Irish mother and two children evacuated from Iran
An Irish mother and two dependent children were safely evacuated from Iran after the US joined Israel's bombing campaign on the country.
It comes after a separate successful evacuation of 15 Irish citizens or dependents from Israel on Sunday.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the US attack was an 'extraordinarily dangerous escalation' in an already 'volatile' situation in the Middle East. On Monday, he attended a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, where the growing crisis was high on the agenda. Fire and smoke rise into the sky after an Israeli attack on the Shahran oil depot on June 15, 2025, in Tehran. Pic: Stringer/Getty Images
Mr Harris said those who had left Iran will now travel home. 'I want to extend our gratitude to our European friends and partners for their excellent support,' he said.
'Throughout this crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our embassies have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in the region.'
Tensions in the Middle East boiled over earlier this month when Israel launched strikes on Tehran, targeting the country's nuclear programme. Tánaiste Simon Harris speaking in Brussels on Monday. Pic: Olivier Hoslet/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Israel and Iran have been exchanging strikes with one another since, rekindling fears of a full-scale conflict.
On Saturday the US joined in, sending planes and submarines to attack Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz, areas linked to Iran's nuclear programme.
On Monday, Iran retaliated with strikes on the Al Udeid US air base in Qatar. Missiles and air-defence interceptors illuminate the night sky over Doha after Iran launched an attack on US forces at Al Udeid Air Base. Pic: Getty Images
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mr Harris said there was a real risk of the crisis in Iran and Israel 'spilling over and broadening', as he reiterated a call for Europe to play a role in de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue.
He said there are international laws against strikes on nuclear sites as he described the 'unhelpful intervention' of the US as adding 'a significant level of danger to an already volatile situation'.
He said the only way 'to stop an already tinderbox-type situation getting worse, is to get back to a negotiated situation'. Mr Harris said he would be calling for 'swift and concrete actions' in response to the EU's review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
'It is clear from that review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations under Article Two,' he said.
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Irish Independent
28 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Trump says Israel and Iran ‘don't know what the f**k they're doing' after strikes by both sides break ceasefire
Explosions rang out in Tehran on Tuesday despite U.S. President Donald Trump saying Israel had called airstrikes off at his command to preserve an hours-old ceasefire. Two witnesses reached by telephone in the Iranian capital said they heard two loud explosions. Israeli army radio said Israel had struck an Iranian radar site near Tehran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel had carried out no further strikes after Netanyahu spoke to Trump. Trump, en route to a NATO summit in the Netherlands, had said Israel had called off its attack, after he rebuked Israel with an obscenity in an extraordinary outburst at an ally whose military campaign he had joined two days earlier. "All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. That followed a post in which he had said: "Israel. Do not drop those bombs. If you do it it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!" Before departing the White House, Trump told reporters he was unhappy with both sides for violating the ceasefire, but particularly unhappy with Israel, which he said had "unloaded" shortly after agreeing the deal. "I've got to get Israel to calm down now," Trump said. Iran and Israel had been fighting "so long and so hard that they don't know what the fuck they're doing." Israeli media reported that Trump had spoken to Netanyahu by phone. A reporter for Axios said Netanyahu had told Trump that Israel would scale back the bombing mission rather than cancel it. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had said earlier on Tuesday that he had ordered the military to mount new strikes on targets in Tehran in response to what he said were Iranian missiles fired in a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire. Iran denied launching any missiles and said Israel's attacks had continued for an hour and a half beyond the time the ceasefire was meant to start. Relief Despite the initial reports of violations, in both countries there was a palpable sense of relief that a path out of war had been charted, 12 days after Israel launched it with a surprise attack, and two days after Trump joined in with strikes on Iranian nuclear targets. "We're happy, very happy. Who mediated or how it happened doesn't matter. The war is over. It never should have started in the first place," Reza Sharifi, 38, heading back to Tehran from Rasht on the Caspian Sea where he had relocated with his family to escape strikes on the capital, told Reuters by telephone. Arik Daimant, a software engineer in Tel Aviv, said: "Regrettably, it's a bit too late for me and my family, because our house back here was totally destroyed in the recent bombings last Sunday. But as they say: 'better late than never', and I hope this ceasefire is a new beginning." Trump had announced the ceasefire with a post on Truth Social: "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" Israel launched a surprise attack on June 13, hitting Iranian nuclear sites and killing the top echelon of its military command in the worst threat faced by the Islamic Republic since war with Iraq in the 1980s. During the campaign, Israel said it was prepared to topple Iran's clerical rulers if necessary to achieve its aims. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and denies trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in airstrikes. Full information about the extent of the damage cannot be confirmed independently, with media tightly controlled. Retaliatory missile strikes have killed 28 people in Israel, the first time large numbers of Iranian missiles have penetrated its defences.
