Aid is being utterly weaponised, and the result is chaos
It's difficult to imagine things getting worse, but at every turn they do. Israel has inflicted a brutal and inhuman campaign against the people of Gaza, the charge of genocide laid bare. A population deliberately and cruelly starved by an occupying power hell bent on death and destruction.
Since March 2, Israel enforced a near-total siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food, water, electricity, fuel, and medicine. The resulting humanitarian catastrophe shocked the world with the inevitability of famine becoming reality.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that 1.1 million people, around half of Gaza's population, are experiencing catastrophic hunger. 930,000 children - 93% of the children in Gaza - are at risk of famine.
An estimated 95% of Gaza's water is unfit for human consumption, with people forced to drink polluted water, leading to soaring rates of disease and child mortality.
And at least 60 children have died of starvation and dehydration in recent weeks. Although aid agencies believe the real number is far higher and growing.
Generations of children, their lives destroyed beyond repair.
But instead of scaling up humanitarian access in response, Israel has doubled down on control. It has repeated its attacks on the UN and sidelined aid mechanisms that are established, effective and desperately waiting to get in. Just kilometres away from the suffering, over 9,000 trucks are desperate to get in across the border.
The only legal and humane solution to alleviate the suffering is total and unfettered aid access, north and south, a flooding of the Gaza strip with food, shelter, medicines and clean water.
Rather than really address the issue of starvation, Israel, through the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, will now control all aid distribution. Rather than focusing on what the starving population needs, it will decide where, when and to who aid is distributed to.
They are using aid - one of the world's means of expressing care and humanity in crisis - to displace and control.
Israel has made clear its intention to clear the north of Gaza. Already controlling almost 80% of the Gaza Strip, this aid distribution is another means to forcibly transfer the population illegally to certain areas and make humanitarian access conditional on screening or political and military criteria. In the last 10 days, 180,000 were displaced.
Palestinians gather to receive a hot meal at a food distribution point in the Nuseirat camp for refugees in the central Gaza Strip on May 21. Up to 1.1 million people, around half of Gaza's population, are experiencing catastrophic hunger. Photo: Eyad Baba / AFP via Getty Images
Deliberately designed to facilitate forced displacement from the north of Gaza, the Gaza Humanitarian Fund will have distribution hubs in central and southern Gaza, forcing starving families - many of them desperately injured, elderly and too ill to undertake long, dangerous journeys through militarized zones - to collect aid for their families.
The UN described this as 'engineered scarcity', secured by private US security contractors, where those Palestinians who can reach them will receive rations.
Since last week, about 900 truckloads were submitted for Israeli approval, and 800 were approved. But just over 500 could be offloaded on the Israeli side of Kerem Shalom, and even fewer made it to the Palestinian side, where the UN and others could collect just over 200 of them, limited by insecurity and restricted access.
This is organised chaos inflicted upon a starving people. The core principle that aid must reach people where they are is ignored, with deadly results. It compounds the despair, desperation and trauma for people who have already borne too much to imagine.
In the clamber to rush and get food, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces killed seven people and wounded 47, using gunfire to shoot at a group of starving and desperate families.
There are huge concerns about Israel using biometric screening as part of their aid distribution. This is surveillance masquerading as humanitarian assistance. It's a calculated attempt to weaponise hunger and to reduce relief to a tool of control.
Palestinians carry boxes containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation on May 27. Photo: AP/Abdel Kareem Hana
This blurring of military and humanitarian roles endangers aid workers and civilians alike. We've already seen the cost. The humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality, and independence are not optional, but are binding under international law. Yet Israel is systematically eroding them.
And while hunger and chaos grow, every day brings new atrocities. Just last week, Israeli forces killed nine of paediatrician Dr Alaa al-Najjar's 10 children in shelters designated as safe.
Israel's war in Gaza has killed at least 54,000 people to date - mostly women and children - and displaced almost the entire population. What is happening is not just a war. It is the slow obliteration of an entire people.
