Guterres says Palestinians are being starved as world watches
UN Secretary General says Palestinians in Gaza may be enduring the 'cruellest phase' of the conflict, as Israel faces growing international criticism over its intensified offensive
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Khaleej Times
44 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Team UAE aim to keep 2026 Fifa World Cup dream alive
The UAE will look to earn three points when they face Uzbekistan in a crunch Fifa World Cup qualifier on Thursday (kick off 8 pm UAE Time). Timur Kapadze's Uzbekistan only need to avoid defeat against UAE to join Iran at next year's global extravaganza in the US, Canada and Mexico. UAE, however, will go into the tie at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi determined to - at the very least - delay Uzbekistan's celebrations, while trying to keep their own hopes alive. Seeking a second appearance at the Fifa World Cup, UAE still have an outside chance of securing an automatic ticket and will have Romanian tactician Cosmin Olariu leading them for the first time. They sit on 13 points, four behind Uzbekistan but with just two matches remaining, their fate is out of their hands but Olariu has vowed they will do their best to keep their dream of automatic qualification alive. Stopping history-seeking Uzbekistan won't be easy, with the White Wolves having suffered defeat only once in their qualifying campaign. The players, said defender Rustam Ashurmatov, are determined to realise the dreams of their nation. "We give our all in every match. We go to the field only to win. I think our team is capable of this - we will win," said Ashurmatov to local media. Meanwhile, Australia's Milos Degenek said he has been impressing on younger teammates how tough it is to get to the World Cup through intercontinental playoffs as they prepare for their last two matches in the third round of Asian qualifying. A first win over Japan in 16 years in Perth on Thursday would put Australia well on their way to the finals in North America in 2026, but will not get them over the line if Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain in a later match. The Socceroos have a three-point edge and a healthy goal difference advantage over the Saudis, their main rivals for second place in Group C and their opponents in their final qualifier in Jeddah next Tuesday. The expansion of the World Cup means Australia still have room for error but Degenek, a veteran of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns that were secured by playoff wins over Honduras and Peru, is loathe to take any chances. "It's never easy when you go to those knockout games (and) it's a lot easier if you qualify through the group stage directly," the former Red Star Belgrade defender told reporters in Perth this week. "It's been hammered home and I think the boys ... are well aware of the situation, that there are two games that are separating us from going to a World Cup." If Australia do beat the Samurai Blue on Thursday, they still face a long wait to find out if they have secured a berth at a sixth straight World Cup finals. The Saudis kick off in Bahrain some five hours after Australia and Japan, potentially leaving the Socceroos players on tenterhooks well into the early hours of Friday morning. "If we do get the win, hopefully we will, we are obviously almost there," Degenek added. "The most important thing is that we win. We can obviously be happy inside and celebrate a little bit, but nothing too major because if Saudi win against Bahrain ... we'll still have to go there and get a result." With Japan already qualified, Hajime Moriyasu has rested several of his best players and brought in a handful of uncapped youngsters for Thursday's game. Degenek, who played club football in Japan for Yokohama F. Marinos, did not think that would make Australia's task any easier. "I think it's even harder for us that those so-called stars are out, because the boys that are coming in ... are going to want to prove to the boss that they should be there at the World Cup," he said. "So it's not going to be a walk in the park, and they're going to take this as serious, if not more serious, than any other game." (with inputs from AFC)
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Washington Post update on Gaza aid group killings article sparks online backlash
A recent correction by the Washington Post regarding its reporting on a deadly incident at a Gaza aid distribution site has ignited a firestorm of criticism and accusations of pro-Israel bias on social media. On 1 June, at least 32 Palestinians were killed and over 200 wounded after Israeli troops opened fire on civilians gathered at two US-Israeli food distribution points in Rafah and central Gaza, according to local officials and eyewitnesses. The original headline of the Post article on the deaths read: "Israeli troops kill over 30 near U.S. aid site in Gaza, health officials say". The Post shared the article on X in a post that said: "At least 31 people were killed Sunday morning in southern Gaza, according to the Strip's Health Ministry, when Israeli troops opened fire on crowds making their way to collect aid". On 3 June, the Post issued a notice on X, saying it had deleted the earlier X post and edited the article because it "didn't meet Post fairness standards". "The article failed to make clear if attributing the deaths to Israel was the position of the Gaza health ministry or a fact verified by The Post," the newspaper said. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "The Post didn't give proper weight to Israel's denial and gave improper certitude about what was known about any Israeli role in the shootings," it added. An archived version of the article indicates that an Israeli military statement about being "currently unaware of injuries caused by" the army was included in the second paragraph. — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 3, 2025 Among other changes, the newest version includes a categorical rejection of gunfire claims by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which called them "completely false". 