Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel says opening aid routes
The Israeli military said it had also begun airdropping food into the Palestinian territory -- making one drop of seven palettes -- while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he characterised as UN "lies" that his government was to blame for the dire humanitarian situation.
The army also dismissed allegations that it had been using starvation as a weapon, saying it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to "increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip".
UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the tactical pauses, saying he was in "contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window".
But the UN's World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 people were "enduring famine-like conditions" that were already leading to deaths.
The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Netanyahu's government to head off the risk of mass starvation in the territory.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on Sunday, urging Netanyahu "to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now."
Accusing the UN of fabricating "pretexts and lies about Israel" blocking aid, Netanyahu said in remarks at an airbase that "there are secure routes" for aid.
"There have always been, but today it's official. There will be no more excuses," he added.
Since Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza on March 2, the situation inside the territory has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of "mass starvation".
Though aid has trickled back in since late May, the UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled.
- 'Life's wish' -
AFP | AFPTV STRINGER
The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on Sunday. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists.
The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called Israel's latest moves a "welcome first step" but warned they could prove insufficient.
"Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops," she said. "What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza.
"We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege."
In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants.
In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her "life's wish" was to simply feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily.
Chaotic scenes broke out at the site where Israel conducted its first food drop, witnesses told AFP.
Samih Humeid, a 23-year-old from the Al-Karama neighbourhood of Gaza City, said dozens of people had gathered to rush towards the palettes of supplies parachuted onto the area.
"It felt like a war, everyone trying to grab whatever they could. Hunger is merciless. The quantities were extremely limited, not enough even for a few people, because hunger is everywhere. I only managed to get three cans of fava beans," he said.
In a social media post, the Israeli military announced it had "carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip".
The Israeli army's daily pause from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm will be limited to areas where its troops are not currently operating -- Al-Mawasi in the south, central Deir el-Balah and Gaza City in the north.
Israel said "designated secure routes" would also open across Gaza for aid convoys carrying food and medicine.
The military said the measures should disprove "the false claim of deliberate starvation".
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing "reasonable grounds" to suspect war crimes including starvation -- charges Israel vehemently denies.
- Activists intercepted -
On Sunday, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties.
Separately, the Israeli navy brought an activist boat, the Handala operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, into the part of Ashdod, after intercepting and boarding it late Saturday to prevent it attempting to breach a maritime blockade of Gaza.
The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had met with 19 of the 21 detained activists and journalists from 10 countries. The other two detainees, dual US-Israeli nationals, had been transferred to Israeli police custody, the group said.
AFP | Jorge NOVOMINSKY
The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Stocks struggle as Trump's new tariff sweep offsets earnings
President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order during an executive order signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Image: Photo by Anna Moneymaker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP Asian markets mostly fell Friday as Donald Trump announced tariffs on dozens of trading partners ahead of a self-imposed deadline, offsetting strong earnings from tech giants. With hours to go before the US president's deadline for governments to make toll-averting deals, he unveiled a list of sweeping levies he had decided to impose upon those still in talks. However, he did provide a minor reprieve by saying the measures will take effect next Friday. Governments around the world have been scrambling to cut agreements with the White House since Trump unveiled his bombshell "Liberation Day" tariffs on April 2, which included 10% across the board and then targeted "reciprocal" ones. He then delayed implementation of the reciprocals until July 9, and then August 1, and next week. Some countries reached deals, including Japan, the European Union, Britain and recently South Korea, but most are yet to do so. China remains in talks with Washington to extend a fragile truce in place since May. For those in the crosshairs of the latest outburst, the measures range from 10% to 41%. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Canada was singled out for a 35% hit, with Trump earlier hitting out at its failure to deal cross-border drugs issues and Ottawa's plan to recognise a Palestinian state. Taiwan faces 20% "temporary" duties, with its President Lai Ching-te saying there was a possibility of reductions should an agreement be reached, while Cambodia welcomed a 19% rate as it was well down from the initial 36% initially threatened. Asian equities mostly fell as they contemplate the impact on the global economy. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington and Taipei were all down. Seoul dived more than 3% as the South Korean government considers higher taxes on corporations and stock investors to shore up revenue. There were gains in Singapore, Manila and Jakarta. "Overall, the tariffs are relatively expected for Asia," said Lorraine Tan, Morningstar director of equity research in Asia. "The fact that the larger export countries such as Korea and Japan are at 15% and the Southeast Asian countries are at 19% is a fairly reasonable outcome especially after the initial April 2 shock. Hence we think the markets should shrug this news off." The losses tracked a sell-off on Washington, where traders' hopes for a September interest rate cut were dented by data showing the Federal Reserve preferred gauge of inflation rose more than expected last month and topped forecasts. The figures came a day after the central bank appeared guarded about the outlook, even as Trump puts pressure on boss Jerome Powell to reduce borrowing costs. "US interest rate traders have lowered the implied probability for a cut from the Fed in September... and as such, the central position is progressively leaning to the Fed keeping rates on hold in the September (policy) meeting," Chris Weston of Pepperstone said. The tariff uncertainty overshadowed earnings from major tech titans this week that saw Apple on Thursday post double-digit quarterly revenue growth that beat expectations. And Amazon said quarterly profits jumped 35% as key major investments in AI technology pay off, though its outlook for the next three months disappointed. Google, Microsoft and Meta have also posted bumper results for the period. "Massive results seen by Microsoft and Meta further validate the use cases and unprecedented spending trajectory for the AI Revolution on both the enterprise and consumer fronts," Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors. On currency markets the Taiwan dollar spiked above 30 to the greenback for the first time since June, while the yen remained under pressure as the Bank of Japan holds off hiking rates and Fed expectations sink. AFP
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
Trump to build huge $200mn ballroom at White House
US - President Donald Trump, who is remodelling the White House to his tastes, will build a massive ballroom for hosting official receptions, one of the largest projects at the US executive mansion in over a century. Trump himself and unspecified donors will foot the bill for the $200 million project, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a press briefing on Thursday. "For 150 years, presidents, administrations and White House staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex," the spokeswoman said. "There's never been a president that was good at ballrooms," the 79-year-old president and former real estate developer told reporters of the latest bid to leave his mark on the White House. "I'm good at building things, and we'll get it built quickly and on time. It'll be beautiful," said Trump, assuring that the character of the original building would be preserved. The new structure will span over 8,000 square meters (90,000 square feet) and have space to seat 650 people, according to Leavitt. Work on the ballroom - one of Trump's long-time ambitions - will begin in September and is expected to be completed "well before" the end of his second term in January 2029, Leavitt said. The hope is it will host grand state dinners, given in honor of foreign heads of state visiting Washington. Until now, these were generally done by erecting a huge tent on the White House grounds. - Facade - A model of the ballroom presented by the government shows it will be a white building with tall windows. Its columns and front look reminiscent of the main White House building, a facade is known worldwide. The ballroom building will replace the East Wing, which usually houses the offices of the US first lady. Trump, who does not shy away from the gaudy, has also redone the Oval Office to splash the room in gold -- from the stars surrounding the presidential seal on the ceiling, to the gold statues on the fireplace, to the mantel itself. The project is shaping up to be one of the most significant to break ground at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since renovation and expansion works undertaken by President Theodore Roosevelt at the start of the 20th century. President Harry Truman also oversaw notable construction work between 1948 and 1952, but did so without changing the external structure. Trump has said for some time that he wants to build a White House ballroom inspired by his own properties. On Thursday, he praised the newly built, lavish ballroom - named after himself - at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, one of dozens of properties owned by the Trump family. It will also be inspired by the ballroom of the Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida, which has served as the model for Trump's remodeling of the White House to suit himself. GETTY IMAGESvia AFP/File | CHIP SOMODEVILLA The Republican billionaire, inspired by the patios of Mar-a-Lago, recently ripped up the lawn at the White House's historic Rose Garden and is paving that area, where official events are often held. He is flying two huge American flags outside the White House, which has been the residence and workplace of American presidents since 1800. By Aurélia End
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Global peace goals unite SA and China
China and SA highlight their roles in resolving global conflicts and commit to defending human rights and international cooperation. The different roles that South Africa and China continue to play in the pursuit of peace and stability in the world have been praised by Gauteng legislature speaker Morakane Mosupyoe and Chinese consul-general in Johannesburg Pan Qingjiang. Mosupyoe was a guest speaker at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of China's victory over Japan organised by the China consulate on Wednesday evening. SA and China reaffirm commitment to global peace She cited South Africa's peace missions in conflicts such as the Ukrainian-Russian war, the Israel-Palestinian war, the Democratic Republic of Congo conflicts and several others on the continent. China mediated in ending long-standing tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia and albeit rejected by the US, it also offered its expertise in resolving the ongoing bloody war in Ukraine. ALSO READ: China pedals ahead with innovation 'Both China and South Africa are bound together by their shared values and aspirations – that of fighting for peace, promotion of human rights and international solidarity,' Mosupyoe said. 'Therefore, I want, on behalf of the people of South Africa, to recommit ourselves to a world free of any form of aggression, imperialism and subjugation of one nation by another. 80th war commemoration She said the commemoration of the resistance war against Japan was an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and China, 'to continue fighting for our common interest in the world'. 'Our bilateral relations become even more relevant today when the world is beginning to experience the resurgence of narrow nationalistic sentiments which threaten world peace and solidarity. We must remain resolute in our commitment to a world free of any form of aggression.' NOW READ: SA and China agree to collaborate on AI and innovation