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
'Do not drop those bombs': Trump warns Israel that attacking Iran now would be 'major violation' of ceasefire
LAST UPDATE | 23 mins ago US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has said that both Israel and Iran violated a ceasefire announced last night, but that he is 'really unhappy' with Israel. This morning, Israel accused Iran of violating the agreement just hours after it came into effect. The country's defence minister Israel Katz said the military detected missiles launched from Iran and confirmed he had ordered the army to launch 'powerful strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran'. Iran denied the violation. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said he is unhappy with both countries, but that he is 'really unhappy' with Israel, who he said 'unloaded' bombs right after the ceasefire was agreed. We will bring you all the latest developments throughout the day. 2 mins ago 1:36PM Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu spoke over the phone following the US President's remarks that he was 'really unhappy with Israel'. American news website Axios also carried the story, quoting a senior Israeli source in its reporting that Netanyahu told Trump that he could cancel the attack and that some response was needed for Iran's alleged violation of the ceasefire. The source told Axios that it was decided to significantly scale back the strike and cancel the attack on a large number of targets, with Israel striking one radar system outside of Tehran. Trump subsequently posted on Truth Social that the ceasefire was now in effect. 10 mins ago 1:28PM Thanks for staying with our coverage so far. Jane Moore here – I'll be bringing you the latest developments as they happen for the next while. We mentioned earlier that Iranian media had reported explosions in the north of the country – despite Donald Trump saying that the ceasefire was now 'in effect'. The Etemad and Ham Mihan newspapers said explosions were heard and air defences were activated in Babol and Babolsar, two towns about 200 kilometres northeast of Tehran on the Caspian Sea. They said the source of the explosions was not immediately clear. 30 mins ago 1:08PM It's not clear how long this apparent truce will hold. Iranian media are reporting explosions in the country's north – further details are expected shortly. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have said that they had taught Israel an 'unforgettable lesson' with a last-minute missile salvo fired just before the ceasefire deal announced by Trump was meant to take effect. The Guards said in a statement that 'in the final moments before the ceasefire was imposed on the enemy', they had struck 'military and logistical centres of the Zionist regime across the occupied territories (with 14 missiles, delivering a historic and unforgettable lesson to the Zionist enemy'. 33 mins ago 1:05PM Eoghan Dalton here, stepping in for Jane Moore for a bit. We're continuing our coverage of the developing situation in the Middle East. Moments after he accused both countries of violating the truce, Donald Trump has said that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is now 'in effect'. His latest comments from his Truth Social platform. 'ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!' Trump posted. Several minutes later, Trump posted again: 'IRAN WILL NEVER REBUILD THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES!' 1 hr ago 12:28PM You can hear more of Donald Trump's remarks to reporters below. 1 hr ago 12:18PM Before leaving the reporters to board Marine One, Trump said: 'We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the fuck they're doing.' President Trump on Israel and Iran: "We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the fuck they're doing." — CSPAN (@cspan) June 24, 2025 1 hr ago 12:06PM Trump also told reporters that he has to get Israel to 'calm down'. 'I don't like the fact that Israel went out this morning at all and I'm gonna see if I can stop it,' he said. He also reiterated that he believes both sides had violated the ceasefire, but added 'I'm not sure they did it intentionally'. Trump said he believes Iran is still committed to peace. 'Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs the likes of which we've never seen before.' He said he was really unhappy with Israel going out 'because of one rocket that didn't land' that may have been fired mistakenly. 1 hr ago 12:02PM US President Donald Trump speaking with reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Donald Trump has said that both Israel and Iran violated the US-brokered ceasefire that he announced last night. Speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One on his way to a Nato summit in The Hague, the US President said he is unhappy with both countries, but that he is 'really unhappy' with Israel. 'These guys have gotta calm down. Ridiculous,' he said. Trump also said that he 'didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal'. In a subsequent post on Truth Social, Trump said it would be 'a major violation' of the ceasefire if Israel were to drop any bombs on Iran now. 'BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!' he wrote. 1 hr ago 11:55AM Iran has said at least 610 people have been killed and over 4,700 wounded in the Islamic republic since the start of the war with Israel on 13 June. 'Over the past 12 days, hospitals… have been confronted with extremely harrowing scenes,' health ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said on X, announcing the increase from the previously reported toll of more than 400 dead and 3,056 wounded. 