'Obsequious apology' While some social media users welcomed the note from the Post, others accused the newspaper of reinforcing biases in western media coverage of Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza. "So we in Gaza get to be killed and then the media cannot be sure who killed us simply because Israel denied responsibility? So we are killed but no one killed us? That simple?" asked Palestinian writer and Pulizer Prize winner Mosab Abu Toha. "Why do you not ask Israel to provide videos from that site showing the world how their soldiers fired 'warning shots' in the heads and chests of starved people?" Investigative journalist Laila al-Arian said: "This correction only came because Palestinians are dehumanized and deemed untrustworthy, while the Israeli government—engaged in mass slaughter and repeatedly caught lying to the media—is taken at its word." Absolutely reprehensible journalism. There were thousands of Palestinian civilian witnesses to the massacre who could easily corroborate the report. Of course the criminal denies their crime, it should not be given 'more weight.' — eli n. (@elinachos) June 4, 2025 Several people accused the Post of "cowardice" and of "backing down" from what they said was a more accurate version of the story. "We apologize for initially telling the truth," said one user sarcastically in reponse to the newspaper's post. "The Washington Post is now reporting, about Sunday's massacre: 'While three witnesses said the gunfire came from Israeli military positions, the Israel Defense Forces denied the allegations...' And that led to the obsequious apology below," said another. So you made the rare mistake of accurately reporting, got yelled at and retracted it. Cause clearly you guys never cared about fairness and that's why you've been doing Israel's propaganda for years. — B L A K E L E Y™℠©® LLC (@_iamblakeley) June 4, 2025 Others accused the paper of capitulating to pressure from political and other figures. Some pointed to an X post from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt quoting the Washington Post's update: "We told you we'd hold the Fake News accountable." "The White House all but confirms that it pressured the 'correction' from the Washington Post," wrote one journalist. The White House all but confirms that it pressured the "correction" from the Washington Post. If you are at the Post and know what happened, I'm on Signal at harb.12 — Ali Harb (@Harbpeace) June 3, 2025 Others pointed to a recent post from pro-Israel billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman calling on Jeff Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post, to investigate what he said was the publication of a "false story", prompting further accusations of bowing to pressure. I had to read this 3 times to make sure it wasn't a parody account. Nope. Just a formerly reputable publication bowing to institutional pressure, in an embarrassingly ineloquent manner I would add. Stumbling over words left, right( and centre. — Carmen Alvarez (@maybeitscarma) June 4, 2025 The X post comes amid a string of Israeli attacks on Palestinians seeking aid at distribution points run by the newly established GHF, which the UN and aid organisations have accused of militarising humanitarian aid. Israeli gunfire has resulted in over 100 deaths and hundreds wounded since the initiative's launch, according to the Gaza-based Government Media Office. On Wednesday, Tom Fletcher, the UN's aid chief, said that recent "horrifying scenes" of Palestinians being killed by Israeli forces while trying to access food aid were the result of "deliberate choices". "The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat," Fletcher said in a post on X. "This is the outcome of a series of deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive."
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Israel says it is holding 2,790 detainees from Gaza
Israel is holding 2,790 Gazans as detainees on Israeli territory, 660 of them in military detention camps, which have been the sites of severe abuse throughout the Gaza war, according to data revealed by the state following a court petition from the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel. The NGO also identified 144 missing detainees in the numbers, whose statuses are unknown. Tal Steiner, the group's executive director, called on the state to explain what has happened to the missing people and to 'immediately change the legislation that violates the fundamental rights of detainees'. Israel's military has undertaken mass detentions in the strip since the war began in October 2023. Injustice, torture and mistreatment of detainees are cited in South Africa's continuing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. 'The disturbing reports of torture in detention facilities and harsh living conditions that have even led to the deaths of many detainees require immediate investigation and fundamental change in the treatment of detainees,' Ms Steiner added. The state's response confirmed that the 'Anatot' detention facility, where there were numerous accounts of abuse and inhumane conditions, had been closed. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, citing accounts collected by HaMoked Centre for Defence of the Individual, lists examples including people being held in 'pens' of 50 people and shackled all day, blindfolded and forbidden to speak. The data indicates a significant decrease in the number of detentions since December 2024, but the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) said the state continues to oppose ending a detention law that 'allows prolonged detention without trial and without effective judicial oversight'. The law in question is Israel's 'Unlawful Combatants Law', which underwent controversial amendments relating to legal timelines for detainees. PCATI said those changes are a 'severe violation of rights to freedom, life, bodily integrity and due process, in a manner incompatible with the values of the State of Israel as a democratic state'.
