UK's Starmer ‘gravely concerned' about targeting of journalists in Gaza
Israel's military said it targeted and killed prominent journalist Anas Al-Sharif, alleging he had headed a Hamas militant cell and was involved in rocket attacks on Israel.
Palestinian media confirmed the bombing of the press tent and the death toll. The government media office in Gaza said that the incident brings the total number of journalists killed due to Israeli bombing since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip to 237.
According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 200 journalists have been killed during the 20-month war, at least 45 of them while carrying out their duties. The organization accuses Israel of imposing a 'media blockade' on Gaza by preventing foreign journalists from entering and imposing strict censorship on information.
Since the October 7, 2023 attack, Israel has not allowed any media crews to enter the Gaza Strip. It has allowed a limited number of media outlets, whose correspondents were carefully selected, to enter the Strip on tours supervised by the Israeli military, with coverage subject to strict military censorship.
International media outlets rely on local journalists from Gaza to cover Israel's 22-month-old war.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, Israeli attacks and military operations have killed at least 61,430 people, the majority of them civilians, according to the health ministry in the Strip. The United Nations considers these figures reliable.
The war in the Gaza Strip erupted following an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
How Sudan became the world's worst and most neglected humanitarian disaster
DUBAI: Sudan is now ground zero for the world's largest — and most overlooked — humanitarian catastrophe. Since fighting broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, more than 12 million people have been forcibly displaced, including 4 million forced to flee across borders, according to Refugees International. The vast majority are women and children, many of whom have been displaced multiple times, arriving at informal settlements with nothing but the clothes on their backs — and receiving little to no aid or protection. 'This is the largest displacement and humanitarian crisis in the world,' Daniel P. Sullivan, director for Africa, Asia, and the Middle East at Refugees International, told Arab News. 'More than half the population is facing severe food insecurity, with several areas already experiencing famine.' Amid this deepening humanitarian disaster, Sudan is also edging toward political fragmentation. The paramilitary RSF has declared a rival administration called the 'Government of Peace and Unity' across Darfur and parts of Kordofan. Meanwhile, the SAF has retaken Khartoum and retains control over the eastern and central regions. Experts warn that this emerging divide could either lead to a protracted power struggle similar to Libya's fragmentation or result in a formal split, echoing South Sudan's independence. Inside Sudan, the situation is rapidly deteriorating. The country's health system has collapsed, water sources are polluted and aid access is severely restricted. Cholera is spreading and children are dying of hunger in besieged areas. Aid groups have accused the RSF and SAF of weaponizing food and medicine, with both sides reportedly obstructing relief efforts and manipulating access to humanitarian corridors. In East Darfur's Lagawa camp, at least 13 children have died due to complications associated with malnutrition. The site is home to more than 7,000 displaced people, the majority of them women and children, who are grappling with acute food insecurity. The UN children's fund, UNICEF, reported a 46 percent increase in cases of severe child malnutrition across Darfur between January and May, with more than 40,000 children receiving treatment in North Darfur alone. Several areas, including parts of Darfur and Kordofan, are now officially experiencing famine. With ethnic tensions fueling a separate but parallel conflict, allegations of genocide are mounting once more in Darfur. 'Sudanese in Darfur face genocide,' said Sullivan. 'And those in other parts of the country face other atrocity crimes including targeting of civilians and widespread sexual violence.' Elena Habersky, a researcher and consultant working with Sudanese refugee-led organizations in Egypt, told Arab News the violence is not just wide-reaching but also intimate in its brutality. 'There is widespread cholera and famine within Sudan and the threat of the RSF burning villages, sexually abusing and raping civilians, and killing people by shooting them, burning them or burying them alive, is very much a reality,' she said. The RSF has routinely denied targeting civilians and accused its rivals of orchestrating a media campaign, using actors and staged scenes, to falsely incriminate it. Those who flee across borders face a new set of challenges. Sudanese refugees in Egypt often struggle to obtain residency, work permits or access to health care and education. In Chad and South Sudan, refugee camps are severely overcrowded, and food shortages are worsening due to global funding cuts. In Libya and the Central African Republic, they are at the mercy of smuggling networks and armed groups. 