Thousands of activists from around the world are expected to descend on Egypt on Thursday for a “Global March to Gaza,” a movement aiming to break the Israeli blockade that has pushed the territory to the brink of famine.

Their boat was intercepted on Monday as they attempted to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid.

French doctor Baptiste André was one of 11 crew members aboard the Madleen, an aid boat that was recently seized by Israeli authorities as it attempted to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Despite feeling fear after the vessel was boarded by soldiers,

Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007. It tightened its grip significantly after Hamas-led militants rampaged through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, by Israeli tallies.

Six more activists from the Freedom Flotilla Gaza humanitarian aid mission aboard the Madleen boat were deported from Israel Thursday. They had sought to deliver aid to Gaza but were stopped by Israel's naval blockade.

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight and into Saturday, according to local health officials. The 20-month war with Hamas has raged on even as Israel has opened a new front with heavy strikes on Iran that sparked retaliatory

While Israel and Iran trade attacks, Palestinians in Gaza have been struggling to find food, connect to the internet and survive airstrikes.