Gaza Isn’t a War Zone. It’s a War Crime.

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off. This isn’t a “both sides” post. It’s an all-facts, no-filter reckoning. For the people who are just waking up to what’s going on in Gaza — welcome. For the people who’ve been screaming into the void for years — we hear you.

This isn’t a new story. It’s just been repackaged and sanitized by mainstream media until you forget it started in 1948 with mass displacement and didn’t stop when the world looked away.

For Context here’s a brief timeline. For a more detailed timeline download the pdf here ——>

From 1948 to 2025 —

• 1948: Israel’s founding also meant 700,000+ Palestinians were displaced. Villages burned. Families massacred (hello, Deir Yassin). The world called it independence. Palestinians call it what it was: Nakba — the catastrophe.

• 1967: Israel occupies Gaza and the West Bank during the Six-Day War. Settlements begin. Still illegal. Still expanding.

• 1987: The First Intifada erupts. Hamas is born — not out of nowhere, but as a direct response to 20 years of brutal occupation.

• 1993: Oslo Accords get signed. Hope enters the chat. But Israel keeps building. Hamas keeps resisting. Surprise — nothing changes.

• 2000–2005: The Second Intifada explodes. Suicide bombings. Tanks. Airstrikes. Thousands dead. Hamas founder assassinated.

• 2005: Israel “leaves” Gaza, but not really. Keeps control of borders, air, and sea. Gaza becomes an open-air prison.

• 2006–2007: Hamas wins elections. Israel freaks. Gaza gets blockaded. Two million people were trapped under siege.

• 2008–2021: Rinse and repeat. Wars in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021. Thousands were killed, mostly Palestinian civilians. UN cries war crimes. Nobody listens.

• Oct 7, 2023: Hamas attacks inside Israel. 1,200 Israelis killed. Hostages taken. It’s horrifying. But the backlash? Apocalyptic.

• 2024–2025: Israel levels Gaza. 50,000+ Palestinians killed. Hospitals, homes, UN shelters, aid trucks — all fair game. 70% of the dead? Women and children.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Israel’s occupation created the perfect pressure cooker. Hamas was the explosion. It didn’t spring out of the ground. It was built — brick by brick — by decades of military occupation, bulldozed homes, checkpoints, disappearances, and broken promises.

Several factors explain why Hamas formed at that time:

• Resistance to Occupation: After 20 years of Israeli occupation (1967–1987), many Palestinians were disillusioned and desperate for an effective fight against Israeli military rule. Hamas provided an organized vehicle for armed resistance, positioning itself as the champion of “active jihad” to end the occupation, in contrast to what it saw as fruitless negotiations or passive acceptance.

• Ideology – Political Islam: Hamas offered an Islamist political vision. It emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology, emphasizing that liberating Palestine was not just a national duty but a religious obligation for Muslims. This appealed to Palestinians who combined nationalist goals with Islamic identity. In 1988, Hamas issued a charter declaring that all of historic Palestine is Islamic land and calling for Israel’s elimination.

• Alternative to the PLO: At the time, the secular PLO (led by Yasser Arafat’s Fatah) was the dominant Palestinian force. However, some Palestinians felt the PLO was ineffective and corrupt, especially after years of exile and failed diplomacy. Hamas presented itself as a clean, grassroots alternative that rejected compromise with Israel. Notably, Israel’s authorities initially tolerated or even indirectly encouraged Islamist organizing in Gaza (seeing it as a counterweight to the PLO), which inadvertently helped Hamas grow. By offering social services and a message of armed resistance, Hamas won support that had been drifting toward more radical factions (like Islamic Jihad).

• Social Services and Grassroots Appeal: Hamas built its base through a network of social programs – religious centers, charities, and schools – which ingrained it in the community. This grassroots legitimacy translated into political support. Many poor or refugee families in Gaza saw Hamas as responsive to their needs in a way the distant PLO leadership was not.

Yes, Hamas has committed atrocities. That’s not in question.

But let’s stop pretending they weren’t reacting to an apartheid regime that has kept Gaza under siege for nearly 20 years.

You can condemn Hamas and call out the Israeli government’s war crimes.

You can grieve for Israeli civilians and demand justice for Palestinian children buried alive.

If you can’t hold both, you’re not interested in justice. You’re just playing teams.

Blockade of Gaza and Humanitarian Aid:

After Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel (joined by neighboring Egypt) imposed a comprehensive blockade on the Gaza Strip. This blockade restricts almost all movement of people and goods by land, sea, or air. Israel controls Gaza’s coastline and airspace and tightly regulates border crossings, allowing only limited humanitarian supplies in and virtually no exports out. The result has been a severe, ongoing humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Life under blockade has meant extreme shortages of basic necessities, devastated infrastructure, and economic collapse. Gaza’s population has grappled with a chronic lack of clean water, sporadic electricity (fuel is restricted), ruined hospitals and schools, and high unemployment. The United Nations and human rights organizations condemn the Gaza blockade as a form of “collective punishment” against the civilian population – which is prohibited under international law. Wilfully depriving civilians of essential supplies (food, water, medicine) or blocking relief aid is identified as a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