'Sudanese in Egypt face discrimination and the risk of forced repatriation,' said Sullivan. 'Others in Ethiopia, Uganda and South Sudan face their own risks of abuse and lack of support.' All the while, international attention is limited. The few headlines that break through are usually buried beneath coverage of other global crises. Despite the scale of the catastrophe, donor fatigue, budget cuts and political disinterest have left Sudanese aid groups carrying the bulk of the humanitarian response. 'It truly feels like the international community is basically non-existent or only existent in words,' said Habersky. 'Most of the work I see being done is by refugee-led organizations, grassroots efforts by the diaspora, and community aid kitchens inside Sudan,' she said. Groups such as the Emergency Response Rooms — local networks of doctors, teachers and volunteers — have been on the front lines. But they lack consistent funding and are increasingly targeted by both warring factions. 'Local Sudanese groups have become targets of abuse,' said Sullivan. 'The most critical funding gap is in the amount of support going directly to them.' Aid efforts are not only underfunded, but actively blocked. In areas such as Khartoum, humanitarian deliveries are hampered by bureaucratic hurdles and security threats. 'Even if aid enters Khartoum, it then faces other blocks to go to Darfur,' said Habersky. 'There's destruction of infrastructure, political infighting and looting.' • 12m People forcibly displaced by the conflict in Sudan since April 15, 2023. • 4m Forced to flee across borders to states such as Egypt, Chad and South Sudan. Source: Refugees International In February, UN officials launched a $6 billion funding appeal for Sudan — a more than 40 percent increase from the previous year — citing what they described as the world's worst hunger crisis and displacement emergency. The call for aid comes as global humanitarian budgets are under immense pressure, further strained by a recent US funding freeze that has disrupted life-saving programs worldwide. Earlier this year, Tom Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, urged donors to answer the appeal on behalf of nearly 21 million Sudanese in need, while describing Sudan as 'a humanitarian emergency of shocking proportions.' 'We are witnessing famine, sexual violence and the collapse of basic services on a massive scale — and we need urgent, coordinated action to stop it.' While some aid agencies say they have received waivers from Washington to continue operations in Sudan, uncertainty remains around how far those exemptions extend — particularly when it comes to famine relief. The UN's 2025 humanitarian response plan is the largest and most ambitious proposed this year. Of the $6 billion requested, $4.2 billion is allocated for in-country operations, with the rest earmarked for those displaced across borders. However, the window for action is closing, with the rainy season underway and famine spreading. Experts warn that unless humanitarian access is restored and the conflict de-escalates, Sudan could spiral into a catastrophe on a par with — or worse than — Rwanda, Syria or Yemen. 'There needs to be a surge in humanitarian assistance to areas of greatest need,' said Sullivan. 'Diplomatic pressure must also be mobilized to urge external actors to stop enabling atrocities and to press for humanitarian access.' Sullivan believes that failure to act now could result in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. Meanwhile, Habersky stressed the urgency of the situation, adding that 'non-earmarked funding must be given to all organizations working to better the situation within Sudan and the region.' 'Refugee rights in host countries must be protected — we are seeing too many cases of abuse and neglect,' she added. The stark reality is that while global attention drifts elsewhere, Sudan continues to collapse in real time. Behind the statistics are millions of lives — waiting for aid that has yet to arrive.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia condemns Netanyahu comments supporting a ‘Greater Israel'
