
In Gaza, cesarean sections have increased by about 2% since before the war, now accounting for a quarter of all births. The collapsed healthcare system and harsh living conditions, including famine and contaminated water, significantly raise infection risks for mothers. Displaced women like Duha Abu Yousef and Sanaa al-Shukri describe severe physical and emotional challenges during pregnancy and recovery.
Israeli forces intercepted and boarded seven boats of the Global Sumud aid flotilla near Crete, using jamming and armed teams. The group condemned the act as illegal in international waters, warning governments against complicity.