Hamas says it will allow aid to hostages if Israel opens humanitarian corridors
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross for help aiding hostages, amid outrage in Israel sparked by the latest videos showing two emaciated captives.
This came as at least 70 Palestinians − including 37 seeking aid − were killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday, official news agency Wafa reported.
Hamas said it would only allow the agency to access the hostages if food and aid were distributed across all areas of Gaza. The Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said the hostages were not 'intentionally' starved but that they would not receive special food privileges at a time of starvation in the enclave.
Over recent days, Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have released three videos showing two hostages seized during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war. The images of Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, both of whom appeared weak and malnourished, have fuelled renewed calls in Israel for a truce and hostage release deal.
Mr Netanyahu's office on Saturday said he had spoken with the families of the two hostages and "expressed profound shock over the materials distributed by the terror organisations".
Of the 251 hostages taken during the Hamas attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza − including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
Six more people died of starvation or malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, the enclave's health ministry said on Sunday as Israel said it allowed a delivery of fuel to the enclave. Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two lorries carrying 107 tonnes of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave.
There was no confirmation of whether the trucks had entered.
Medical sources and witnesses said that Israeli troops opened fire at civilians waiting for aid at different locations in the enclave, killing at least 37 people − including seven near the southern city of Khan Younis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
London police arrest 150 protesters at rally against Palestine Action ban
At least 150 people were arrested at a rally against the proscription of Palestine Action on Saturday outside the UK parliament, police said. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in support of the direct action group, which was proscribed as a terrorist organisation last month. Many of them held up placards reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action" in Parliament Square. The Metropolitan Police began arresting activists shortly after 12:35pm. Met police chief Mark Rowley pledged earlier this week to arrest all participants in the planned protest. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters But many holding placards have not been arrested, apparently because the police were unable to detain them all. The government proscribed the activist group under anti-terror laws on 4 July, following an incident in which members broke into the Royal Air Force Brize Norton base earlier this month and spray-painted two planes they said were "used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East". Leading global academics denounce UK's Palestine Action ban Read More » The legislation made membership of and support for the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison - the first time a direct action group has been proscribed in the UK as a terrorist group. Since then, hundreds of people have been arrested at weekly protests by campaign group Defend Our Juries (DOJ), which said this week that the protests have "changed the meaning" of an arrest under the Terrorism Act and that it is considered a "badge of honour" within the movement. The group highlighted that the mass arrests could place strain on a prison system already "on the brink of collapse" and remains at 97.5 percent capacity, according to an independent review this week. 'Disproportionate and unnecessary' Saturday's protest comes amid mounting pressure on the UK government to lift the controversial ban amid concerns that it could be used to stifle criticism of Israel and the right to protest. Last month, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that the ban was "disproportionate and unnecessary" and called for the designation to be rescinded. Peer sought to 'influence' Palestine Action case on behalf of US company Read More » On Thursday, Amnesty International warned that the mass arrests could break international law, with Amnesty UK Chief Executive Sacha Deshmukh saying: "Arresting people on terrorism offences for peacefully holding a placard flies in the face of international human rights law. "At a time when people are quite rightly outraged by the genocide they see being perpetrated in Gaza, it is more crucial than ever that there is space to peacefully express that outrage." Also on Thursday, scores of leading global academics, including Judith Butler, Tariq Ali, Angela Davis, Naomi Klein, Rashid Khalidi, Avi Shlaim and Ilan Pappe, signed an open letter denouncing Palestine Action's proscription as an "attack on fundamental freedoms". On 30 July, a High Court judge ruled in favour of Palestine Action and granted the direct action group a judicial review to oppose the ban on the group.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Egypt-Hamas tensions at all-time high over demand to disarm and leave Gaza
Egypt's support for calls to disarm Hamas has reignited tensions with the Palestinian movement and stalled ceasefire negotiations, Egyptian and Palestinian sources told Middle East Eye. The rift emerged after Cairo relayed messages to Hamas leaders in Doha in late April, demanding the group surrender its weapons and withdraw fighters from Gaza - a position Hamas firmly rejects. The push for disarmament reflects mounting pressure from the United States and key Arab states. On 29 July, Egypt joined Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the Arab League in endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution, which calls on Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority. According to Egyptian sources, Cairo had initially resisted linking disarmament to ceasefire negotiations. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters However, under sustained pressure from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Egypt shifted its stance, aligning itself with regional efforts to initiate what has been described as a "surrender process". This position aligns with Israeli preconditions, backed by Washington, for ending the war on Gaza. Sources said Egypt had previously insisted that disarmament be part of a broader political settlement tied to ending the Israeli occupation. Cairo had rejected any proposals requiring Hamas to disarm prior to the establishment of a Palestinian state. 