Ireland has a role to play and must act. Our long-standing tradition of supporting human rights and international law compels us to do more than offer words of concern.
We must finally pass the Occupied Territories Bill, first proposed by Senator Frances Black in 2018. The decision by the Government this week to draft the heads of the Bill is welcome, but long overdue.
An Israeli strike in Gaza City on Sunday. Israel has inflicted a brutal and inhuman campaign against the people of Gaza, the charge of genocide laid bare. Photo: AP/Jehad Alshrafi
The outrageous atrocities we see over the last 20 months are the worst expression of a 70-year occupation of Palestinian territory. The level of violence is shocking, but it comes with this context of apartheid and occupation.
This makes the exclusion of a ban on services from the Bill unacceptable. This is a vital and substantial element which would cover online platforms such as Airbnb which have a significant presence in some of the territories, offering tourist accommodation. Legal experts have verified this can be done.
Meanwhile, many powerful countries, including the United States and EU members, continue to fund, arm, and diplomatically shield the Israeli government from accountability. At the same time, they issue platitudes about humanitarian concern.
Karole Balfe: '[Israel is] using aid - one of the world's means of expressing care and humanity in crisis - to displace and control.'
As well as passing the Occupied Territories Bill the Irish government must lead calls for sanctions, suspension of the EU-Trade Agreement and push for an EU arms embargo.
If the Bill is passed at least Ireland can say it took action and gave example to the world at a crucial time when powerful nations were turning a blind eye. We can stand as a beacon of principled action, reminding the world that small nations can lead boldly when justice is on the line.
Karol Balfe is CEO of ActionAid Ireland which supports humanitarian response in Gaza
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Sunday World
40 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Lough Derg pilgrimage site worker jailed for sexually assaulting five women
Tomas Gallagher preyed on five female victims by asking them to help him repair washing machines and tumble dryers during a series of incidents at the religious site A worker at the Lough Derg pilgrimage site who duped unsuspecting women into helping him at the retreat so he could sexually assault them has been jailed for a total of four years. Cunning Tomas Gallagher preyed on five female victims by asking them to help him repair washing machines and tumble dryers during a series of terrifying incidents at the renowned religious setting. But instead of helping the workman, the innocent women found themselves being sexually assaulted after the 42-year-old preyed on the unsuspecting women. Details of the plans hatched by Gallagher were outlined before Letterkenny Circuit Court last week. Gallagher had pleaded to seven charges in all, four for sexual assaults of adults, two for sexual assault on children and one charge of invitation to a child to sexually touch. And today, having considered reports on Gallagher as well as the statements from his victims, Judge John Aylmer jailed the father-of-one for five years with the last 12 months suspended. He said the crimes, as outlined in the case, were "egregious acts of violence in a sacred place of pilgrimage." St. Patrick's Purgatory on Lough Derg in Co Donegal. Photo: PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty He told Gallagher that his crimes were 'deceitful' and 'premeditated' and that he placed them in the mid-range for such offences and which merited a sentence of seven years before mitigation. In mitigation he noted an early plea, the fact that the accused had no previous convictions, that he appeared to be remorseful and ashamed of his actions. Judge Aylmer also noted that Gallagher had undertaken 24 counselling sessions, that he was fully cooperative and that he had been ostracised in the local community. Taking the totality factor into account and that all sentences will run concurrently, Judge Aylmer said he was reducing the overall sentence to one of five years. He then added that with regard to all efforts to encourage rehabilitation and the fact that it needs to be encouraged, he suspended the final twelve months of that sentence meaning Gallagher will serve four years in prison. He is also to go under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months. Gallagher, from Rathanlacky, Dunkineely pleaded to a total of seven charges against five different women at the holy island on the shores of Lough Derg. He pleaded to six charges of sexual assault at St Patrick's Purgatory. These offences are contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. He also pleaded that in the same period and location, he did attempt, by inviting, inducing, counselling or inciting a child to sexual touching. 