NGO Slams Greek Shippers over Deliveries to Israel

A boy rides his bicycle past an Israel flag on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2024. (Reuters)
A boy rides his bicycle past an Israel flag on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

NGO Slams Greek Shippers over Deliveries to Israel

A boy rides his bicycle past an Israel flag on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2024. (Reuters)
A boy rides his bicycle past an Israel flag on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2024. (Reuters)

A pro-Palestinian campaign group on Monday accused Greek shipping firms of transporting oil and military equipment to Israel that helps its war in Gaza, in some cases breaching a Turkish embargo on trade with Israel.

The "No Harbour for Genocide" group called on Greek authorities to investigate and sanction firms running vessels that "turned off their tracking signals and listed false end-destinations before arriving at Israeli ports" to avoid detection.

The group released a report that said between May 2024 and December 2025 at least 57 "covert crude oil shipments" took about 47 million barrels of oil from Turkey to Israel "in violation of Turkey's trade embargo on Israel" since May 2024.

It said some of the oil was being refined into "fuel for the Israeli air force and fuel for military vehicles and tanks".

The report named a number of firms involved in "the shipment of both energy products and military cargo to Israel" that made them "a critical enabler of Israel's genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine, as well as its escalating aggression across the region".

Israel denies that its actions in the Gaza conflict since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks amount to genocide.

The Union of Greek Shipowners did not immediately comment on the report, AFP reported.

Greek firms run one of the world's biggest shipping fleets and the industry accounts for about eight percent of Greece's gross domestic product.



Int'l Outrage over Israeli Minister's Treatment of Gaza Flotilla Activists

Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir in the Israeli parliament, during a session considering a bill to dissolve the government in Jerusalem, Wednesday, May 20,2026. (AP)
Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir in the Israeli parliament, during a session considering a bill to dissolve the government in Jerusalem, Wednesday, May 20,2026. (AP)
TT

Int'l Outrage over Israeli Minister's Treatment of Gaza Flotilla Activists

Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir in the Israeli parliament, during a session considering a bill to dissolve the government in Jerusalem, Wednesday, May 20,2026. (AP)
Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir in the Israeli parliament, during a session considering a bill to dissolve the government in Jerusalem, Wednesday, May 20,2026. (AP)

Türkiye on Wednesday slammed the Israeli government after its National Security Minister, Itamar ‌Ben-Gvir, posted a video showing activists on an intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling and with their hands tied. 

The foreign ministry in Ankara said far-right minister Ben-Gvir "has once again openly demonstrated to the world the violent and barbaric mentality of the Netanyahu government". 

The Netherlands and Canada condemned ‌Ben-Gvir's treatment of the activists. 

The Netherlands will summon Israel's ambassador to address the "unacceptable" treatment, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said ⁠on Wednesday.

"The images ‌shared ‌by extremist Minister ‌Ben-Gvir of detained ‌flotilla activists are shocking and unacceptable," Berendsen said in a ‌post on X.

"This treatment of ⁠detainees ⁠violates basic human dignity. I raised this directly with my Israeli colleague Gideon Saar and will summon the Israeli ambassador."

The activists were aboard a flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on Tuesday and later taken to an Israeli port. 

Canada will summon the Israeli ambassador to protest after Ben-Gvir's treatment of the activists, Foreign Minister Anita ‌Anand said ‌on Wednesday. 

"What ‌we've ⁠seen, including the ⁠video shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir, is deeply troubling and absolutely unacceptable," she told reporters ⁠on a conference ‌call. "This ‌is a matter ‌we take very, very ‌seriously. It's a matter of humane treatment of civilians, and I ‌can assure you that we are ⁠acting ⁠with absolute urgency." 


Iran Chief Negotiator Ghalibaf Says US ‘Seeks to Start New War’

In this handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dressed in an IRGC uniform, chairs a session in Tehran on February 1, 2026. (ICANA / AFP)
In this handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dressed in an IRGC uniform, chairs a session in Tehran on February 1, 2026. (ICANA / AFP)
TT

Iran Chief Negotiator Ghalibaf Says US ‘Seeks to Start New War’

In this handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dressed in an IRGC uniform, chairs a session in Tehran on February 1, 2026. (ICANA / AFP)
In this handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dressed in an IRGC uniform, chairs a session in Tehran on February 1, 2026. (ICANA / AFP)

Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Wednesday said the United States was seeking to restart the war and hoping Tehran would surrender.

"The enemy's movements, both overt and clandestine, show that despite economic and political pressure, it has not abandoned its military objectives and is seeking to start a new war," Ghalibaf said in an audio message on his official website.

Ghalibaf's remarks came as Tehran and Washington escalated threats while swapping proposals to end the war, which broke out on February 28. A ceasefire has been in place since April 8.

On Wednesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that the war would expand beyond the region if the US and Israel resume attacks after President Donald Trump said he would strike again unless Tehran agreed a peace deal.

Ghalibaf said the US was still hoping Iran would surrender and respond favorably to Washington's "excessive demands", by maintaining economic pressure and a naval blockade in place since April 13.

"We must strengthen our preparations for an effective and forceful response to any potential attacks," he said, adding that "Iran will never give in to intimidation, under any circumstances".

Ghalibaf acknowledged the economic pressure on Iranians, while appealing for "national unity".

"Today it is clearer than ever that we are engaged in a war of wills. Whoever wins this war will write Iran's history and determine its future," he said.


Israel Army Chief Says Military on ‘Highest Alert’ as Threats Over Iran War Escalate

Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercepts rockets over its airspace, Nov. 5, 2023. (Getty Images)
Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercepts rockets over its airspace, Nov. 5, 2023. (Getty Images)
TT

Israel Army Chief Says Military on ‘Highest Alert’ as Threats Over Iran War Escalate

Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercepts rockets over its airspace, Nov. 5, 2023. (Getty Images)
Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercepts rockets over its airspace, Nov. 5, 2023. (Getty Images)

Israel's army chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir on Wednesday said the military was at its highest alert level, as Tehran and Washington traded threats of war.

"At this moment, the military is on the highest level of alert and prepared for any development," Zamir said at a meeting of all division commanders, according to a statement issued by the military.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards had earlier warned that the war would expand beyond the region if the US and Israel resumed attacks, after President Donald Trump said he would strike again unless Tehran agreed a peace deal.