UN: Israeli strikes displace over 737k in Gaza since March
Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay reported at a news conference that "between July 8 and 15, more than 11,500 people were newly displaced"....
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New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Egypt's Sisi says Israel's war in Gaza a 'systematic genocide'
CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Tuesday Israel was pursuing "a war of starvation and genocide" in Gaza, and denied accusations Cairo prevented life-saving aid from entering the Palestinian territory. "The war in Gaza is no longer merely a war to achieve political goals or release hostages," Sisi told a press conference in Cairo along with his Vietnamese counterpart. Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, vowing to crush the Palestinian militant group and to free hostages. To Sisi, "this war has long since surpassed any logic or justification, and has become a war of starvation and genocide." "There is systematic genocide to eradicate the Palestinian cause," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday Israel must "complete" the defeat of Hamas to free hostages held in Gaza, a day after Israeli media reported the army could occupy the entire territory. Israel has heavily restricted aid into Gaza which is slipping into a catastrophic famine 22 months into the war. It has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Following mounting international pressure on Israel, in late May aid has only began trickling into Gaza, which borders Israel and Egypt. In response to what Sisi said were "bankrupt" accusations of Egypt's complicity in the siege, the president reiterated that the Rafah border crossing with Gaza was "never closed." The crossing at Rafah was a vital entry point of aid in the early months of the war, until Israeli troops took over its Palestinian side in May 2024, forcing it shut. "The crossing was able to bring in aid as long as there were no Israeli troops stationed on the Palestinian side of the crossing," Sisi said, adding that there are 5,000 trucks loaded with aid waiting to enter Gaza. He also defended what he said was Egypt's consistently "positive" role seeking an end to the conflict. Since the war began, Cairo has undertaken a delicate balancing act, retaining its position as a mediator between Israel and Hamas – along with the United States and Qatar – while repeatedly criticising Israel's assault. Cairo has also repeatedly refused US plans to displace Palestinians into Egypt, lobbying for a reconstruction plan for the territory that has fallen by the wayside as truce talks repeatedly folded. "Egypt will always remain a gateway for aid, not a gateway for the displacement of the Palestinian people," Sisi said on Tuesday. "We are prepared to allow aid in at any time, but we are not prepared to receive or displace Palestinians from their land." Last week, Sisi urged US President Donald Trump – who had touted the plan to displace Palestinians into Egypt – to intervene, saying he "is the one capable of ending the war, brining in aid and ending this suffering."
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
PM Anwar's four wins as Asean Chair, according to veteran Thai journalist
BANGKOK: (Bernama) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's (pic) success in mediating a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, which resulted in an immediate halt to armed clashes along their disputed border, was hailed as a major diplomatic victory. The courageous and decisive move by the Malaysian premier has not only strengthened his position as a political leader and effective Asean Chair, but also elevated the regional bloc's profile on the global stage. Veteran Thai journalist and regional affairs commentator Kavi Chongkittavorn said when tensions escalated into artillery exchanges between the two neighbouring countries last month, Anwar seized the moment in his capacity as Asean Chair and emerged as a statesman on the regional stage. In an article titled "Four Wins For Asean Chair Anwar" published on Thai PBS World, Kavi said the Malaysian Prime Minister scored four wins with his decisive step to help de-escalate the ongoing tension between the two neighbours. The first win he noted was that Anwar, leveraging his position as Asean Chair, stepped up to act as a mediator, projecting himself as Southeast Asia's peacemaker. He attributed the second win to Anwar's ability to turn the crisis into an opportunity to boost Asean's centrality and relevance. "Major powers often ridicule Asean as a talk shop without action. The ceasefire deal - which still holds - changed that narrative. "Anwar used his chairmanship to show Asean could broker peace when it mattered. "He didn't just convene meetings; he actively facilitated the entire process. "The message is clear: Asean is performing a somersault. It just needs decisive leadership,' Kavi said. Veteran Thai journalist and regional affairs commentator Kavi Chongkittavorn. He said the Malaysian premier's third win was succeeding to not only break the deadlock of the armed clashes, but also to convince Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to come to Kuala Lumpur for an unprecedented face-to-face direct dialogue. For the record, previous confrontations from 2008 to 2011 saw Thailand completely decline Asean's invitation for mediation talks. The fourth win was balancing the two major powers and important players for Asean - the United States (US) and China, and most remarkably, engaging them to witness the ceasefire talks. "These superpowers rarely collaborate on anything these days. Yet both sent envoys to support the Asean chair's initiative. "Both powers were present, but neither dominated - exactly what Asean wanted,' he said. Anwar's balancing act was particularly impressive, given his recent regular vitriol against Washington. He has been vocal about Gaza (more so than Indonesia), criticising both Israeli and US policies. Kavi said this extraordinary achievement shows what Asean can achieve with active, credible leadership. "After all, Anwar is an old and astute Asean hand. Truth be told, Anwar understood this perfectly. "He saw that regional dynamics and global shifts had created an opening. He seized it with both hands,' he wrote. For Asean, Kavi said the crisis reminds us that actions speak louder than words, and louder than all the annual joint communiqués. "For Anwar, it is proof that skilled diplomacy can transform political fortunes. For the region, it is hoped that Asean-led solutions can still work in Trump's world,' he added. Kavi's full article can be read at . - Bernama
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Gaza civil defence reports 26 killed in Israeli attacks
GAZA CITY: Gaza's civil defence agency reported that 26 people were killed by Israeli gunfire and air strikes on Tuesday, including 14 waiting near an aid distribution site. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that eight died from Israeli gunfire near Khan Yunis, while six more were killed and 21 injured in central Gaza while awaiting food aid. The Israeli army stated it is investigating the incidents. Media restrictions in Gaza make independent verification difficult. Thousands gather daily at aid points, including those run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, where chaotic scenes and reports of shootings are frequent. Bassal confirmed five deaths from an air strike on a tent in Al-Mawasi, a supposed safe zone. 'They say it's safe, but people die while obtaining aid,' said Adham Younes, who lost a relative. Mahmud Younes, another witness, described finding injured women covered in blood. Six more were killed near Gaza City, and one near Khan Yunis. Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed striking an Israeli command centre in the Morag Axis. - AFP