Israel defends the blockade as necessary to contain Hamas, but its measures have been extremely sweeping – amounting to an economic siege on all of Gaza. Over the years, Israel has repeatedly limited or completely halted humanitarian shipments, even during periods of intense civilian need. For example, in late 2023 and early 2024, during the Gaza war, Israel enforced a “total siege” – cutting off electricity, fuel, food, and medicine for weeks. This led to what experts called “mass starvation or death by dehydration” risks in Gaza’s hospitals and shelters. International legal experts (including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) have warned that “wilful impeding” of life-saving aid to civilians constitutes a war crime and breaches the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Israel has also punished those who attempt to help besieged Gazans. There is a long history of activists and NGOs trying to deliver aid to Gaza and facing Israeli obstruction:

• In May 2010, a convoy of international activists sailing with humanitarian supplies – the Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was intercepted by the Israeli Navy in international waters. When Israeli commandos boarded the largest ship (the Mavi Marmara), clashes broke out, and the soldiers opened fire, killing 10 activists (nine Turkish nationals and one American). The raid caused global outrage and inquiries found that excessive force was used against people attempting to deliver aid. Israel faced accusations of breaching international law, and relations with Turkey deteriorated sharply over the incident.

• Over the years, aid convoys and flotillas have continued to challenge the blockade. Israeli forces consistently stop these efforts, often arresting or deporting activists on board. In some cases, ships have been sabotaged or seized before they even reach Gaza’s waters. For instance, in 2023–2024 during the latest war, several small boats organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition were prevented from reaching Gaza. In May 2025 one such boat (Conscience) was reportedly attacked by drones in international waters off Malta – the activists blamed Israel for the strike that damaged their vessel.

• Israel has also targeted or criminalized local and international NGOs working in Palestinian territories. In 2021, for example, Israel designated several Palestinian civil society and aid organizations as “terrorist” groups (a move widely rejected by the UN and EU). Volunteers and even elected officials advocating for Palestinian rights have been penalized; a recent example is a French member of the European Parliament (of Palestinian descent) who was barred from entering Israel due to her outspoken opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza.

The blockade’s legality is heavily disputed. International jurists note that Gaza remains occupied territory and that the Fourth Geneva Convention obliges the occupying power to ensure the welfare of civilians. In 2023, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel (in provisional measures) to allow sufficient fuel and supplies into Gaza to prevent genocide – an order Israel largely ignored. By cutting off vital supplies and restricting aid, Israel is in breach of humanitarian law, and numerous observers (UN commissions, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch) have stated that the blockade, as implemented, violates international law and may amount to a crime against humanity.

Despite these condemnations, the blockade persists. Gazans often say they live in an “open-air prison,” entirely at the mercy of Israeli permissions for basic survival needs. The humanitarian toll is immense: as of 2023, over 80% of Gaza’s population was aid-dependent, poverty and malnutrition had soared, and critical infrastructure (water plants, sewage, healthcare) was in shambles. The blockade has also fueled further conflict, as groups like Hamas cite it to justify rocket fire or attacks, perpetuating a tragic cycle.

In an attempt to assist Palestinians with aid, doing what our governments won’t.

Greta Thunberg with crew members of the “Madleen” aid ship before departing Catania, Italy, on June 1, 2025. In mid-2025, a high-profile group of activists set sail to break the Gaza blockade and deliver humanitarian aid. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a pro-Palestinian activist network, launched a sailing yacht named Madleen from Sicily carrying a small cargo of medical and food supplies. On board were 12 passengers including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham, among others. Their mission was two-fold: to bring relief items to Gaza’s civilians and to draw international attention to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza under siege.

The flotilla’s voyage was explicitly a form of peaceful protest. Thunberg, better known for her climate activism, said they were compelled to act: “No matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying… the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity,” she told a press conference, moved to tears. The participants stressed that they were unarmed and trained in non-violence, framing the journey as a symbolic act of civil disobedience against what they termed an illegal siege. The Madleen was sailing under a UK flag, and the UK and French governments – aware that some of their citizens were aboard – kept an eye on the mission, though they did not officially endorse it.

Israel’s response was swift. The Israeli government declared that it would not allow any vessel to reach Gaza, maintaining that the naval blockade is necessary for security. The Israeli Navy mobilized to intercept the flotilla long before it could approach Gazan waters. Israeli defense officials monitored the boat’s route in real time. They stated that if the Madleen continued toward Gaza, naval forces would intercept and divert it – likely towing it to Israel’s Ashdod port, as has been done with previous blockade runners. An Israeli military spokesperson (IDF) emphasized that Israel was “enforcing the maritime security blockade on Gaza” and was “prepared for a wide range of scenarios” to stop the vessel. Essentially, the Israeli stance was that no unauthorized ship would be allowed through, regardless of the humanitarian intent.

