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Wednesday, June 25, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/world/doctors-without-borders-israel-is-bombing-us/

World

Doctors Without Borders: “Israel is bombing us”

The situation in Gaza

Published 27 February 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The doctors' organization warns that its staff are being killed and imprisoned.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Christopher Lockyear, secretary general of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), describes how the Israeli military has attacked the medical organization’s convoys, vehicles and hospitals, and detained its staff.

In an address to the UN Security Council, Lockyear urged the council to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza – stressing that medical facilities, staff and patients must be protected from the Israeli army and its bombing campaign.

– Our fears are rooted in experience. Just 48 hours ago, as a family sat around their kitchen table in a house sheltering MSF staff and their families in Khan Younis, a 120mm tank shell exploded through the walls, igniting a fire, and killing two people and severely burning six others. Five of the six injured are women and children, he said.

He said they notified the Israeli army of their location, marked the building with the medical organization’s flag and took other measures to avoid being attacked, but it did not help.

– Despite our precautions, our building was struck not only by a tank shell but by intense gunfire. Some were trapped in the burning building while active shooting delayed ambulances from reaching them. This morning, I am looking at photos that show the catastrophic extent of the damage and I am watching videos of rescue teams removing the charred bodies from the rubble.

“Imprisoned our staff”

– This is all too familiar – Israeli forces have attacked our convoys, arrested our staff and bulldozed our vehicles, and hospitals have been bombed and raided. Now, for the second time, one of our shelters has been hit. This pattern of attacks is either deliberate or a sign of reckless incompetence, he continued.

Lockyear says MSF staff in Gaza fear reprisals from the Israeli army, and says that since October, Israel has “systematically destroyed” the health system that took decades to build.

– This situation is the culmination of a war Israel is waging on the entire population of the Gaza strip – a war of collective punishment, a war without rules, a war at all costs..

– The laws and the principles we collectively depend on to enable humanitarian assistance are now eroded to the point of becoming meaningless, he continued, appealing to the world to stop the war.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/survey-swedes-are-the-worlds-fifth-most-critical-of-israel/

World

Survey: Swedes are the world’s fifth most critical of Israel

The situation in Gaza

Published 11 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Trust in corruption accused Benjamin Netanyahu is also very low in most countries.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A survey by the American research institute Pew Research Center shows that the world has a predominantly negative attitude toward Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Swedes are among the most critical in the world – only four other countries have a more negative opinion. A full 75 percent of those surveyed in Sweden say they have a somewhat or very negative image of Israel.

The survey was conducted last spring, and in 20 of the 24 countries surveyed, at least half of adults have a negative attitude toward Israel. In countries such as Australia, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, the proportion is particularly high, with around 75 percent or more expressing a negative attitude.

Support for Israel is lowest in Turkey, where 93 percent say they have a somewhat or very negative view of the country.

In India, opinions are more evenly divided, with 34 percent having a positive view and 29 percent a negative view. In African countries such as Kenya and Nigeria, the trend is different, with about half or more of those surveyed having a positive attitude toward Israel.

Illustration: Pew Research Center

Age and political affiliation influence

Compared to previous surveys, critical attitudes toward Israel have increased in several countries. In the US, the proportion of adults with a negative attitude has risen by 11 percentage points since March 2022. In the UK, the proportion has increased from 44 percent in 2013 to 61 percent this year.

The survey also shows clear differences based on age and political ideology. In high-income countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Poland, South Korea, and the US, younger people are more likely than older people to take a critical view of Israel, and in the US, the age difference is particularly clear.

Politically, people on the left are more likely to have a negative view than those on the right. In Australia, 90 percent of left-wingers have an unfavorable view, compared with 46 percent of right-wingers. In the US, the figures are 74 percent among liberals and 30 percent among conservatives.

Illustration: Pew Research Center

Low confidence in Netanyahu

Confidence in Benjamin Netanyahu is low in most countries surveyed. Except for Kenya and Nigeria, no more than one-third of adults in any country say they have confidence in his handling of international affairs.

In countries such as Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, around 75 percent or more have little or no confidence in him. In several of these countries, a majority completely lack confidence in the corruption-accused prime minister.

