You argue that the only sensible action is to hold off, that is, not use genAI. Would that be your position on all new technology, all new technology in the current environment, or is there something special about genAI (e.g. being a psychological hazard)?

I ask because I don't like to contemplate how different, and possibly worse, my life would have been if my parents had taken such a cautious position about personal computers in the 80s.

@matt The entire blog post is an argument that there is something special about generative models that works in ways that are similar to homeopathy and psychic cons and has a risk model that's more similar to pharmaceuticals than other tech. I mention several examples of how it's different including citing another long blog post of mine.

If you missed that then I must have made a huge mistake in how I wrote the blog post.

Human Rights Watch:
─────
[...] The manufactured famine in Gaza must be halted. The international community must act decisively, immediately, and with full moral and legal responsibility.
[...]
Over two million Palestinians in Gaza are living in famine. Since March 2, 2025, Israel has blocked all humanitarian supplies and life-saving assistance - constituting the longest total siege Gaza has ever experienced.
[...]
Despite this catastrophic reality, over 3,000 aid trucks and 116,000 metric tonnes of food are ready and waiting to enter Gaza – obstructed solely by Israel.
[...]
We therefore call for the immediate organization and deployment of a Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing.

We urge states to join the humanitarian convoy by dispatching official diplomatic missions -at the highest possible level- to accompany the aid trucks already waiting at the Rafah Crossing, and to enter Gaza alongside them. This act is grounded in states’ legal obligations, moral courage, and human solidarity.
─────
hrw.org/news/2025/05/19/unifie…

Unified Call to Confront Famine in Gaza: Launch the Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy Now

Palestinian civil society, joined by humanitarian and human rights organizations worldwide, issues this urgent and unified call: The manufactured famine in Gaza must be halted.

^{Human Rights Watch}

At the end of the day,
'Israel still blocking aid for Gaza despite promise to lift siege, says UN' and
"the leader of the country’s centre-left Democrats party said his country was becoming a pariah nation that “kills babies as a hobby”.

Only five trucks of aid had reached Gaza by Tuesday afternoon and aid workers had not been given permission to distribute even that token shipment, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office (Ocha) told a Geneva press briefing.

Israeli authorities have approved “around 100” other trucks to enter Gaza but not yet let them cross, he said.'
More: theguardian.com/world/2025/may…

I believe the ordinary conditions needs are in the several hundred trucks for the millions of people.
Now after long self-admitted Israel-manufactured intended famine the need is extraordinarily high, not less.
If the number let in is 5 or 93, whether allowed to distribute all, some or nothing, it would at their best claim STILL be not even remotely enough and STILL an actual textbook war crime to keep blockading the humanitarian relief standing by to save more than tens of thousands indisputably 100% civilians.

Israel still blocking aid for Gaza despite promise to lift siege, says UN

Continued restrictions come as opposition leader says Israel is becoming pariah nation that ‘kills babies as a hobby’

^{Emma Graham-Harrison (The Guardian)}

The latest from Doctors without Borders (MSF) UK now:
─────
Aid instrumentalised, health system under fire: Gaza is being deliberately asphyxiated by Israeli forces

An insufficient amount of aid is being allowed into the Strip, merely a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over. Meanwhile, at least 20 medical facilities in Gaza have been damaged, or forced partially or completely out of service in the past week by advancing Israeli ground operations, intensified airstrikes, and widespread evacuation orders. As people remain in desperate need of medical care and aid, Israeli authorities must stop the deliberate asphyxiation of Gaza and the annihilation of its healthcare system, that is underpinning their campaign of ethnic cleansing
─────
Read the rest on their website, here:
prezly.msf.org.uk/aid-instrume…

Aid instrumentalised, health system under fire: Gaza is being deliberately asphyxiated by Israeli forces

Jerusalem, 20 May 2025 – An insufficient amount of aid is being allowed into the Strip, merely a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over.

