
Israel's plans for aid supply will endanger lives: UN
International aid agencies have warned that Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza, including a US-backed proposal, will only increase suffering and death in the devastated Palestinian territory.
They are calling on Israel to lift its blockade on food and other supplies, now in its third month.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said that the new US-devised aid system would be launched soon, urging the UN and other aid groups to participate.
So far, the UN has rejected the new system, saying it "weaponises aid," threatens to cause mass displacement of Palestinians, violates principles of neutrality and simply won't be able to provide the scale of aid needed.
In what has become a daily scene of desperation in Gaza, thousands of Palestinians crowded a charity kitchen in the southern city of Khan Younis, jostling and waving their pots to receive scoops of pasta.
Such kitchens are virtually the only source of food left for the territory's 2.3 million people, but dozens have shut down in recent days as food supplies run out under Israel's blockade.
Aid groups say more closures are imminent.
Raed al-Zaharna and his children walked away empty-handed after the day's meals ran out.
"I'm thinking now, 'What will I feed them?' I can't find anything," he said.
Israel has blocked food, medicine, fuel and other supplies from entering Gaza since March 2, saying it's trying to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and disarming.
It also shattered a ceasefire deal with Hamas, relaunching bombardment across Gaza and seizing large swaths of the territory. Rights groups have called the blockade a "starvation tactic" and a potential war crime.
Israel has said it won't resume aid until it installs a new distribution mechanism, replacing the massive operation led by the UN and independent relief groups throughout the 19-month-old war.
Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of siphoning off aid, though it hasn't presented evidence for its claims.
The UN denies significant diversion takes place, saying it monitors distribution.
"Humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip," UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said in Geneva.
"There is a simple alternative. Lift the blockade, let humanitarian aid in, save lives."
Huckabee said details of the new US-backed system would be announced in the coming days, with deliveries set to begin "very soon," though he gave no time frame.
He depicted it as independent from Israel, which he said wouldn't be involved in distribution.
He said private companies would provide security, while Israel's military would secure the perimeters from afar.
He echoed Israel's claims that it was necessary because Hamas was stealing aid.
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The sanctioning of two Israeli ministers signals Australia will be more assertive in pushing for a two-state solution in the Middle East, an expert says. The federal government applied sanctions against Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a co-ordinated move with allies Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. The sanctions were applied for "extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights", with the pair barred from travelling to Australia and any assets in the country being frozen. The measures prompted condemnation from the US with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying it would do little to achieve a ceasefire in the conflict. But Middle East politics professor at Deakin University Shahram Akbarzadeh said the sanctions were a consequential step. "It is significant and it sends a signal that Australia is becoming more resolute in pursuing its foreign policy agenda of a two-state solution," he told AAP. "Australia would not have done this on its own, but when Australia sees other allied countries taking this move, that allows Australia to feel comfortable in numbers." Israel's ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said the sanctions were concerning and unacceptable. "These ministers are part of a government that operates under the principle of collective responsibility, making such measures unreasonable," he said in a statement. "The Israeli government will convene early next week to consider and determine our official response to these actions." Prof Akbarzadeh said the sanctions imposed by the western allies would not alter how Israel would conduct itself in the conflict. 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The sanctioning of two Israeli ministers signals Australia will be more assertive in pushing for a two-state solution in the Middle East, an expert says. The federal government applied sanctions against Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a co-ordinated move with allies Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. The sanctions were applied for "extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights", with the pair barred from travelling to Australia and any assets in the country being frozen. The measures prompted condemnation from the US with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying it would do little to achieve a ceasefire in the conflict. But Middle East politics professor at Deakin University Shahram Akbarzadeh said the sanctions were a consequential step. 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"Israel has shown it does not take international opinion seriously, and this move is unlikely to deter the Israeli government in the way they're prosecuting the war in Gaza," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doubled down on the need for the sanctions, despite the reaction from Israel and the US. "Sometimes friends have to be clear with each other," he told reporters in Sydney. "We support Israel's right to live and to exist in secure borders, but we also support the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians." Israel's violence in Gaza restarted after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, invaded the nation and killed about 1200 people and abducted 250 others on October 7, 2023. Israel's bombardment, aid blockages and military action in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people and left many more on the brink of starvation. Australia in July also sanctioned Israelis involved in attacking and killing Palestinians in the West Bank. 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"Israel has shown it does not take international opinion seriously, and this move is unlikely to deter the Israeli government in the way they're prosecuting the war in Gaza," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doubled down on the need for the sanctions, despite the reaction from Israel and the US. "Sometimes friends have to be clear with each other," he told reporters in Sydney. "We support Israel's right to live and to exist in secure borders, but we also support the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians." Israel's violence in Gaza restarted after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation, invaded the nation and killed about 1200 people and abducted 250 others on October 7, 2023. Israel's bombardment, aid blockages and military action in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people and left many more on the brink of starvation. Australia in July also sanctioned Israelis involved in attacking and killing Palestinians in the West Bank.

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