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday strongly condemned statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in support of a so-called 'Greater Israel.' In an interview with i24 News on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he is 'very attached' to the vision of a 'Greater Israel.' The term is understood to refer to an expansionist concept of Israeli territory that includes East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights and parts of other neighboring Arab countries. The Kingdom's Foreign Ministry said it completely rejected the 'settlement and expansionist ideas and projects' adopted by Israeli authorities. The ministry also said the Palestinian people had a historical and legal right to establish an independent, sovereign state on their lands, based on relevant international laws. 'The Kingdom warns the international community against the Israeli occupation's persistence in flagrant violations that undermine the foundations of international legitimacy, blatantly violate the sovereignty of states, and threaten regional and global security and peace,' the ministry said. The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it had approved the framework for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip. The approved plan for the expanded offensive comes days after Israel's security cabinet called for the capture of the Palestinian territory's largest 22 month war on Gaza has killed more than 61,000 people and created dire humanitarian conditions.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
New Zealand MP Who Called Opponents Spineless over Gaza Is Ejected from Parliament a 2nd Time
A New Zealand lawmaker who was thrown out of Parliament for calling her opponents spineless during a fiery debate about a Palestinian state was ejected again on Wednesday when she refused to apologize for the remark. Chlöe Swarbrick, co-leader of the left-leaning Green Party and part of the opposition bloc, was ordered to leave parliament on Tuesday over a speech in which she called for government lawmakers 'with a spine' to endorse her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza. She was hit with a three-day ban — lengthy by New Zealand parliamentary standards — but returned the next day only to be ejected a second time. Her censure came amid fraught scenes in Parliament in Wellington on Tuesday as opponents rebuked the government for not moving to recognize an independent Palestinian state, days after neighboring Australia pledged to do so. Countries including France, Britain and Canada are also expected to recognize a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. 'We are one of the very few countries in the world who so far refuse to acknowledge the absolute bare minimum,' Swarbrick said. The Green party lawmaker was abruptly ejected from the debating chamber when she urged government politicians to join her in a proposal to sanction Israel, which currently wouldn't have enough votes to pass into law. 'If we can find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,' Swarbrick said, referring to other Members of Parliament. 'That is completely unacceptable to make that statement,' Speaker Gerry Brownlee interrupted. 'Withdraw it and apologize.' The Green politician refused. Brownlee told her to leave the debating chamber for the rest of the week. 'Happily,' Swarbrick said. The standoff resumed when Swarbrick took her seat again on Wednesday despite the ban and Brownlee asked again if she would apologize. Swarbrick declined and was ejected once more, yelling 'free Palestine' as she went. Brownlee took the serious step, rare in New Zealand's Parliament, of taking a vote to 'name' Swarbrick for her misconduct, a ruling that means a legislator is formally suspended with their pay docked. The vote passed, with all government lawmakers endorsing it. Opposition lawmakers claim double standards The measure provoked fresh debate in Parliament about punishments for unruly behavior. Government lawmakers voted in June to enact unprecedented lengthy bans of opposition Māori Party lawmakers who performed a haka chant to protest a controversial vote. On Wednesday, opposition politicians decried Swarbrick's penalty as unusually severe, with lawmaker Willie Jackson highlighting his own ban of just 30 minutes for calling one of his colleagues a liar, before he was allowed to resume his seat without an apology. In another recent example, a government politician used an eye-watering expletive without censure, supporters of Swarbrick said. Several others had escaped punishment in recent years when using the word 'spineless' about their opponents. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins said it was unprecedented for a lawmaker to be ejected from Parliament for a second day over the same offense. Brownlee, however, said he had drawn a line when Swarbrick directed a personal insult at all 68 government lawmakers, including him. 'We have so many threats and other stuff being directed at Members of Parliament,' he said. 'If we don't change the behavior in here, nothing will change outside.' Meanwhile, the government continues to mull recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Wednesday made his most strident rebuke yet of Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israel leader 'has lost the plot' on the 'human catastrophe' in Gaza. 'I think Netanyahu has gone way too far,' Luxon told reporters. 'He is not listening to the international community and that is unacceptable.' While senior New Zealand officials, including Luxon, have said recognition of Palestine from their government was 'a matter of not if, but when,' his Cabinet has yet to endorse a change of position. A decision will be made in September after further consideration, Luxon said Monday.