1 hr ago 11:45AM German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaking in the Bundestag in Berlin. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Iran and Israel to abide by the US-brokered ceasefire, after the two sides accused each other of continuing hostilities this morning. 'We call on both Iran and Israel to heed this call from the American president,' Merz told parliament. 'If this ceasefire succeeds… then it will be a very positive development that can make the Middle East and the world safer.' 1 hr ago 11:40AM French President Emmanuel Macron has said the situation surrounding Iran 'clearly remains volatile and unstable'. 'I think it's a very good thing that President Trump is calling for a ceasefire,' Macron told reporters during a visit to Norway, adding that 'the last few minutes have shown that the situation remains very fragile'. He also said the risk that Iran would attempt to enrich uranium secretly following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites 'has indeed increased'. Macron called it 'one of the main risks for the region and the international community' and added that 'we must absolutely prevent Iran from going down this path'. French President Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon at the Normandy Monument in Oslo. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 2 hrs ago 11:37AM Tánaiste Simon Harris speaking to the media ahead of a meeting of Cabinet this morning. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell Tánaiste Simon Harris said the ceasefire between Israel and Iran must be 'underpinned by diplomacy'. He was speaking in Dublin ahead of a Cabinet meeting this morning. His comments were made as Israel accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by launching missile strikes. Harris told reporters that the only way to bring safety and security to the Middle East is through diplomacy, dialogue and de-escalation. 'Yesterday, when we had very extensive discussions in Brussels on this matter, we're very clear that Europe is ready to play a role in trying to help create that space for that sustained diplomacy,' he said. 'So we need to see regional stability, and we need to now see the ceasefire underpinned by sustained diplomacy.' The Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister welcomed the announcement of the temporary ceasefire, calling it 'a good thing'. A cessation of violence, of hostilities, to allow space for diplomacy and dialogue is a good thing. But of course, there's a real fragility to this. 'At the moment, we have agreement for a temporary ceasefire. We hope that that turns into a permanent ceasefire, but that's what's in place at the moment.' He said 'there isn't an hour to lose' in relation to reaching a sustained diplomacy in the region. 'I certainly know from my engagement with the Jordanians, with the Saudis, with the Egyptians, with the Qataris yesterday, there's a real desire for that in the region.' He added that Europe can play 'a very helpful role' in relation to this, and reiterated comments he made in Brussels yesterday. 'Nobody wants to see Iran with nuclear weapons, but actually, the greatest progress that's ever been achieved in terms of keeping Iran away from nuclear weapons has been done through diplomacy, not through military aggression, and we need to get back to that dialogue now.' 2 hrs ago 11:22AM The Israeli military has yet to confirm whether strikes ordered by defence minister Israel Katz have been launched. Here are the latest images from Tehran. A general view of Tehran's skyline this morning. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo A member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard stands guard at Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in downtown Tehran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo A woman carries a trolley at Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in downtown Tehran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo An Iranian woman walks past a banner showing head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed in Israeli strike. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 2 hrs ago 11:17AM Qatar's prime minister has said Iran's missile strikes targeting the US base on Qatari soil were an 'unacceptable' attack on the country. 'The attack on the State of Qatar is an unacceptable act, especially that the State of Qatar has been making great diplomatic efforts in order to have the situation deescalated,' Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told reporters. 2 hrs ago 11:07AM Iran's armed forces have now accused Israel of launching strikes at the country after US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between the two sides. 'The Zionist regime launched three waves of attacks on sites in Iranian territory until 9:00 am (6.30am Irish time) today,' a spokesman for the armed forces command was quoted as saying on state TV, without providing further details. 