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Another teenager told in her statement how Gallagher asked him to assist her with a tumble dryer and told her to put her hand behind a wooden board and he got her to hold something. He told the girl to hold the 'pipe' harder and then to loosen it and then to increase her grip before he said 'yeah, that's fine.' The young woman then said the pipe was 'squishy, wet and warm' and when she stood up she saw Gallagher's penis sticking out from the zipper of his trousers. One young woman eventually came forward and told a person in charge what had happened which led to others coming forward making complaints of a similar nature against Gallagher. Gallagher was interviewed by Gardai on three occasions and initially denied anything untoward had happened. During one interview with Detective Garda Paul McHugh, Gallagher admitted asking one woman to hold a pipe on a tumble dryer as it had been leaking. He claimed the woman had got up and left for no apparent reason and he had been left nervous and embarrassed by the incident. However, he later admitted the offences and entered a guilty plea. Victim impact statements from the women were read out in court while two young women chose to read out their own statements. One young woman fought back tears as she told how despite being the victim she felt ashamed and disgusted by what had happened and often thinks about if she could have stopped this from happening to other women. She added that she often thinks about Gallagher's son and that she prays that he is safe. An older victim said she feels vulnerable and intimidated by what had happened and that she is sorry that she did not speak up sooner but was afraid that people would laugh at her or not believe her. Another victim told how she was a student but failed her exams because she became depressed after Gallagher's assault on her. 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He added the fact that the offences took place in a sacred place, a place of pilgrimage for Christian people going back many centuries, also had to be acknowledged. Mr Smyth suggested to Judge John Aylmer that there also has to be 'light at the end of the tunnel' for Gallagher, asking him to consider his client's remorse, his blameless life up until now and his guilty plea.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Satellite pic from days after Maddie vanished shows eerie ‘tent' in Brueckner's camping spot now being searched by cops
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Search teams have Advertisement 16 A recent satellite picture of the farmhouse 16 A satellite image of the farmhouse in 2007, seemingly with a tent inside 16 Police searching the abandoned building on Tuesday Credit: Dan Charity 16 Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Beurckner pictured arriving in to court in 2024 Credit: Dan Charity 16 Madeleine McCann disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal on May 3, 2007 Credit: AFP 16 And German police leading the hunt hope Searchers were yesterday focusing on at least Sun analysis of a June 2007 satellite image of one building being The stone-walled property was photographed from space on June 22, 2007 - seven weeks after Maddie was Advertisement read more on maddie Recent pictures of the same spot show the building's massive deterioration - and lay bare the enormous task facing police seeking The 2007 images shows the roofless cottage or barn is approximately 58ft long by 25ft wide with a white, 9ft tent like structure pitched inside its walls. 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German federal officers are racing against time to find vital DNA clues after the 48-year-old fiend Brueckner boasted he would 'go to ground' when he is released in September. Advertisement The vile pervert - who cops are convinced took and killed Maddie - is currently due to finish a seven year sentence for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005. A Portuguese police source said last night: 'This really is a last ditch effort - search teams here are hoping they get lucky. 'Officers are determined to do everything they possibly can before Brueckner walks free. They know what is at stake.' 16 A criminal police investigator walks near ruins as police resume the search for the body of Madeleine McCann today Advertisement 16 One of the derelict and abandoned properties close to Praia da Luz 16 One abandoned house was scoured earlier on Wednesday TIMELINE OF EVENTS Here's a timeline of the case which has gripped the world. May 3, 2007 January 15, 2016 Neighbour reports a possible 'grave' at Brueckner's abandoned factory in East Germany. Cops find disturbing February 16, 2016 Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop. He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then. May 3, 2017 Around this time, He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner. September 27, 2018 On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy. He is extradited to Germany the following year. December 16, 2019 Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed. He was sentenced to seven years behind bars. June 4, 2020 German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann. For the first time they claim German media later name him as June 23, 2023 In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying 'she didn't scream' as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain. February 16, 2024 Brueckner goes on trial accused of non-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany. Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges. October 8, 2024 Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending. June 3, 2025 September 17, 2025 Date on which Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year - or over the McCann case.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Putin's chilling plot to march 10,000 troops into ANOTHER European nation revealed by its PM… & it could spiral into WW3
