Israel resumes airdrop aid to Gaza but UN aid agency calls move a 'distraction'
The military also said Saturday that it had connected a power line to a desalination plant, expected to supply daily water needs for about 900,000 Gazans.
Aid organisations cast doubt over effectiveness of airdrops 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. They are instead demanding that Israel allow more overland convoys. A number of Western and Arab governments carried out air drops in Gaza in 2024, 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," said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. "They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians."
"It is a distraction & screensmoke," Lazzarini said in a post on X.
Israel imposed a total blockade on the entry of aid into Gaza on 2 March after talks to extend a ceasefire in the over 21-month-old conflict broke down. In late May, it began letting a trickle of aid 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.
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SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Israel announces daily pauses in military bombardment of Gaza as aid airdrops begin
Israel announced a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and new aid corridors as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies into the enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which the government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have broken off with no deal in sight. US President Donald Trump, on a visit to Scotland, said Israel would have to make a decision on its next steps in Gaza, and he did not know what would happen after the collapse of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with Hamas. Military activity will stop from 10am to 8pm until further notice in Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area along the coast, in central Deir al-Balah and in Gaza City, to the north. The military said designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place between 6am and 11pm starting from Sunday. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said staff would step up efforts to feed the hungry during the pauses in the fighting. "Our teams on the ground ... will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window," he said on X. In their first airdrop in months, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates parachuted 25 tons of aid into Gaza on Sunday local time, a Jordanian official said, adding that those were not a substitute for delivery by land. Palestinian health officials in Gaza City said at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes. Work on a UAE project to run a new pipeline that will supply water from a desalination facility in neighbouring Egypt to around 600,000 Palestinians along the coast would also begin in a few days, the Israeli military said. Dozens of Palestinians have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total deaths from malnutrition and hunger since 2023 to 133, including 87 children. On Saturday, a five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of malnutrition at Nasser Hospital, health workers said. "Three months inside the hospital and this is what I get in return, that she is dead," said her mother, Israa Abu Haleeb, as the baby's father held their daughter's body wrapped in a white shroud. The Egyptian Red Crescent said it was sending more than 100 trucks carrying over 1,200 metric tons of food to southern Gaza on Sunday. Some had been looted in the area of Khan Younis after entering Gaza, residents said. Naima Abu Ful holds her malnourished 2-year-old child, Yazan, at their home in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Source: AP / Jehad Alshrafi Aid groups said last week there was mass hunger among Gaza's 2.2 million people and international alarm over the humanitarian situation has increased. A group of 25 states including Britain, France and Canada last week said Israel's denial of aid was unacceptable. The military's spokesperson said Israel was committed to international law and monitors the humanitarian situation daily. Brigadier General Effie Defrin claimed there was no starvation in Gaza, but appeared to acknowledge conditions were critical. Israel cut off aid to Gaza from the start of March to pressure Hamas into giving up dozens of hostages it still holds and reopened it with new restrictions in May. Many Palestinians expressed some relief at Sunday's announcement, but said fighting must end. "People are happy that large amounts of food aid will come into Gaza," said Tamer Al-Burai, a business owner. "We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up." Health officials at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals in central Gaza said Israeli firing killed at least 17 people waiting for aid trucks. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at suspects endangering troops and was unaware of any casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to allow the entry of humanitarian supplies whether it is fighting or negotiating a ceasefire and vowed to press on with the campaign until "complete victory". Hamas said Israel was continuing its military offensive. "What is happening isn't a humanitarian truce," said Hamas official Ali Baraka.