^{MSF UK}

─────
Joint Statement – We Are Headed to Gaza: By Land, Sea, and Air

The Overland Convoy to Break the Siege on Gaza – Sumud, the Global March to Gaza (an international initiative comprising 25 delegations from around the world), and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition jointly announce their coordinated efforts in support of initiatives aimed at ending the siege imposed on Gaza. We have established a Joint Coordination Committee, which includes several other international initiatives and organizations, with the aim of following up and coordinating the planned movements toward Gaza in mid-June.

We call on all freedom-loving people around the world to join and actively participate in these initiatives, in order to break this unjust siege and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Let us break the siege on Gaza — by land, sea, and air!

Freedom Flotilla Coalition
Overland Convoy to Break the Siege on Gaza – Sumud
Global March to Gaza
─────
freedomflotilla.org/2025/05/20…

Absolute heroes of humanity.

Meanwhile the politicians ponder the Palestinians to eradication for personal political profit purposes.

Joint Statement - We Are Headed to Gaza: By Land, Sea, and Air - Freedom Flotilla

The Overland Convoy to Break the Siege on Gaza – Sumud, the Global March to Gaza (an international initiative comprising 25 delegations from around the world), and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition jointly announce their coordinated efforts in support o…

^{FFC Media team (Freedom Flotilla)}

─────
A Month After Conscience Attack: [...] Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) launched the Madleen, a civilian ship now sailing toward Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and international human rights defenders in direct defiance of Israel’s illegal and genocidal blockade.
[...]
On board are volunteers from multiple countries, among them Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, and climate justice activist Greta Thunberg. The ship is carrying urgently needed supplies for the people of Gaza, including baby formula, flour, rice, diapers, women’s sanitary products, water desalination kits, medical supplies, crutches, and children’s prosthetics.
[...]
“I am aboard Madleen because silence is not neutrality—it is complicity, The Palestinian people in Gaza are being starved and slaughtered, and the world watches. This ship is not just carrying aid, it is carrying a demand: End the blockade. End the genocide.” Rima Hassan

“We are seeing a systematic starvation of 2 million people. The world cannot be silent bystanders, Every single one of us has a moral obligation to do everything we can to fight for a free Palestine.”
Greta Thunberg
─────
freedomflotilla.org/2025/06/01…

My thread on the attack is todon.eu/@b9AcE/11443680651738… there.

─────
European civil society calls for the protection of the freedom flotilla and an end to the Gaza blockade

A vessel attempting to carry medicine, food, and infant supplies to Gaza is currently sailing across the Mediterranean. A previous attempt at such a voyage was ended following an attack by armed drones. A letter so far signed by 220 organisations and 4,700 individuals calls on European and other governments to take action to ensure the protection of the vessel, and an end to the siege [...]

On board are 12 humanitarians and activists – including MEP Rima Hassan and climate activist Greta Thunberg – carrying essential aid: medicine, food, and infant supplies, destined for a Palestinian population subjected to an illegal blockade and enduring an ongoing genocide.

On 2nd June 2025, ten UN experts, including nine Special Rapporteurs, demanded that this vessel be granted safe passage, reminding the international community that:

• Gaza has the right to receive humanitarian aid by sea, even under occupation;
• The Flotilla is navigating entirely legally in international waters, in accordance with maritime and international humanitarian law;
• UN member states have both a legal and moral obligation to end the famine and the crimes being committed in Gaza.
─────
statewatch.org/news/2025/june/…

The Freedom Flotilla boat Madleen has reached the coast of Egypt on its voyage to break Israel's illegal siege against the people of Gaza. reports the TT news agency now.

I went and edited down a livestream for you, where they show how close they are.

There is literally nothing between the waters of Egypt and the water of the Gaza Strip of Palestine.

"Defense Minister Israel Katz directed the IDF on Sunday not to allow Greta Thunberg's flotilla to reach the shores of Gaza and to take any measures necessary to ensure that."
Jerusalem Post

Well, they are in Egypt's waters and after that (estimated tomorrow) Palestine's waters outside the Gaza Strip. In neither location does Israel have any kind of jurisdiction against a civilian humanitarian aid convoy.

Freedom Flotilla Coalition's crew on the Madleen sailing to break Israel's illegal siege against the people in the Gaza Strip of Palestine, ~1h ago:
─────
Israel’s Defense Minister has once again threatened unlawful force against civilians, attempting to justify violence with baseless smears. We will not be intimidated.

