Gaza city: An Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla and the closure of two main roads in Gaza City, effectively separating the territory's north and south, 'should alarm the entire world,' Irish President Michael Higgins said late Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Higgins emphasized the collective agreement among UN members that recognizing a Palestinian state is crucial for peace in the region. He questioned the current commitment to this objective, especially when the flotilla carrying aid for 'those who are in desperate need is being prevented from achieving that humanitarian objective.'

Israeli naval forces attacked the international aid flotilla late Wednesday, detaining activists on board after it was less than 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) from Gaza. The International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG) accused Israel of using violence against the activists, stating that naval forces rammed one ship, deployed water cannons, and forcibly boarded vessels while 'brutally mistreating peaceful detainees from 50 countries around the world.'

Higgins expressed concern for the safety and protection of the activists, emphasizing it as a 'concern for all of us and all of the nations from which the people come.' He also highlighted the dire situation as the exit from northern Gaza towards the south is in danger of being blocked, leaving a vulnerable civilian population exposed to relentless bombing and destruction of their homes.

Israeli Army Spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced on the US social media platform X that the Netzarim Axis was closed to movement from the south to 'gain operational control over the Netzarim Corridor' in northern Gaza. The army also closed Al-Rasheed Street, a crucial coastal road linking the north and south of the enclave. The government in Gaza condemned the closure of the street as an 'arbitrary enforcement within the framework of genocide policies.'

President Higgins remarked that the combined impact of these actions, along with recognized breaches of international law, should alarm the global community. The International Committee of the Red Cross suspended its operations in Gaza City and relocated staff to southern Gaza due to intensified military actions.

The blockade on Gaza, home to nearly 2.4 million people, has been in effect for nearly 18 years, further tightening in March with border closures and blocked deliveries of food and medicine, pushing the enclave towards famine. Since October 2023, the Israeli army has killed more than 66,100 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. The UN and rights groups have persistently warned that the enclave is becoming uninhabitable, with starvation and disease spreading rapidly.