'Egypt's alignment with the American agenda is detrimental to both Egypt and Hamas' - Moataz Khalil, Former Egypt UN envoy This earlier stance was reiterated by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during a visit to Washington in March, citing Israel's failure to defeat Hamas militarily. "It is unreasonable to ask mediators to achieve through politics what Israel could not achieve through months of military operations," Abdelatty said during his trip to Washington. Two diplomatic sources in Cairo said the policy shift was also driven by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the breakdown of diplomatic channels. Egyptian authorities are especially concerned by Israeli efforts to forcibly displace Gaza's population into northern Sinai. Reports of a large-scale tent camp being constructed in the Rafah area, near the Egyptian border, to house more than half a million displaced people, have drawn condemnation, with many describing it as a concentration camp. This, along with growing public anger in Egypt over what is perceived as government complicity and an inadequate response to the crisis, has further fuelled tensions. Egypt's credibility 'undermined' Moataz Ahmadein Khalil, Egypt's former ambassador to the United Nations, told Middle East Eye that Egypt's shift reflects Washington's view of Cairo's role as "primarily a lever to pressure Hamas into accepting American and Israeli demands". He explained that this perception stems from Egypt's acute economic crisis and its reliance on political backing from the US in securing support from international and regional donors, as well as direct financial aid from Washington. "Egypt's alignment with the American agenda is detrimental to both Egypt and Hamas," argued Khalil. "Accommodating Washington's demands would only encourage Trump to ask for more and would ultimately undermine Egypt's credibility as a mediator. "Furthermore, this approach fails to leverage the mediation role to serve Egypt's own national interests, independent of US or Israeli goals." Palestinians 'let down' The Egypt-Hamas tensions reached their peak in late July following a televised speech by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader. The Doha-based leader made a direct appeal to the Egyptian people and their religious, military, community and intellectual leaders to help break the siege on Gaza. "Our Palestinian people feel let down," Hayya said. "Will your brothers in Gaza die of hunger while they are just across your border and within your reach?" he asked. He criticised the air-dropping of aid, describing it as a "tragic farce", and criticised the closure of the Egyptian-Palestinian Rafah border crossing. Exclusive: UK pushed Arab states to condemn Hamas in UN conference statement Read More » "We look to the great country of Egypt to say definitively that Gaza will not die of hunger, and that it will not allow the enemy to keep the Rafah crossing closed to the needs of Gaza." According to one Egyptian security source, Cairo responded to Hayya's speech with deep anger, viewing it as incitement against the government and an attempt to hold Egypt responsible for Gaza's starvation. Officials feared the speech could provoke popular unrest and threaten national stability. They also interpreted the call to forcibly open the Rafah crossing as a dangerous appeal to involve Cairo in the war against Israel and as a threat to Egypt's national security. Following the speech by Hayya, regarded by Egyptian officials as one of the Hamas leaders closest to Cairo, the Egyptian regime launched a fierce media campaign against Hamas. Numerous pro-government journalists and online platforms criticised the group. Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service, described Hayya's remarks as "extremely dangerous". MP Mostafa Bakry, known for his ties to Egypt's intelligence services, called on Hamas's leadership to issue a statement absolving Egypt of any role in the blockade and thanking it for the aid provided. A source from within the Palestinian movement told MEE: "Hayya's appeal was made in the spirit of goodwill, brotherhood and the deep sense of hope the people of Gaza hold towards the Egyptians, and not as incitement." The source added that, amid the severe deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and the complete political deadlock in negotiations, "the only door left to knock on is that of our brothers in Egypt". MEE contacted the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but did not receive a response by publication.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Hamas ready for 'comprehensive deal' to halt war in Gaza
Hamas on Saturday expressed willingness to reach an agreement with Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying it had offered "all possible flexibility" through the Egyptian and Qatari mediators. "We are ready for a comprehensive deal to release all Israeli prisoners, ensuring a ceasefire and the withdrawal of enemy forces," the Palestinian militant group said. Sources told The National earlier that the blueprint for a comprehensive deal was being discussed between Israel and the US on one hand and the US and mediators from Qatar and Egypt on the other. The Hamas announcement follows the Israeli cabinet's approval on Friday for a plan to expand military operations into Gaza city, displacing about one million people, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of plans to reoccupy Gaza. The Israeli move drew widespread condemnation, including from Israel's allies, and the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency session on Saturday to discuss the development. Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the UN, said many countries had called for the session. Hamas criticised Israel's plan as a plot to "ethnically cleanse" Palestinians from Gaza. On Saturday, a group of Arab and Muslim states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, released a joint statement condemning Israel's plan as a "dangerous escalation". "We consider this announcement a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli/facts on the ground by force, in contravention of international legitimacy," they said. A deadline of October 7 was given for residents of Gaza city to leave, potentially leaving a window for an agreement to end the war. Netanyahu says Israel will take over all of Gaza - and wants 'Arab forces' to govern strip Families of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza have called the plan a "death sentence" for their loved ones. Israeli army chief of staff Eyal Zamir said the military would take measures to "safeguard" the captives' lives. "And as always, we will carry out the mission in the best possible way," Israeli outlet Ynet reported him as saying. Separately, the foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the UK issued a joint statement warning that "the plans that the government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's office said Israel's decision to take control of Gaza city would lead to more 'forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction'. The death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, rose to 61,639 on Saturday, medical sources told the Palestinian news agency Wafa, after 38 more people were killed over a span of 24 hours. Eleven more people were died as a result of widespread starvation in Gaza resulting from Israel's blockade on aid for two months since mid-March, the sources said, bringing the total to 212, including 98 children.