Here too, there are differences linked to age and ideology. In Hungary, for example, people over the age of 50 are twice as likely to have confidence in Netanyahu as those between the ages of 18 and 34 (40 percent versus 20 percent).

Illustration: Pew Research Center

Ideologically speaking, right-wingers are more likely to support Netanyahu than left-wingers. In France, 25 percent of right-wingers trust him, compared to 12 percent in the center and 8 percent on the left.

Israelis are not particularly happy with developments either. In Israel, 58 percent of residents believe that their country is not very respected, or not respected at all, internationally, while 39 percent believe that it is.

These views are largely unchanged since last year, although the proportion saying that the country is not respected at all has increased from 15 to 24 percent.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/israel-boards-greta-thunbergs-ship-we-have-been-kidnapped/

World

Israel boards Greta Thunberg’s ship: “We have been kidnapped”

The situation in Gaza

Published 9 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Greta Thunberg
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

On Sunday night, the sailboat Madleen, with climate alarmist activist Greta Thunberg on board, was boarded by Israeli forces in international waters.

The incident occurred at around 2 a.m. when the boat was on its way to Gaza with supplies. According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the ship is now being taken to Israel instead of its original destination, and the passengers are said to be flown back to their home countries soon.

The crew of the Madleen, consisting of twelve people from the left-wing activist group Freedom Flotilla, left Sicily a week ago with Gaza as their destination. Shortly before boarding, at around 1 a.m., they reported that they were “very close” to their destination. Activist Yasemin Acar described how Israeli speedboats surrounded them:

– We suspect that this is psychological warfare and that they have planned this, she said.

The Israeli boats initially withdrew, but two remained nearby with their engines turned off, and shortly thereafter the crew sent an alarm via Telegram:

“The Madleen is under attack in international waters“.

According to Freedom Flotilla, the boat was surrounded by drones that sprayed them with a white chemical substance. They also reported that “communications are blocked and disturbing noises are being played over the radio”. In a later update, a picture was published showing the crew wearing life jackets and holding their hands in the air, with the caption: “The Israeli army has boarded the ship”.

“Kidnapped in international waters”

The Freedom Flotilla claims that its crew has been kidnapped by Israeli forces, and Greta Thunberg has also shared a video clip with this message on social media:

– If you are seeing this video, it means we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters, she says in a video clip recorded before the boarding.

She urged her followers to put pressure on the Swedish government to secure her release.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has not explicitly confirmed that it boarded the boats, but wrote on X that “The ‘selfie yacht’ is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are safe and were provided with sandwiches and water, and are expected to return to their home countries“.

The ministry accused the activists of seeking publicity and added that “there are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip – they do not involve provocations and selfies”.

The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is “closely monitoring the situation“

Another post showed a picture of a soldier handing a plastic-wrapped sandwich to Greta Thunberg, with the caption “Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits“.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the crew will be shown videos of Hamas attacks on October 7 before they are released. He also claims that Thunberg is an anti-Semite who supports Hamas.

– It is appropriate that the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organization they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself.

The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation. In an email to the state television channel SVT, the Ministry wrote:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in Tel Aviv are in contact with local authorities and are closely monitoring the situation. Should consular assistance be required, the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assess how we can best help Greta Thunberg resolve her situation”.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/growing-number-of-europeans-turning-away-from-israel/

World

Growing number of Europeans turning away from Israel

The situation in Gaza

Published 5 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Under corruption accused Benjamin Netanyahu, the world's trust in Israel has fallen dramatically.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Support for Israel is collapsing in Western Europe. A new poll shows record low confidence and growing anger over the Israeli invasion of Gaza.

After the ceasefire in Gaza collapsed, Israel announced plans to take control of three-quarters of the Palestinian territory in the coming months. Recently, more and more voices have also warned that what is happening is genocide, and that the Israeli plans aim to completely and permanently empty Gaza of Palestinians – so that they can then take control of the area themselves.

At the same time, a new survey by YouGov EuroTrack shows that support for Israel in Western Europe has fallen to record lows since the ground invasion and bombing of Gaza began.