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
The WHO says Gaza City is the area worst-hit by malnutrition
TRANSCRIPT The World Health Organization says Gaza City is the area worst-hit by malnutrition Legislation for cheaper medicines to come before the parliament Tadej Pogacar wins the Tour de France for the fourth time The World Health Organization says malnutrition is worsening in Gaza, with Gaza City the worst-hit area. The UN agency says nearly one in five children under five are now acutely malnourished. Meanwhile, Israel has announced it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza, and also allow aid corridors, to refute the claim of intentional starvation. The World Food Programme says they have been able to bring in 80 aid trucks in the last 24 hours. The agency's Antoine Renard says a lot more aid is needed to address the level of starvation in Gaza. "We've been advocating for many of the different, let's say, assurances that we have now related to bringing more aid into Gaza. This is long overdue, and we need still to reiterate how important is the ceasefire. So now we see this as a proper way for us to increase the assistance into Gaza, but it will not be within one single day that we can actually change the current level of starvation that you have currently in Gaza." Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has re-affirmed Australia's commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East, following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's remarks that Australia won't join France in recognising Palestinian statehood immediately. Mr Marles says Australia's support is conditional. "So we've made it clear that we support a two-state solution. But we also make it clear that conditions about what that would be from an Australian point of view. Obviously, any Palestinian state can't have a role for Hamas within them, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have made it clear." Mr Albanese has said Australia will engage in constructive discussions about whether it will recognise Palestinian sovereignty. The United States and European Union have struck a deal on tariffs, which will see a blanket tariff of 15 per cent imposed on EU goods imported to the US. The negotiations were concluded in Scotland at meeting between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The new deal is set to start on Friday and is seen as an improvement on the threatened import charges of 30 per cent. Some had been hoping for a tariff-free agreement but Ms von der Leyen says she is happy with the outcome. "We have a deal. We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world and it's a big deal, it's a huge deal. It will bring stability, it will bring predictability, that's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic." The federal government is introducing legislation this week to bring down costs for prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. If the bill is passed, prescriptions on the PBS will cost no more than $25 from January next year. The Albanese Government says the change would effectively bring PBS medicines to the same price threshold as they were in 2004. For pensioners and concession card-holders, PBS medicines would stay at the level of $7.70 until 2030. All medicines that pharmacies can discount can continue to be discounted once the co-payment is cut to $25. Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan has dismissed a new report claiming the Labor government has invested almost $400 million on Treaty negotiation since 2016. The analysis was published by conservative analysis centre the Institute of Public Affairs. The report also warns the cost of the issue could rise, with Victoria expected to introduce a Treaty bill to parliament later this year. Ms Allan has dismissed the claim, denying the expense was only to pay for Treaty negotiations. "It would be incorrect, indeed completely false, to characterise the investment that's being made today as just being on the negotiations. We've been in a long and steady journey here in Victoria for the past 8 years. That it's involved legislation going to the parliament, two pieces of legislation to set up this framework. It's involved extensive, intensive engagement with Indigenous Victorians, but also the entire community." In cycling, Tadej Pogacar has claimed his fourth Tour de France title , cementing his status as the most dominant rider of his generation. Wout van Aert won stage 21 after taking the lead from Pogacar with six kilometres to go. Pogacar is the sixth rider to win four Tour de France titles. The world champion effectively sealed his victory in the Pyrenees, with a brutal attack on the climb to Hautacam and a commanding victory in the uphill individual time trial, leaving chief rival Jonas Vingegaard more than four minutes behind. He says he is overjoyed with the win. "I'm speechless to win the four Tour de France six series in a row on a podium. And this one feels especially amazing. And I am super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey. Now it is time to celebrate. Everyone thinks differently how they want to celebrate. I want to celebrate with peace, have a nice weather, just enjoy some quiet days at home."
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
WHO says malnutrition reaching 'alarming levels' in Gaza
Malnutrition rates are reaching "alarming levels" in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization warned Sunday, saying the "deliberate blocking" of aid was entirely preventable and had cost many lives. "Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July," the WHO said in a statement. Of the 74 recorded malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 had occurred in July -- including 24 children under five, one child aged over five, and 38 adults, it added. "Most of these people were declared dead on arrival at health facilities or died shortly after, their bodies showing clear signs of severe wasting," the UN health agency said. "The crisis remains entirely preventable. Deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health, and humanitarian aid has cost many lives." Israel on Sunday began a limited "tactical pause" in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. But the WHO called for sustained efforts to "flood" the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food, and for the expedited delivery of therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, plus essential medicines and supplies. "This flow must remain consistent and unhindered to support recovery and prevent further deterioration", the Geneva-based agency said. On Wednesday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the situation "mass starvation -- and it's man-made". - 'Dangerous cycle' of death - Nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City is now acutely malnourished, the WHO said Sunday, citing its Nutrition Cluster partners. It said the percentage of children aged six to 59 months suffering from acute malnutrition had tripled in the city since June, making it the worst-hit area in the Palestinian territory. "These figures are likely an underestimation due to the severe access and security constraints preventing many families from reaching health facilities," the WHO said. The WHO said that in the first two weeks of July, more than 5,000 children under five had been admitted for outpatient treatment of malnutrition -- 18 percent of them with the most life-threatening form, severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The 6,500 children admitted for malnutrition treatment in June was the highest number since the war began in October 2023. A further 73 children with SAM and medical complications have been hospitalised in July, up from 39 in June. "This surge in cases is overwhelming the only four specialised malnutrition treatment centres," the WHO said. Furthermore, the organisation said the breakdown of water and sanitation services was "driving a dangerous cycle of illness and death". As for pregnant and breastfeeding women, Nutrition Cluster screening data showed that more than 40 percent were severely malnourished, the WHO said. "It is not only hunger that is killing people, but also the desperate search for food," the UN health agency said. "Families are being forced to risk their lives for a handful of food, often under dangerous and chaotic conditions," it added. The UN rights office says Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations in late May. Nearly three-quarters of them died near GHF sites.