This Israeli position has drawn criticism from legal experts. International humanitarian law protects the passage of relief supplies to civilians in wartime, subject to inspection but not wholesale obstruction. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned in June 2025 – about Gaza’s situation – that the “wilful impediment” of humanitarian aid to civilians can constitute a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. In other words, if the activists on the Madleen are carrying only aid and pose no military threat, blocking their assistance purely on political grounds would violate international law. Israeli authorities, however, insist that accepting unsupervised aid ships could enable arms smuggling to Hamas; they demand all aid be routed through Israeli-approved channels. This has created a stalemate: the flotilla activists do not trust Israeli channels (given the paltry amounts of aid allowed in), and Israel refuses to grant any exception to the blockade.

At the time of Madleen’s departure (June 2025), Gaza’s humanitarian crisis was desperate. Israel had maintained an almost total ban on aid entry for two months, leading to reports of children dying from starvation and hospitals ceasing to function. The Freedom Flotilla activists argued that civil society must take action when governments fail. Thunberg and her co-passengers knew the risks – a similar attempt weeks earlier had ended when their partner boat was attacked in international waters – yet they felt silence was not an option. “No matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not nearly as dangerous as the silence of the world in the face of… genocide,” Thunberg said, referring to the scale of deaths in Gaza.

As the Madleen sailed eastward, Israel’s navy shadowed it. Tensions mounted over what would happen if/when the boat approached Gaza’s maritime boundary. Observers noted that any forcible interception on the high seas (outside Israeli territorial waters) could breach international maritime law. European diplomats quietly urged restraint; Britain reportedly declined Israel’s request to revoke the Madleen’s UK flag registration. The standoff thus embodied a larger question: Does Israel’s security claim justify starving a civilian population and overriding international law? The flotilla’s fate would test the resolve of the international community to uphold humanitarian principles in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Updates Here Everyday!!

May 2, 2025 – Conscience Attacked by Drones

• The Conscience, a vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was reportedly struck by drones in international waters off Malta, causing significant damage.

June 1, 2025 – Madleen Sets Sail from Sicily

• The FFC launched the Madleen from Catania, Italy, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. 

June 3, 2025 – Drone Surveillance Reported

• Activists aboard the Madleen reported being monitored by a Hellenic Coast Guard drone, raising concerns about surveillance. At 11:12 pm CEST +1, 68km away from Greek territorial waters, a drone began to hover above the 'Madleen'. The drone is no longer there.

June 4, 2025 – Israeli Navy Threatens Interception

• The Israeli military stated it would not permit the Madleen to reach Gaza, citing security concerns. 

June 5, 2025 – Rescue of Migrants in the Mediterranean

• The Madleen diverted its course to rescue four Sudanese migrants fleeing the Libyan coastguard, showcasing its humanitarian commitment.  The Freedom Flotilla Coalition stated “At approximately 07:36 EEST, the Madleen, en route to Gaza, received a mayday relay from a Frontex drone operating in the Central Mediterranean Sea. The crew responded via VHF radio after which the drone provided an updated position for the distressed vessel. Madleen immediately contacted Greek and Egyptian authorities.

However, both confirmed they were too far away to respond and advised the Madleen to intervene if possible.

Upon approach, the Madleen's crew saw that the boat was rapidly deflating, with approximately 30-40 people on board. Given the time-critical nature of the situation, they launched a rescue Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). While the rescue effort was underway, another vessel approached at high speed. Initially assuming it to be Egyptian-as they were in the Egyptian search and rescue zone—the crew held back, urging the vessel to assist without carrying out a forcible return to Libya, where refugees face detention, abuse, and torture, or transfer to Egypt, which is also not considered safe for asylum seekers. As the vessel drew closer and sounded an alarm, crew members on the Madleen identified it as a Libyan Coast Guard the Tareg Bin Zayed, known for grave human rights violations and involvement in previous unlawful pullbacks of asylum seekers. Concern mounted that they would forcibly return the refugees to Libya, in violation of international law. The Madleen's crew warned them not to do so, but the Libyan authorities did not respond.

To avoid being taken by the Libyan authorities, four people jumped into the sea and began desperately swimming towards the Madleen. The crew then issued a mayday for itself, calling for urgent assistance, but other vessels remained too far away. The Madleen's crew rescued the four from the water.

Under international law, the principle of non-refoulement prohibits returning anyone to a country- whether or not it is their country of origin—if they would face a real risk to their life, freedom, or personal safety there. The crew has a moral and legal duty to protect those rescued at sea, especially when they are fleeing grave danger. The individuals rescued had fled violence and persecution in Sudan, only to face further violence, detention, and torture in Libya. They must be brought to a safe country where they can seek asylum—a country that upholds its international obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement.

Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament aboard the Madleen stated:

"We denounce the European Union's role in obstructing the movement of asylum seekers, in clear violation of international law approach that has led to the deaths of tens of thousands and turned the Mediterranean into a graveyard."

The crew of the Madleen is in communication with Search and Rescue NGOs, who are advising and assisting them while calling on the Greek, Italian, and Maltese authorities to urgently fulfill their legal obligation to organize a safe rescue and transshipment of the refugees on board to safety in Europe.”

June 6, 2025 – Ongoing Voyage Amidst Threats

• As of this date, the Madleen continues its journey toward Gaza, facing potential interception by Israeli forces.

06/06/2025