UN chief slams US-backed Gaza aid operation: 'It is killing people', World News
UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday (June 27) that a US-backed aid operation in Gaza is "inherently unsafe," giving a blunt assessment: "It is killing people."
Israel and the United States want the UN to work through the controversial new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the UN has refused, questioning its neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement.
"Any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarized zones is inherently unsafe. It is killing people, Guterres told reporters.
Guterres said UN-led humanitarian efforts are being "strangled," aid workers themselves are starving and Israel - as the occupying power - is required to agree to and facilitate aid deliveries into and throughout the Palestinian enclave.
"People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence," Guterres told reporters.
"It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza."
Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited UN deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid from both the UN and GHF operations. A senior UN official said on Sunday that the majority of those people were trying to reach GHF sites.
Responding to Guterres on Friday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said Israel's military never targets civilians and accused the UN of "doing everything it can" to oppose the GHF aid operation.
"In doing so, the UN is aligning itself with Hamas, which is also trying to sabotage the GHF's humanitarian operations," it posted on X.
[[nid:719583]]
A GHF spokesperson said there have been no deaths at or near any of the GHF aid distribution sites.
"It is unfortunate the UN continue to push false information regarding our operations," the GHF spokesperson said. "Bottom line, our aid is getting securely delivered. Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome the UN and other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza."
GHF uses private US security and logistics firms to operate. It began operations in Gaza on May 26 and said on Friday so far it has given out more than 48 million meals. The US State Department said on Thursday it had approved $30 million (S$38 million) in funding for the GHF and called on other countries to also support the group.
Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the UN-led operations, which the militants deny.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Israeli strike on south Lebanon kills one
The attack comes a day after Israel killed a woman and wounded 25 other people in strikes across the country's south. PHOTO: REUTERS BEIRUT, Lebanon - An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed one person on June 28, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, the latest attack despite a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. In a statement, the ministry said that an 'Israeli enemy' drone strike on a car in Kunin, south Lebanon, killed one man in a preliminary toll. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident. The attack comes a day after Israel killed a woman and wounded 25 other people in strikes across the country's south. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that the woman was killed in an Israeli drone strike on an apartment in the city of Nabatiyeh. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on social media that the army 'did not target any civilian building'. The attacks on June 27 included a 'wave of successive heavy strikes' in the Nabatiyeh region which injured seven people, according to the NNA. The Israeli military said it 'identified rehabilitation attempts made by Hezbollah beforehand and struck terror infrastructure sites in the area'. Mr Adraee said the civilian building 'was hit by a rocket that was inside the (fire and defence array) site and launched and exploded as a result of the strike'. Israel has repeatedly bombed its northern neighbour despite the November ceasefire that aimed to end over a year of hostilities with Hezbollah. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the region. Israel was required to fully withdraw its troops from the country but has kept them in five locations in south Lebanon that it deems strategic. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Six Israelis detained for attacking soldiers in West Bank: Military
Palestinian mourners attend the funeral of three people killed on June 25 in Kafr Malik. PHOTO: AFP Six Israelis detained for attacking soldiers in West Bank: Military JERUSALEM - Six Israelis were detained for assaulting soldiers near a town in the occupied West Bank where clashes with Palestinians erupted earlier this week, the military said on June 28. Soldiers went to disperse a gathering of Israelis near the central West Bank town of Kafr Malik overnight from June 27 to June 28, the military said in a statement. 'Upon the arrival of the security forces, dozens of Israeli civilians hurled stones toward them and physically and verbally assaulted the soldiers, including the Battalion Commander,' it said. 'In addition, the civilians vandalised and damaged security forces' vehicles, and attempted to ram the security forces,' it added. 'The security forces dispersed the gathering, and six Israeli civilians were apprehended and transferred to the Israel Police for further processing.' Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military declined to say whether those arrested were residents of Israeli settlements in the territory, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967. The military referred the query to the Israeli police, which was not available to comment. In a separate incident on June 25, the Palestinian health ministry said three men died in Kafr Malik in an attack by settlers. AFP journalists saw several hundred people gather for the three men's funerals on June 26. The Palestinian foreign ministry alleged 'official complicity' by Israel in June 25's attack, in a message on X. 'Israeli occupation forces prevented ambulance crews from reaching the wounded and obstructed civil defense teams from entering the village for several hours, allowing fires ignited by the settlers to spread and destroy dozens of homes,' it said. The Israeli military did not respond to a request by AFP to comment on those claims. A military spokesman told AFP its forces intervened on June 25 after 'dozens of Israeli civilians set fire to property in Kafr Malik' and a 'confrontation' involving 'mutual rock-hurling' broke out between Israelis and Palestinians. Referring to action by the Palestinians, the spokesman said: 'Several terrorists fired from within Kafr Malik and hurled rocks at the forces, who opened fire toward the source of fire and the rock-hurlers.' Five Israelis were arrested, the military added. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Over $2.4 million raised for humanitarian aid in Gaza
(From left) Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) CEO Adnan Abdul Hamid, RLAF chairman Abdul Razak Maricar, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim and Unicef partnerships specialist Kenneth Wong at the cheque presentation ceremony. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN SINGAPORE – More than $2.4 million was raised from Feb 24 to April 6 for Aid for Gaza 2025 in an SG60 community fund-raising initiative together with M³@Towns. The contributions will go towards providing food, clean water, medical supplies, healthcare and education for affected families in Gaza. The fund-raiser was organised by Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF), in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), the Egyptian Red Crescent and local humanitarian partner Humanity Matter s. M³@Towns are community-based platforms in Singapore that bring together volunteers and professionals from the Malay/Muslim community to serve the needs of residents, particularly in areas like social and educational support. A mock cheque for $1 million was presented to Unicef in a ceremony at the Singapore Islamic Hub on June 27, but the UN agency will receive the full sum raised. Speaking at the event, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said: 'Today's cheque handover represents more than just financial aid. It reflects our common humanity and deep desire to alleviate the suffering of those in Gaza.' RLAF said it was heartened to share that the funds raised through the campaign reflected 'the continued outpouring of generosity from Singaporeans'. Donors included a hospital; food and beverage, home renovation and travel and tour businesses; temples and individual donors. The foundation, with the support from the community and partners, has raised more than $15 million for Gaza across four campaigns since November 2023. Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have been at war since October 2023. Despite agreeing to a six-week ceasefire in January 2025, the violence and death toll have escalated. On June 25, the Associated Press reported that Israeli forces opened fire on hundreds of Palestinians waiting for aid in separate incidents in southern and central Gaza early on June 24 , killing at least 4 4 . Gaza health authorities said the number of Palestinians killed in the war has risen above 56,000. Associate Professor Faishal said: 'We are hopeful of any indications or signal that shows a movement towards peace in the Middle East. 'So what we hope is that all the different parties will look at opportunities to bring people together... to see how they can help to promote and at the same time, achieve peace among themselves.' Zaihan Mohamed Yusof is senior crime correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