The 'Madleen' is a peaceful civilian vessel, unarmed and sailing in international waters with humanitarian aid and human rights defenders. This mission is independent, guided only by conscience and solidarity with Gaza.

We are currently about 160 nautical miles from Gaza. Earlier signal jamming briefly disrupted our location, but our tracker is functioning again.

We remain calm and prepared in the face of possible Israeli aggression.

We call on world governments to demand Israel stand down. It has no right to obstruct our mission or enforce its illegal and brutal blockade.
─────

Greta Thunberg on board the Madleen sailing to break Israel's illegal siege against the people in the Gaza Strip of Palestine, interviewed by Aftonbladet, which is one of the tho major evening papers of Sweden.
Here is parts of that interview (in my translation), beginning with commenting that Israel's Minister of War, Israel Katz, ordered the military to stop the entirely civilian humanitarian aid ship:

"We have the capacity to get ourselves to Gaza tomorrow. It is up to Israel if they want to violate international law.
The Palestinians have the right to decide what gets into their water and it is illegal to stop a civilian ship with humanitarian aid.
We will not turn back. We are en route to Gaza."

If Israel's military attacks, they are ready.
"We have done non-violence-training and have protocols for how we will act at a potential attack, at hijacking of the ship, arrests, violence or other scenarios.
We will respond non-violently to maximize our security and for us to succeed with out mission."

Aftonbladet: "Are you scared?"
Greta: "I am terrified that people can see what happens in Gaza and actively choose to not act. I am terrified of that."

Unknown chemical substance dropped on the Freedom Flotilla ship Madleen in the middle of the night.

Also their statement now:
─────
The Madleen is currently under assault in international waters. Quadcopters are surrounding the ship, spraying it with a white irritant substance. Communications are jammed, and disturbing sounds are being played over the radio.
─────

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories
─────
While #Madleen must be released immediately, every Mediterranean port should send boats with aid, solidarity, and humanity to Gaza. They shall sail together—united, they will be unstoppable.

#BreakingTheSiege is a legal duty for states, and a moral imperative for all of us.
─────
theguardian.com/world/live/202…

Gaza aid boat activists to be shown October 7 attacks footage, says Israeli defence minister – live

Passengers including Greta Thunberg to see ‘atrocities committed against women, the elderly and children’ says Israel Katz

^{Jonathan Yerushalmy (The Guardian)}

Pretty astoundingly repugnant of Israel to call the Madleen of the Freedom Flotilla "selfie yacht" after they illegally boarded it and abducted the crew.

What they WERE doing was literally knowingly risking their lives for humanity, as Israel against a previous, much larger, humanitarian aid convoy of the same Freedom Flotilla murdered 10 of those participants when they illegally boarded that convoy in international waters, out of which one according to a witness with a headshot.
Also, this iteration of the Freedom Flotilla was airstrike-bombed outside Malta, extremely "probably" by Israel, so they have a different, smaller boat as the previous ship as a result of the bombing got a hole in the hull.
As civilians the only protection they had and have against being murdered too is that they are well and widely known, that "the whole world is watching" as the slogan goes, so they could not just be silently assassinated.
This also fills the purpose of enabling democracy to properly function against war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, by highlighting current grave injustice.
To inform others when something is wrong is foundational to any democracy, which is probably also why the current authoritarian far-right regime of Israel despises it.

They were and remain all heroes of humanity.

Now there is also a full-sized article on that "Israeli forces take control of Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg" during the night to today.
theguardian.com/world/2025/jun…
It is... not a good article, probably because they based it according to themselves on Reuters, which has problems with their reporting when it is related to Israel. Hopefully they'll rewrite it.

Otherwise, check back in this long thread which is dedicated to the topic of that particular humanitarian aid convoy, where I have been tooting the events as they happened all through the night.
Goodnight (or "good day" I suppose, but I'm going to sleep)!

Israeli forces take control of Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

British-flagged yacht operated by pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition was making symbolic attempt to deliver aid

^{Emma Graham-Harrison (The Guardian)}