Britain leads calls for airdrops as Gaza hunger crisis deepens
The UK decision to support the plans of regional partners Jordan and the United Arab Emirates came as pro-Palestinian activists piloted a symbolic aid vessel towards the shores of Gaza in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade.
On the ground, the territory's civil defence agency said at least 40 more Palestinians had been killed in Israeli military strikes and shootings.
Humanitarian chiefs are deeply sceptical that airdrops can deliver enough food to tackle the deepening hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants and are instead demanding that Israel allow more overland convoys.
But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the idea, vowing to work with Jordan to restart airdrops -- and with France and Germany to develop a plan for a lasting ceasefire.
An Israeli official told AFP on Friday that airdrops in Gaza would resume soon, adding they would be conducted by the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
Starmer's office said that in a call with his French and German counterparts, the "prime minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance".
The United Arab Emirates said it would resume airdrops "immediately".
"The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level," Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a post on X. "Air drops are resuming once more, immediately."
- 'Starving civilians' -
A number of Western and Arab governments carried out air drops in Gaza in 2024, at a time when aid deliveries by land also faced Israeli restrictions, but many in the humanitarian community consider them ineffective.
"Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians," said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Israel imposed a total blockade on the entry of aid into Gaza on March 2 after talks to extend a ceasefire in the now 21-month-old conflict broke down. In late May, it began to allow a trickle of aid to enter.
Israel's military insists it does not limit the number of trucks going into the Gaza Strip, and alleges that UN agencies and relief groups are not collecting the aid once it is inside the territory.
But humanitarian organisations accuse the Israeli army of imposing excessive restrictions, while tightly controlling road access within Gaza.
A separate aid operation is under way through the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but has faced fierce international criticism after Israeli fire killed hundreds of Palestinians near distribution points.
- Naval blockade -
On Saturday, pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla said its latest aid boat, the Handala, was approaching Gaza and had already got closer than its previous vessel, the Madleen, which was intercepted and boarded by Israeli forces last month.
The Israeli military said it was monitoring the situation and was prepared to enforce what it called its "legal maritime security blockade".
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli fire killed 40 people on Saturday, including 14 killed in separate incidents near aid distribution centres.
One of the 14 was killed "after Israeli forces opened fire on people waiting for humanitarian aid" northwest of Gaza City, the agency said.
Witnesses told AFP that several thousand people had gathered in the area.
Abu Samir Hamoudeh, 42, said the Israeli military opened fire while people were waiting to approach a distribution point near an Israeli military post in the Zikim area, northwest of Sudaniyah.
The Israeli military told AFP that its troops fired "warning shots to distance the crowd" after identifying an "immediate threat".
It added that it was not aware of any casualties as a result of the fire.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
Fight looms as Gaza protest planned for Harbour Bridge
A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity". A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity". A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity". A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, prompting a potential court showdown to block the rally. Protesters have planned a "March for Humanity" across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday in opposition to Israel limiting food deliveries to Gaza, which has brought the risk of mass hunger to two million citizens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Israel's actions as "quite clearly" a breach of international law, with protest organisers encouraging him to attend the proposed march to back up his words. But NSW Premier Chris Minns was quick to oppose the protest, arguing his government "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". "(We) cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, especially with one week's notice," he said on Monday. "The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city … unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns." NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. Protest organisers Palestine Action Group noted the bridge was closed for the 2023 World Pride march and for the filming of the movie Fall Guy in that same year. Given Mr Minns cited a lack of preparation time as a reason to halt the march, spokesman Josh Lees queried if he would support it taking place a week later. "The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation," he said. "We invite everyone who is appalled by the deliberate starvation of two million people to join us, including the prime minister, who has recognised that Israel is clearly breaching international law." Weekly pro-Palestine protests have been taking place in the Sydney city centre and other state capitals since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to designated terror organisation Hamas's deadly October 7, 2023 attack. NSW Police confirmed they had received the required paperwork for Sunday's protest. Senior officers would consult relevant stakeholders, including protest organisers, about other routes that could be taken, a spokesperson said. In 2024, the force challenged protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, citing public safety concerns. But the court bid was dropped when organisers scrapped one protest and shifted the route of another so it did not pass Sydney's Great Synagogue. The NSW government has since passed controversial laws granting police powers to restrict protests near places of worship. Pro-democracy groups have repeatedly argued the laws have emboldened the force to "act with impunity".
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Ex-NSW Premier likens Israel's actions in Gaza to war crimes committed by Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin
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SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Detained Australians on hunger strike after Israeli navy intercepted Gaza-bound aid boat
Two Australians detained by Israeli naval officers are on a hunger strike in solidarity with the people in Gaza, calling for an end to the aid blockade. Australian journalist Tan Safi and activist Robert Martin were with 19 others on board the vessel, dubbed Handala, attempting to break Israel and Egypt's blockade and deliver aid to Gaza. The pro-Palestinian group was intercepted roughly 57 nautical miles from Gaza, according to the organisers Freedom Flotilla Coalition, with a livestream of the boat showing the activists holding up their hands as armed soldiers boarded the vessel, before the feed was cut. SBS News has not been able to independently verify the vessel's location at the interception point. James Godfrey, a spokesperson for Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Free Gaza Australia, said they've made contact with Safi and Martin via lawyers from Adalah, a legal support organisation in Israel. The vessel called Handala departed from Italy one week ago, aiming to reach Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and break the Israeli blockade. Source: Getty / Anadolu "They've been in touch with nearly everybody who was kidnapped on board Handala, including Robert and Tan," Godfrey told SBS News. Detainees were reportedly told to either accept "voluntary deportation" or remain detained and appear before a tribunal, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. "We're anticipating that they will be taken to some kind of Israeli court or tribunal today, our time," he said. "They're currently both on hunger strike in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza who are being starved by the Israeli government with the support of the Australian government." Israel's government denies it imposes a policy of starvation in Gaza, with its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying: "There is no starvation in Gaza". Following international pressure, Israel resumed airdropping aid to Gaza on Sunday, with the Israeli military announcing it would establish designated corridors to enable the movement of United Nations convoys to deliver aid. Three people on board the Handala, from Italy, France and the United States, have been reportedly deported, and a further two interrogated and released. Godfrey urged Israel to act in accordance with the International Court of Justice's ruling on aid and that it should be, "unhindered in being delivered to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and they need to step up and do the work and deliver aid". "But as long as they keep failing, we'll have to keep sailing," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the two Australians were on the boat and were ready to assist, where possible. "Our officials in Tel Aviv are liaising with authorities, and consular officers stand ready to offer assistance to affected Australians," a spokesperson said on Sunday. 'We count on you': Australians call on the government to intervene In a letter, obtained by their lawyers, Safi and Martin have called on the government, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, to intervene on their matter. "We demand you ensure our safe, immediate release from those same forces who have abducted us, and illegally intercepted our non-violent action to bring baby formula to starving Palestinian babies," they wrote. In the letter, Safi and Martin said Australia should stop trade with Israel, stop sending weapons components and "stop protecting Israel from any accountability or consequence". "We count on you to do better — now," they wrote. On Sunday, Albanese said international law stated innocent people should not be held responsible for the actions of the Hamas, which in its entirety is listed as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and seven other countries, including Australia. "I'm a supporter of Israel and Israel's right to defend itself, but that boy isn't challenging Israel's right to existence, and nor are the many who continue to suffer from the unavailability of food and water," the prime minister said.