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The region's location between the pro-Europe governments in Moldova and Ukraine make it impossible for Putin to get soldiers in at present. While Moldova currently has an EU-friendly government, its PM has said Russia is meddling in its upcoming election this September. Advertisement read more on russia Prime Minister Dorin Recean told the FT this is likely in the hope that a more pro-Kremlin government might allow for Russian troops to be sent to Transnistria. "This is a huge effort to undermine Moldovan democracy," he told the paper. "They want to consolidate their military presence in the Transnistrian region." Russian troops have been based in Transnistria since 1992, when the Kremlin supported the region in its war of independence from Moldova. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun However, the numbers have substantially wound down over the years, with there currently only being about 1,500 soldiers fighting under the Russian banner. But only a few of these will have actually been sent by Moscow, with most being locals who signed up. Deranged Putin lays out wish list of 'surrender demands' for Ukraine… despite being humbled by Russia's 'Pearl Harbour' Transnistria isn't internationally recognised as an independent state, and is not a member of the UN. Think tank The Institute for the Study of War forecast last October that Russia might use its ties to Transnistria "to establish long-term influence over Moldovan domestic and foreign policies". Advertisement Recean further highlighted the ominous military threats to Ukraine and NATO that could arise from extra Russian troops in the region. Its location to Ukraine's southwest could raise fresh headaches for Kyiv if Russia used Transnistria to open up a new front in the war. "You can imagine with 10,000 troops, what the leverage and pressure would be on the southwestern part of Ukraine," he said. But Recean also noted the area's proximity to Romania , which is a NATO country. Advertisement If Russian forces threatened or attacked Romania - or any other NATO member - then the entire alliance would be obliged to come to its aid. NATO Article 5 sets out that an attack on one member state is an attack on all, meaning Russian attacks against a NATO country could quickly spiral into all-out war. Transnistria's history Transnistria is a tiny slither of land along Moldova's border with Ukraine The region has been controlled by Russian backed separatists for decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It declared independence in 1990, which was followed by a war that saw Russia support Transnistria's independence. Moscow has maintained a strong military presence in the territory since 1992. Many of Transnistria's political leaders have long voiced their intent for the region to become a part of Russia. But it still remains internationally recognised as part of Moldova - a country that seeks closer co-operation with the EU. Transnistria has a population of around 465,000. Fears of a war between the West and Russia over Transnistria have been amplified by the separatist region's leader Vadim Krasnoselsky. He told the Russian TASS news agency: "A war in Transnistria would mean a direct conflict between Russia and NATO. Advertisement "I don't have the slightest doubt about it. Everything is closely intertwined here. "Both Romania, a NATO member, and the Russian Federation have interests here." Recean added that the 10,000-troop figure was based on intelligence assessments. "Currently, their forces there are almost meaningless," he said. Advertisement "But with a higher military presence in Transnistria that a Russia-leaning government can allow for, they can consolidate." Moldova was part of the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991. In recent years, it has sought to pursue closer ties with the European Union, and became an official candidate to join the EU in 2022. A referendum held last year committing Moldova on its path to EU membership passed by just 0.7% of the vote amid what was widely believed to be a Russian interference campaign. Advertisement Recean told the FT that Russia spent the equivalent of 1% of Moldova's GDP on influence campaigns in 2024. 7 A billboard reading 'Russia in our hearts' sits on the side of a road in the town of Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria Credit: AFP 7 Russian servicemen riding atop a self-propelled gun at an area in the Kursk region, Russia Credit: EPA