2 hrs ago 11:01AM The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said he has written to Iran's foreign minister to propose a meeting after the announcement of the ceasefire. In a post on X this morning, Rafael Grossi said Iran resuming cooperation with the IAEA could lead to 'a diplomatic solution to the long-standing controversy' over the country's nuclear programme. I welcome announcements on Iran situation. Resuming cooperation with @IAEAorg is key to a successful agreement. I've written to @araghchi stressing this step can lead to a diplomatic solution to the long-standing controversy over 🇮🇷 nuclear program and proposed to meet soon. — Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 24, 2025 2 hrs ago 10:55AM The notorious Evin jail in the north western suburbs of Tehran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Iran's prison authority has 'transferred' prisoners out of Evin prison after it was hit by Israeli strikes. The prison authority 'transferred the inmates who were serving their sentences in this prison (Evin) to other facilities within Tehran province… to safeguard the rights of the prisoners and to provide space for emergency response teams', the judiciary's Mizan Online website said. Local media reported the process had been completed, but it is not clear how many prisoners were transferred. 2 hrs ago 10:51AM The Israeli Embassy in London has shared an image on X which it claims shows the rocket fired at Israel by Iran during the ceasefire. 'This is a rocket fired at northern Israel – not during war, but during a so-called ceasefire. Iran continues to show its true nature as a terror state and a regional threat,' the post reads. This is a rocket fired at northern Israel - not during war, but during a so-called ceasefire. Iran continues to show its true nature as a terror state and a regional threat. — Israel in the UK 🇮🇱🤝🇬🇧 (@IsraelinUK) June 24, 2025 2 hrs ago 10:46AM Israel's defence minister Israel Katz has reiterated that he has instructed the IDF, in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 'to respond forcefully to the violation of the ceasefire by Iran through intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran'. 'The Iranian regime grossly violated the ceasefire declared by the U.S. President and launched missiles toward Israel, and in accordance with the government's policy as determined – we will respond forcefully to any violation,' Katz said in a post on X. הנחיתי את צה"ל, בתיאום עם רה"מ, להגיב בעוצמה על הפרת הפסקת האש על ידי איראן בתקיפות עצימות נגד מטרות משטר בלב טהרן. המשטר האיראני הפר באופן חמור את הפסקת האש שהוכרזה על ידי נשיא ארה"ב ושיגר טילים לעבר ישראל, ובהתאם למדיניות הממשלה כפי שנקבעה - נגיב בעוצמה על כל הפרה. — ישראל כ'ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) June 24, 2025 2 hrs ago 10:41AM Ministry of Foreign Affairs Summons Iranian Ambassador, Reiterates Qatar's Strong Condemnation of Violation of Its Sovereignty and Airspace #MOFAQatar — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 24, 2025 Qatar summoned the Iranian ambassador this morning after Iran launched an attack on a US air base in the country last night. The foreign ministry expressed its 'strong condemnation' of the attack and repeated that it 'retains the right to respond to this egregious violation', a statement said. Bright flashes lit up the night sky and blasts echoed across Doha in an attack that followed the US bombing three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. The missiles targeted Al Udeid Air Base, the biggest US military facility in the Middle East, in what Qatar's foreign ministry condemned as a 'flagrant violation' of its sovereignty. Air traffic was suspended over Qatar, neighbouring Bahrain and Kuwait for a period of time, but Qatar later confirmed that there were no deaths or injuries. 3 hrs ago 10:31AM Before the ceasefire was announced last night, Israel and Iran continued to exchange missile strikes. This morning, emergency services in Israel said at least four people were killed by an Iranian strike. The Magen David Adom rescue service said three people were pronounced dead at the scene of a strike in the southern city of Beersheba, while a fourth was added in an update to its figures. Rescue teams were seen at the site of this strike this morning. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 3 hrs ago 10:26AM Iran has denied it launched missiles at Israel in the 'last few hours'. The general staff of the Iranian army 'denied the launch of missiles from Iran to the occupied territories (Israel) in the last few hours', state television reported. 3 hrs ago 10:16AM Amid the alleged violation of the ceasefire, world leaders are continuing to welcome the agreement, which was announced by US President Donald Trump last night. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said that the continent 'welcomes' the announcement, calling it 'an important step towards restoring stability in a region in tension'. 'This must be our collective priority,' she said on X, urging Iran to 'engage seriously in a credible diplomatic process'. Russia also welcomed the announcement this morning. 'If a ceasefire has indeed been achieved, this can only be welcomed,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow hoped 'that this will be a sustainable ceasefire'. 3 hrs ago 10:09AM The chief of general staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said it will 'strike with force' in response to Iran's alleged violation of the ceasefire. 'In light of the severe violation of the ceasefire carried out by the Iranian regime, we will strike with force,' Eyal Zamir said. הרמטכ"ל, רב-אלוף אייל זמיר, בהערכת מצב כעת: "לאור הפרת הפסקת האש החמורה שבוצעה ע"י המשטר האיראני. נתקוף בעוצמה" — צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 24, 2025 3 hrs ago 10:07AM In brief, here is what we know so far: Donald Trump announced that the Israel-Iran ceasefire was 'now in effect' shortly after 6am Irish time in a post on his Truth Social platform and urged both sides not to violate it. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that as long as Israel stopped its 'illegal aggression against the Iranian people', Iran had ' no intention to continue our response afterwards'. The Israeli government confirmed that it had agreed to the ceasefire shortly after 7am Irish time, saying it had 'achieved all of its objectives' in its war against Iran. At around 8.30am Irish time, the Israeli military said it had detected incoming Iranian missiles despite the ceasefire. Sirens subsequently sounded in northern Israel. At around 9am Irish time, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the army ' to respond forcefully to Iran's violation of the ceasefire ' by launching 'powerful strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran'. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that Iran has denied reports that it launched missiles towards Israel. 3 hrs ago 9:59AM Good morning – Jane Moore here. Welcome to our coverage of the developing situation in the Middle East. Just hours after US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was now in effect, it appears that is no longer the case. Israel has accused Iran of violating the agreement after its military detected incoming missiles from Iran. We'll be bringing you all the latest updates over the course of the day. Advertisement Related Reads Israel's defence minister accuses Iran of violating ceasefire and orders 'powerful strikes' on Tehran Donald Trump says a 'total ceasefire' has been agreed between Israel and Iran Timeline: When did Donald Trump really decide to bomb Iran? Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
UN condemns Israel's 'weaponisation of food' in Gaza as another 21 people reported killed
The United Nations has condemned Israel's apparent 'weaponisation of food' in Gaza, a war crime, and urged Israel's military to 'stop shooting at people trying to get food'. Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed 21 people waiting for aid near a distribution site in the centre of the Palestinian territory on Tuesday, the latest deadly incident targeting aid-seekers. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday a recently established, US-backed system for aid distribution in the Gaza Strip was 'an abomination'. 'The newly created so-called aid mechanism is an abomination that humiliates and degrades desperate people. It is a death trap costing more lives than it saves,' Philippe Lazzarini said at a press conference in Berlin. In the latest incident today, civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 21 people were killed and around 150 wounded 'as a result of the Israeli occupation forces' targeting of gatherings of citizens waiting for aid… in the central Gaza Strip with bullets and tank shells' in the early hours of Tuesday. AFP has contacted the Israeli military for comment on the incident. Israeli restrictions on media in the Gaza Strip and difficulties in accessing some areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers and authorities in the Palestinian territory. Bassal added that five people were killed and several injured in an Israeli air strike that targeted a house in Gaza City at dawn. 'Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution,' the UN human rights office said in written notes provided before a briefing. 'Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food.' The US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began food distribution operations in Gaza on May 26 after Israel completely cut off supplies into the occupied Palestinian territory for more than two months, sparking warnings of mass famine. The UN said in May that '100 percent of the population' of the besieged territory were ' at risk of famine'. Advertisement The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF — an officially private effort with opaque funding — over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. UN rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan warned in today's briefing notes of 'scenes of chaos around the food distribution points' of the GHF. Since the organisation began operating, 'the Israeli military has shelled and shot Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points, leading to many fatalities', he said. He pointed to reports that 'over 410 Palestinians have been killed as a result, (while) at least 93 others have also been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the very few aid convoys of the UN and other humanitarian organisations'. 'At least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in these incidents,' he said. 'Each of these killings must be promptly and impartially investigated, and those responsible must be held to account.' Kheetan cautioned that the system 'endangers civilians and contributes to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza'. 'The weaponisation of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime, and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law,' he warned. The UN rights office demanded immediate action to rectify the situation. 'The Israeli military must stop shooting at people trying to get food,' Kheetan said, also demanding that Israel 'allow the entry of food and other humanitarian assistance needed to sustain the lives of Palestinians in Gaza'. 'It must immediately lift its unlawful restrictions on the work of UN and other humanitarian actors,' he said. And he called on other countries to 'take concrete steps to ensure that Israel — the occupying power in Gaza — complies with its duty to ensure that sufficient food and lifesaving necessities are provided to the population.' With reporting by – © AFP2025 Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