The survey, which covers the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, shows a sharp decline in public opinion toward Israel. Net favorability – the difference between positive and negative ratings – has reached its lowest level since the survey began:

• Germany: -44

• France: -48

• Denmark: -54

Western Europeans’ sympathy for Israel is rapidly declining. Photo: facsimile/Yougov

In Italy (-52) and Spain (-55), the figures are also at record lows or shared lowest levels compared with previous surveys. Only 13–21 percent of respondents in any of the countries have a positive view of Israel, while 63–70 percent express a negative opinion.

Few Western Europeans support Israel’s actions

Support for Israel’s invasion of Gaza is weak. Only 6–16 percent of respondents in the six countries believe that “Israel were right to send troops into Gaza and have generally responded in a proportionate way to the Hamas attacks”. This represents a marginal decline compared with the corresponding survey in October last year.

A minority believe that Israel’s response has been proportionate. Photo: facsimile/Yougov

The perception that Israel’s attacks were justified has also weakened:

• France, Germany, Denmark: 24–25 percent still believe that Israel’s actions are justified.

• United Kingdom: 18 percent

• Italy: 9 percent (lowest)

At the same time, only 5–9 percent believe that Hamas’s initial attacks in late 2023 were justified.

Sympathies shift toward Palestine

Support for Israel has declined significantly. Only 7–18 percent today say they sympathize most with the Israeli side—the lowest or joint lowest rating in five of six countries since the Hamas attacks.

In contrast, between 18 and 33 percent sympathize more with the Palestinian side. In otherwise very pro-Israel Germany, support for each side is now almost evenly divided: 17 percent for Israel, 18 percent for Palestine.

Today, significantly more Europeans sympathize with the Palestinians. Photo: facsimile/Yougov

Confidence in lasting peace in the Middle East is also low among Europeans. Only 15–29 percent believe that both sides will be able to put their differences aside within the next decade.

The French are the most optimistic, with 29 percent believing in a peaceful solution, while the Danes are the most pessimistic, with only 15 percent. Belief in peace has declined by 4–10 percentage points in all countries.

According to analysts, the survey clearly shows how public opinion in Western Europe has shifted since the Hamas attacks in October 2023.

Criticism of Israel’s abuses and war crimes in Gaza is growing rapidly in many countries, while sympathy for Israel appears to be declining as more and more abuses and cases of gross violence against civilians come to light.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/jewish-power-leader-time-to-go-full-force-into-gaza/

World

Jewish Power leader: “Time to go full force into Gaza”

The situation in Gaza

Published 30 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Ben-Gvir has long been identified as one of Israel's most belligerent voices - and wants Gaza completely emptied of Palestinians.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Israel’s invasion and bombing of Gaza have been described as among the most extensive in modern times and condemned worldwide because of the high number of civilian casualties.

However, the country’s far-right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has long been one of the strongest voices calling for further escalation of the situation – now he is insisting that it is time for Israel to “go in with full force” into the already bombed-out territory.

Ben-Gvir, who also leads the Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party, believes that Israel should take control of both Gaza and the West Bank and has been criticized over the years, even in Israel, for praising Jewish terrorists and mass murderers.

Itamar Ben-Gvir also caused a major uproar when he attended the so-called “wedding of hate” in 2015, where guests celebrated the murder of a Palestinian family in the village of Duma. At the wedding, participants waved weapons and stabbed knives into a picture of the 18-month-old boy who was killed in the arson attack – an act that Ben-Gvir had previously defended.

The number of Palestinians killed during Israel’s invasion and bombings is unclear – but is estimated to be between 40,000 and hundreds of thousands.

However, given that Hamas has said that the new US-backed ceasefire proposal does not meet their demands, Ben-Gvir believes that too much caution has been exercised so far and that it is now time to seriously use military force.

– Mr. Prime Minister, after Hamas rejected the deal proposal again – there are no more excuses, Ben-Gvir said on his Telegram channel.

– The confusion, the shuffling and the weakness must end. We have already missed too many opportunities. It is time to go in with full force, without blinking, to destroy, and kill Hamas to the last one.

Ben-Gvir’s definition of terrorists who must be eliminated includes, according to him, not only combatants but also all Palestinians who are considered to sympathize with the Islamist group.

He has also previously argued that it is difficult to determine which Palestinians belong to Hamas and which do not, and he has repeatedly argued that Gaza should be permanently emptied of Palestinians.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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