Gaza latest: Whole of Gaza 'facing food crisis, emergency or catastrophe' - as top Trump ally 'visits aid site'
The German foreign minister is visiting the West Bank today, and meeting with Palestinian leaders.
Johann Wadephul is meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, among others, in Ramallah.
Ahead of the West Bank visit, Wadephul said: "Germany stands by all those who need humanitarian aid.
"Aid, as it can be provided by the UN.
"Due to insufficient Israeli security commitments, the UN is currently unable to do so. This must change."
It comes after Wadephul met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem yesterday.
Aid airdrops
Berlin also began air-dropping aid supplies into Gaza today, with two flights carrying 14 tonnes of supplies.
"The flights can only make a very small contribution to providing those affected on the ground with the bare essentials," defence minister Boris Pistorius said, adding that he expected Israel to "ensure comprehensive humanitarian supplies" for people in the enclave.
We brought you news earlier today that France carried out aid airdrops - see our 9.35 post.
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The Guardian
10 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Australia will recognise Palestinian statehood – but what will that mean for people in Gaza?
The Australian government will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations general assembly next month, with prime minister Anthony Albanese saying a two-state solution was 'humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza'. But what does recognising Palestinian statehood mean, and will it do anything to help civilians starving or facing violence in Gaza? Albanese said Australia believed a two-state solution in the Middle East – that is, recognising both an Israeli and a Palestinian state – was vital to ending the war, and Australia's move was 'part of a co-ordinated global effort'. 'Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary,' Albanese said. More than 60,000 civilians have been killed during Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza, local health authorities report, following the 7 October 2023 terror attack by Hamas where 1,200 Israelis were killed and dozens taken hostage. Australian allies including the United Kingdom, Canada and France have recently announced pledges to recognise Palestine. Albanese and foreign minister Penny Wong pointed to reforms promised by the Palestinian Authority, which administers part of the West Bank territory, and demands from the Arab League of Middle Eastern nations, for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza. Albanese and Wong said 'these factors mean that this is the best opportunity Australia may ever have to support moderate voices for peace in the region, to undermine extremism and to further isolate Hamas. This is the movement to which Australia and so many countries are seeking to add momentum.' At a press conference, Albanese said: 'The international community's vision for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East always encompassed two states living side by side with internationally recognised borders, a State of Israel and a State of Palestine with security for the people of both nations.' Anne Aly, the minister for multicultural affairs and Australia's first Muslim woman in cabinet, said a 'circuit breaker' was required to end the war in Gaza and protect civilians, and believed the global push toward Palestinian statehood would have an impact on Israel's conduct. Lots. The United Nations said in June 2024 that a Palestinian state was recognised by 146 UN member states at the time – around three-quarters of UN membership. That list has grown in recent weeks as key Australian allies including the United Kingdom, Canada and France announced their own pledges to recognise Palestine. At the moment, it's not clear what immediate changes will follow. Wong on Monday said practical steps, such as an Australian embassy presence or conferring full embassy status to the Palestinian delegation to Australia, would be tied to commitments from the Palestinian Authority. She conceded there was 'much more work to do in building a Palestinian state', and that the international community would 'help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority'. Wong said the growing global push toward a Palestinian state was a 'chance to forge hope from despair'. Albanese said it was 'an opportunity to isolate Hamas'. Albanese has had discussions with Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority. While that group has influence in the West Bank, the other Palestinian territory, Hamas has been the governing body in Gaza. Albanese said Abbas had made pledges about the future of a Palestinian state, including: a demilitarised Palestine; recognising Israel's right to exist in peace and security; holding elections and undertaking governance reforms; no role for terror group Hamas in a future Palestinian state. He also said the government wanted Israeli hostages released. However critics of the decision, including Jewish-Australian groups and the Coalition, said the government had not outlined what it would do if those conditions weren't met. Wong wouldn't specifically answer on that point, but said the international community would hold the Palestinian Authority to account, and that there was a focus on 'progress' on the commitments. The General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, the equivalent of the Palestinian embassy, welcomed the announcement, calling it a 'principled decision' which would contribute to peace in the region. The delegation added that while it was a 'vital starting point', recognition alone 'will do nothing to change or alleviate the unbearable human suffering of our people on the ground in Gaza unless accompanied by concrete actions to protect Palestinian civilians and human dignity, and to ensure the full and equal application of international law'. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network called it a 'political fig leaf' which would do little to stop the war in Gaza or address Israel's military campaign. 'Palestinian rights are not to be gifted by western states. They are not dependent on negotiation with or behaviour or approval of their colonial oppressors. Nor are they the crumbs to be thrown to Palestinians by Western states in lieu of taking the real action they are legally bound to take,' said APAN's Nasser Mashni. Mashni also called on Australia to impose country-level sanctions on Israel and extend existing sanctions on two Israeli ministers to all members of Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet. Labor Friends of Palestine, the internal campaign group of rank-and-file members, welcomed the decision but said the Australian public were still 'demanding more than words'. They urged the government to impose sanctions on more members of Netanyahu's government, put more aid and mobile hospitals into Gaza, and a humanitarian visa pathway for Palestinians. Hours before the decision, Netanyahu branded Australia and European nations 'shameful' for considering recognising a Palestinian state. He called such moves a 'rabbit hole' and 'canard'. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) called the government's decision a 'betrayal' and a 'disappointment'. Its president Daniel Aghion said the government had not confirmed what it would do if Israeli hostages were not returned, and that Israel 'will feel wronged and abandoned by a longstanding ally'. 'This commitment removes any incentive or diplomatic pressure for the Palestinians to do the things that have always stood in the way of ending the conflict,' he said. The Coalition said it had 'serious concerns' about the decision. Opposition leader Sussan Ley was critical that Australia was 'at odds with the United States'. 'Despite his words today the reality is Anthony Albanese has committed Australia to recognising Palestine while hostages remain in tunnels under Gaza and with Hamas still in control of the population of Gaza. Nothing he has said today changes that fact,' Ley and foreign affairs spokesperson Michaelia Cash said. 'As it stands today the decision by the Albanese Government does not appear to make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid, support the release of hostages or put an end to the terrorist group Hamas.'
BreakingNews.ie
40 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Al Jazeera journalists killed after Israeli air strike in Gaza City
Five people, including a prominent reporter for Al Jazeera, have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, the broadcaster has said. Heavy bombardment was reported in Gaza City late on Sunday evening and, shortly before midnight local time, Al Jazeera said correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed in a strike. Advertisement Rami Mohanna, administrative director at the nearby Shifa Hospital, said the strike hit a tent for Al Jazeera journalists outside the hospital's walls. Along with al-Sharif, three other journalists and a driver were killed. Israel's military confirmed it, asserting that Mr al-Sharif had 'posed as a journalist' and alleging he was with Hamas. Mr Al-Sharif had denied having any political affiliations. The Committee to Protect Journalists last month said it was gravely concerned for his safety and said he was 'targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign'. Advertisement A statement from Al Jazeera described the strike as a 'targeted assassination'. It said: 'Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and Mohamed Nofal, by the Israeli occupation forces in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.'
BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
Israeli strike in Gaza kill five Al Jazeera journalists
Five Al Jazeera journalists including prominent reporter Anas al-Sharif don die afta one Israeli strike near Gaza City Al-Shifa Hospital, di broadcaster tok. Al-Sharif and anoda correspondent, Mohammed Qreiqeh, along wit cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa bin dey inside tent wey journalists dey for di hospital main gate wen di strike hit dem, Al Jazeera report. Di "targeted assassination" on Sunday na "yet anoda obvious and deliberate attack on press freedom", dem tok for statement. Di Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confam say dem don target Anas al-Sharif, alleging say di place "serve as di head of a terrorist cell for Hamas". Dem also say dem get "advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops". Di Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) say dem dem dey shocked by di attack and say Israel don fail to provide evidence to back up dia allegations against al-Sharif. "Dis na di pattern wey we don see from Israel – no be just for dis current war, but e don tey – in a case wia Israeli forces go kill journalists and the Israel go later call dem terrorist, but provide very little evidence to back up dia claims," CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg tell di BBC. Al Jazeera managing editor Mohamed Moawad tell BBC say al-Sharif na accredited journalist wey be "di only voice" for di world to know wetin dey happun for di Gaza Strip. Throughout di war, Israel neva allow international journalists enta inside Gaza to report freely. Diafore, many outlets rely on local reporters within di territory for coverage. "Dem target dem inside dia own tent, dem no even dey cover from di front line," Moawad tok of di Israeli strike. "Di fact be say di Israeli goment wan silence di coverage of any channel of reporting from inside Gaza," e tell The Newsroom programme. "Dis na sometin wey I neva see bifor for modern history." Al-Sharif, 28, appear to dey post on X just bifor im death, wia e dey warn of intense Israeli bombardment within Gaza City. Post wey dey published afta tori come out say e don die appear like sometin wey dem plan and one friend publish am.
