Six more die of hunger in Gaza as trucks reach border for rare fuel delivery
The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from what international humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine to 175, including 93 children, since the war began, the ministry said.
Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two trucks carrying 107 tonnes of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread.
Gaza's health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients. There was no immediate confirmation whether the fuel trucks had indeed entered Gaza.
Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid and goods into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas militants to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel.
Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international outcry, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.
United Nations agencies have said that airdrops of food are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the war-devastated territory where starvation has been spreading.
Cogat, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said 35 trucks have entered Gaza since June, nearly all of them in July.
Looted aid trucks
The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs.
More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March in a dispute over terms for extending it and resumed its major offensive.
Palestinian local health authorities said at least 40 people had been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the coastal enclave on Sunday. Deaths included persons trying to make their way to aid distribution points in southern and central areas of Gaza, Palestinian medics said.
Among those killed was a staff member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said an Israeli strike at their headquarters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza ignited a fire on the first floor of the building.
The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials.
According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
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The National
17 minutes ago
- The National
What is 'sleep divorce' and how can you make it work?
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Dr Sudhanthira Devi Ramdoss, a specialist psychiatrist at Aster Hospital in Dubai, says she's also seen a rising number of cases where her clients practice sleep divorce. Despite its negative connotation – and when practised correctly – sleep divorce can lead to improved relationships, better mood regulation, increased patience and more positive interactions during the day, she says. 'It's a lifestyle choice that prioritises good quality sleep, reduced sleep interruptions and reduced irritability,' says Dr Ramdoss. 'At the end of a long day, if you are not able to sleep adequately or tossing and turning in the bed throughout the night, it will leave you drained in the morning. This can be a sticking point in an otherwise healthy relationship between couples. 'By practicing sleep divorce with mutual consent, couples will have improved quality of sleep, improved relationships and increased intimacy.' 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'Some individuals equate sleeping together with intimacy, security and love. Sometimes, the physical separation triggers unresolved attachment issues. 'Typical conditions that lead to sleep divorce are obstructive sleep apnoea, snoring, periodic limb movement disorder and severely mismatched circadian rhythms. These issues can significantly reduce sleep quality, even when individuals are unaware of the disturbances,' Dr Faia adds. Making sleep divorce work To successfully practice a sleep divorce, communication is key, says Dr Ramdoss. 'Sleep divorce is not about ending a relationship, it's just a practical choice to deal with sleep issues. So have an open communication about your sleep needs and concerns with your partner and obtain mutual consent,' she says. 'Go for a trial period like practising two to three times per week or practice sleep divorce on weekdays. 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Gulf Today
10 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Starvation deaths rise to 175 in Gaza as 6 more Palestinians die
Six more people died of starvation or malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, its health ministry said on Sunday as Israel said it allowed a delivery of fuel to the enclave, in the throes of a humanitarian disaster after almost two years of war. The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from what international humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine to 175, including 93 children, since the war began, the ministry said. Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two trucks carrying 107 tonnes of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said later in the day that four tankers of UN fuel had entered to help in operations of hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens and other essential services. There was no immediate confirmation whether the two diesel fuel trucks had entered Gaza from Egypt. Gaza's health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients. People mourn during the funeral of Palestinians, who were killed by Israeli fire while trying to receive aid, at Al Shifa Hospital. Reuters Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas militants to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel. UN agencies say airdrops are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the territory to prevent starvation among its 2.2 million people, most of whom are displaced amidst vast swathes of rubble. COGAT said that during the past week over 23,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid in 1,200 trucks had entered Gaza but that hundreds of the trucks had yet to be driven to aid distribution hubs by UN and other international organisations. Meanwhile, Belgium's air force dropped the first in a series of its aid packages into Gaza on Sunday in a joint operation with Jordan, the Belgian defence ministry said. France on Friday started to air-drop 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March in a dispute over terms for extending it and resumed its major offensive. Reuters
The National
11 hours ago
- The National
UK taskforce set up to bring injured children from Gaza
The UK will bring injured children from Gaza to NHS hospitals for treatment, after more than a year of campaigning by doctors. As many as 300 children could be taken from Gaza and treated in NHS hospitals, according to reports, with a government representative confirming on Monday they were 'taking plans forward'. Doctors and Palestinian families in the UK have campaigned for injured children to be taken to the UK since 2023 and were ready to pay for the treatment. Three children have made the journey, with the third, 15-year old Majd Al Shagnobi, arriving last week for privately-funded facial reconstruction surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Existing blueprint The government's plan builds on the work of Project Pure Hope, a UK charity which brought those three children from Gaza. The charity had raised enough money to bring up to 50 Gazan children to the UK for treatment, but faced obstacles under the UK's slow moving visa process. 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Doctors and hospitals across the UK have long called for children from Gaza to come for treatment, and many UK-based medical professionals are travelling to the strip to support the work of hospitals there. 'We get several people contacting us every day, across communities in the UK, saying they want to help,' Mr Din said. The full details of the plan will be announced in the coming weeks, but it has been suggested that the children would be treated on the NHS, with one parent or guardian accompanying them, and with security checks made by the Foreign Office. Treatment on the NHS would also allow the patients to access treatment across the health system. 'When it's the NHS you've got the entire force available to you,' Mr Din said. Project Pure Hope's privately-funded evacuations will continue in parallel with the government scheme. Fast-tracking required It comes amid overwhelming public pressure for the government to take strong measures to end the war in Gaza, and address the famine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week that the UK was 'urgently accelerating' efforts to bring injured children to the UK, days after he announced terms for the conditional recognition of a Palestinian state sometime in September. More than 50,000 children are estimated to have been killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023, according to Unicef. There are concerns as to whether the UK can ask quickly enough to take evacuate children from Gaza who have urgent needs. Majd spent a year in Gaza with his injuries before he could be moved to Egypt in February of this year. The Israeli tank shell that shattered his jaw has left him unable to smile, talk or eat properly in that time. It was common for children on evacuation lists to die of their injuries or to be killed in a later attack before they had the chance to travel, Mr Din said. The UK had responded to calls in May to evacuate two children, Hatem, a two-year-old orphan with 35 per cent burns, and Karam, aged one, who suffered from an easily treatable birth defect. But they acted too slowly and Italy offered to take the two children, alongside 15 others, in an emergency evacuation on 11 June, Mr Din said. Scottish First Minister John Swinney welcomed the reported plans, but he said he regretted the action did not come sooner. The SNP leader said he had written to Mr Starmer on July 9 urging such action to be taken. 'If the UK government is prepared to evacuate Palestinians for medical treatment it would be entirely welcome. 'My only regret is the UK government has taken this long to act. 'I urge the UK government to do everything in its power to move swiftly so that lives can be saved. And Scotland will play our part.' Labour MP Stella Creasy, who also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister last month urging the treatment of Palestinian children in the UK, said: 'Nobody can see the plight of these children and not be moved, and therefore they need us to move now to provide life-saving and life-changing treatment – the sooner we treat them the more chance of good outcomes. A UK government representative said: 'We are taking forward plans to evacuate more children from Gaza who require urgent medical care, including bringing them to the UK for specialist treatment where that is the best option for their care. 'We are working at pace to do so as quickly as possible, with further details to be set out in due course.'
