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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
31 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Labor ‘out of control' by sanctioning Israeli ministers
Sky News host Andrew Bolt discusses the Albanese Labor government sanctioning two Israeli ministers. 'The hypocritical Albanese government really does hate Israel, doesn't it? It is acting like Greta Thunberg and has now hit two Israeli ministers with sanctions,' Mr Bolt said. 'But I want to know why, why this is in Australia's interest to act like useful idiots of radical Islam.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Australian sanctions against Israel 'sends a signal'
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. "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. 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. "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. 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. "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. 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. "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.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Liberal Party women's network some forgot even existed
A bigger problem for the network might be its messenger. Senator Jane Hume, who co-authored the 2022 election review, is its chair. But Hume, a frontbencher during Peter Dutton's leadership, is firmly on the out, and was dumped from new opposition leader Sussan Ley's ministry. Hume had a patchy performance during the recent election campaign, where she made inflammatory comments about 'Chinese spies' helping Labor and was at the centre of the Liberals' botched 'back to the office' pitch. The Liberals didn't respond to questions about whether she'd remain as chair, and the senator didn't return our calls. But the MGN network chair is a job Hume hasn't lost. She was appointed by outgoing party president John Olsen, and told CBD from the UK that she was looking at the British Conservatives' mechanisms to successfully improve female representation in the 2010s. Joshing around Hillel Fuld, the controversial Israeli tech bro influencer, blogger, vlogger, and father of five, will not be able to speak in person at the Magen David Adom Australia medical fundraisers in Melbourne and Sydney. The pesky feds have stepped in and cancelled his visa. For those who came late, the Department of Home Affairs decided Fuld's history of Islamophobic remarks had the potential to 'incite discord' and 'would or might be a risk to the good order of the Australian community', according to a leaked copy of its decision to revoke his visa. Loading Fuld attracts sympathy among some in the Jewish community because his brother was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist. However, it's fair to say some thought he was an unusual choice for MDA Australia, fundraising for Israel's national emergency medical ambulance and blood bank service, which has about 1000 employees but nearly 30,000 volunteers and is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Fuld will appear via video link, but handily, MDA Australia has lined up additional talent, 'a great speaker and a great friend of MDA Australia', as the charity's Glynis Lipson told CBD. Step forward Josh Frydenberg, the former deputy leader of the Liberal Party and ex-federal treasurer, who these days is enjoying civilian life as chairman of Goldman Sachs' Australian business. Frydenberg told CBD he was not endorsing Fuld, but was certainly endorsing MDA and its charity work. It's bound to be quite the address. As CBD, who was present during Frydenberg's address at investor James Baillieu's rebel literary garden party during the Sorrento Writer's Festival, Josh can really turn it up to 11. Crashing in Interesting to note that Israeli MP Sharren Haskel has been weighing into the Fund visa controversy, telling The Australian newspaper: 'The banning of high-profile Israelis from Australia must stop. This is no way for an ally to act.' Haskel is the deputy foreign minister of Israel and closely attuned to Australian politics. Possibly because her senior adviser is none other than former Victorian state Liberal MP Tim Smith, whose career ended in a literal car crash when he drove his Jaguar into a suburban fence after getting on the turps a little too enthusiastically back in 2021. Ever zealous, Smith has attempted to generate interest in Haskel by reaching out to some of his old Melbourne Facebook contacts and suggesting that they like Haskel's Facebook page. Cute.
