Israel to close last remaining route from southern Gaza to the north as it continues offensive on Gaza City – Middle East crisis live

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis grows, some women say they are being exploited by local men promising food, money, or other aid in exchange for sexual interactions, reports the Associated Press (AP).

Six women have detailed their experiences to the news agency, each speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from their families or the men.

The women said some of the men were associated with aid groups or approached them during aid registration. They described some solicitation as blatant, with men asking to touch or have sex with them. Other times, they said it was culturally coded, with marriage or meetings suggested.

“It’s a horrible reality that humanitarian crises make people vulnerable in many ways – increased sexual violence is often a consequence,” said Heather Barr, associate director for the women’s rights division at Human Rights Watch. She added:

The situation in Gaza today is unspeakable, especially for women and girls.

Psychologists report similar accounts from patients. Six human rights and relief organisations told the AP they were aware of reports of men associated with aid groups soliciting sex.

Four psychologists working with women in Gaza described patients’ accounts to the AP. One said her organisation – focused on protecting women and children – treated dozens of cases involving men sexually exploiting vulnerable women, including some in which they became pregnant.

The psychologists, all Palestinians working for local organisations in Gaza, spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns for the women involved and the sensitive nature of the cases, in a conservative culture where sex outside marriage in any context is seen as a grave offence. They said none of their patients wanted to speak with the AP directly.

Five of the women who shared their stories with the AP said they did not engage in sexual interaction with the men. The psychologists said some women who came to them agreed to the men’s demands, while others refused.

Six human rights and relief organisations – including the local Palestinian group the Women’s Affairs Centre and the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse network, which coordinates with various aid groups including United Nations agencies – told the AP they were aware of reports of sexual abuse and exploitation linked to receiving aid.

Amal Syam, director of the Women’s Affairs Centre, told the AP:

Israel’s siege on the Gaza Strip and the restrictions on humanitarian aid are what’s forcing women to resort to this.

Israel says there are no restrictions on aid and that it has taken steps to expand what comes into Gaza. Israel also accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid – without providing evidence of widespread diversion – and blames UN agencies for failing to deliver food it has allowed in. The UN denies there is widespread aid diversion.

A mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action on Saturday in London could set a record for the number of people arrested at a single event of civil disobedience, organisers have said.

Defend Our Juries said it had received 1,500 pledges to attend the demonstration in London and risk arrest and was expecting hundreds more to register by the weekend.

The group said the record number of arrests at a single event was 1,314, made by the Metropolitan police during the Committee of 100’s 1961 anti-nuclear demonstration in Trafalgar Square. The central London square was also the centre of the 1990 poll tax uprisings when 339 people were arrested in one day.

More than 1,600 people have been arrested since the ban under the Terrorism Act came into effect on 5 July, mainly for holding signs reading: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” The highest arrest tally so far was on 6 September at a demonstration in Parliament Square when 890 people were detained, 857 for showing support for a proscribed group.

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson said:

With over 1,500 people already pledging to take part, and hundreds more expected to register by the weekend, this is set to be the biggest mass action yet defying the ban on Palestine Action.

While Keir Starmer ignores the demands of his own party members to recognise Israel’s genocide and take action – including sanctions and a full arms embargo – thousands are stepping up where his government refuses to act.

This Saturday could soon see the number of arrests nearly double from the current total of 1,600, setting a new record for the largest mass arrest – an extraordinary misuse of counter-terror and policing resources.

On Sunday, Merseyside police arrested 66 people, including an 83-year-old, on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action at a rally outside the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Two were later dearrested.

Related: Palestine Action protest in London could set arrest record, say organisers

Reuters has a bit more information on the Gaza aid flotilla being approached by a vessel that it said belonged to the Israeli military (see 9.49am BST).

According to Reuters, a video post on the Global Sumud Flotilla’s Instagram page showed the silhouetted outline of what appeared to be a military vessel with a gun turret near the civilian vessels. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage and Israeli officials did not immediately respond to the news agency’s request for comment.

“We continue to sail to Gaza approaching the 120 nautical mile mark, near the area where previous flotillas have been intercepted or attacked,” the flotilla’s organisers said in a statement.

Israel has previously said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas militants in the coastal territory.

Italy and Spain have deployed naval ships to accompany the flotilla to help with any rescue or humanitarian needs but have said they will not engage militarily. Turkish drones are also following the boats.

However, Italy said its navy would stop following the flotilla once it gets within 150 nautical miles (278km) of Gaza. Spain has told members of the flotilla that its maritime rescue vessel is within range to carry out rescue operations if necessary, but that it will not enter Israel’s exclusion zone as doing so would put the physical integrity of its crew and the flotilla at risk, a government source said.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels early on Wednesday claimed the attack that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden, underlining the range of their weaponry and their campaign targeting shipping over the Israel-Hamas war, reports the Associated Press (AP).

The attack on Monday on the Minervagracht was the most serious assault in months by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden, which is some distance from the Red Sea where they have sunk four vessels since November 2023.

The attack also comes as Israel engages in a new ground offensive targeting Gaza City as efforts to reach a ceasefire again hang in the balance. Meanwhile, the Middle East also remains on edge after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. The Iranian-backed Houthis separately threatened to “employ all means and instruments available” to target several US oil firms, reports the AP.

The Houthis fired a cruise missile that targeted and struck the Minervagracht, Houthi military spokesperson Brig Gen Yahya Saree said.

Saree accused the ship’s owners, Amsterdam-based Spliethoff, of violating “the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine”. Initially, the US Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Centre said the Minervagracht had no ties to Israel, but a note on Tuesday said the centre was “reviewing vessel affiliations for possible links to Israel.”

The attack injured two mariners on board the Minervagracht, whose 19-member crew hailed from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine. They were forced to evacuate the ship after the strike inflicted substantial damage.

Spliethoff said on Wednesday it was working with “international authorities and salvage experts to safeguard and secure the vessel.” A European naval force operating in the region, known as Operation Aspides, said on Tuesday the Minervagracht was on fire and adrift after the crew’s rescue.

Spliethoff said in a statement:

We would again like to express our deepest concern over this week’s incident which was a direct attack on our innocent seafarers and a breach of the right of free navigation.