Caoilfhionn Gallagher and Jodie Ginsberg: Why Ireland must lead the way in protecting Gaza's journalists
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Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Israel prepares to move Palestinians to southern Gaza ahead of offensive
Israel announced on Saturday that it is preparing to move Palestinians from combat zones to southern Gaza as plans move ahead for a military offensive in some of the territory's most populated areas. The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Cogat, said the supply of tents and other shelter equipment to the territory would resume on Sunday ahead of the mass movement of Palestinians to the south. The military said it had no comment on when that movement would begin. Meanwhile, anxious families of Israeli hostages called for a 'nationwide day of stoppage' in Israel on Sunday to express growing frustration over 22 months of war. Families of hostages fear the coming offensive further endangers the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, just 20 of them thought to still be alive. The families and supporters have pressed the government for a deal to stop the war – a call that some former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs have also made in recent weeks. 'I want to believe that there is hope, and it will not come from above, it will come only from us,' said Dana Silberman Sitton, sister of Shiri Bibas and aunt of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were killed in captivity. She spoke at a weekly rally in Tel Aviv.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Baby girl killed with her parents in Gaza airstrike
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed a baby girl and her parents on Saturday, hospital officials and witnesses said, while families of hostages called for a 'nationwide day of stoppage' in Israel to express growing frustration over 22 months of war. The baby's body, wrapped in blue, was placed on those of her parents as Palestinians prayed over them. Motasem al-Batta, his wife and the child were believed to have been killed in their tent in the crowded Muwasi area. 'Two and a half months, what has she done?' neighbour Fathi Shubeir said. 'They are civilians in an area designated safe.' Israel's military said it is dismantling Hamas's military capabilities and takes precautions not to harm civilians. It said it could not comment on the strike without more details. A Palestinian man carries the body of his seven-year-old nephew who, according to the family, was killed in an Israeli army airstrike on Friday night (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Muwasi is one of the heavily populated areas in Gaza where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel plans to widen its coming military offensive. The mobilisation of forces is expected to take weeks, and Israel may be using the threat to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages taken in its October 7 2023 attack that sparked the war. Families of hostages fear the coming offensive further endangers the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, just 20 of them thought to be alive. They and other Israelis were horrified by the recent release of videos showing emaciated hostages, speaking under duress, pleading for help and food. A group representing the families has urged Israelis onto the streets on Sunday. 'Across the country, hundreds of citizen-led initiatives will pause daily life and join the most just and moral struggle: the struggle to bring all 50 hostages home,' it said in a statement. Palestinian and Israeli activists took part in a protest against the killing of journalists in Gaza as they gathered in the West Bank town of Beit Jala on Friday (Mahmoud Illean/AP) The United Nations is warning that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began. Palestinians are drinking contaminated water as diseases spread, while some Israeli leaders continue to talk openly about the mass relocation of people from Gaza. Another 11 malnutrition-related deaths occurred in Gaza over the past 24 hours, the territory's health ministry said on Saturday, with one child among them. That brings malnutrition-related deaths during the war to 251. The UN and partners say getting aid into the territory of more than two million people, and then on to distribution points, remains highly challenging with Israeli restrictions and pressure from crowds of hungry Palestinians. The UN human rights office says at least 1,760 people were killed while seeking aid between May 27 and Wednesday. It says 766 were killed along routes of supply convoys and 994 in the vicinity of 'non-UN militarised sites', a reference to the Israeli-backed and US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which since May has been the primary distributor of aid in Gaza. The Hamas-led attack in 2023 killed around 1,200 people in Israel. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 61,897 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.
Agriland
5 hours ago
- Agriland
Former agri journalist Mairead McGuinness to run for presidency
Former MEP and European Commissioner Mairead McGuinnes, who started her career as an agricultural journalist, has secured the Fine Gael nomination to run as a candidate to become President of Ireland. Current President, Michael D Higgins will finish his second seven-year term at Áras an Uachtaráin in November. The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann) is Ireland's Head of State. Every seven years the public elect a new president who can serve two terms in total. According to the electoral commission, some of the president's constitutional roles include: Representing the people of Ireland; Appointment of the Taoiseach, members of the government, judges and other officials; Summoning and dissolving the Dáil, and convening the Oireachtas; Signing legislation into law and/or referring Bills to the Supreme Court; Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces. To be nominated as a Fine Gael candidate, a candidate required the nomination of at least 20 members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, 25 councillors and five members of the Fine Gael Executive Council. McGuinness's name will go forward for ratification at a party event in September. This will be the start of the Fine Gael presidential election campaign. Tánaiste and Fine Gael president Simon Harris said: 'The Fine Gael party is pleased to confirm Mairead McGuinness has been nominated as our candidate for the Presidential election and will be ratified by the party in September. 'Mairead has secured the support of the parliamentary party and the wider Fine Gael organisation. I look forward to working with her over the coming months. 'Presidential elections are always an important point for the country. I believe Mairead possesses all the attributes to bring our nation together at this important time.' Commenting on being nominated as the Fine Gael candidate for the role, Mairead McGuinness said: "I am conscious of the opportunity and challenge ahead, given the very important constitutional role of the President, and the esteem in which the office is held by the people. "Subject to my candidacy being ratified by the party in early September, I very much look forward to setting out my vision for the Presidency. And I look forward to working with you all over the coming weeks and months. "The campaign when it starts will be full-on," she added. A native of Ardee, Co. Louth, from a strong Fine Gael family, Mairead McGuinness is married to Tom Duff and they have four children. They now live near Drumconrath, Co. Meath. McGuinness was educated locally at the Convent of Mercy National School and Ardee Community School. She studied agricultural economics at University College Dublin (UCD), the first woman to qualify in the discipline and served as recording secretary of the Agricultural Society (Ag Soc) at the college. She began her career in journalism in RTÉ immediately after college. She worked initially as radio producer and later in research on 'The Late Late Show'. In more recent times McGuinness became well known as a presenter and driving force behind the 'Ear to the Ground' TV series. She also held the role of editor of the Farming Independent. Mairead McGuinness served two terms as chairperson of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists and helped develop the guild as an important network for those in food and farming communications. She also chaired the Consumer Liaison panel set up by the Minister for Agriculture and Food. This panel spearheaded changes in food labelling and traceability initiatives. Related Stories McGuinness was first elected to the European Parliament in 2004 representing the Midlands North-West region of Ireland. She was elected by European counterparts as vice-president and was also previously a full member of the Agriculture & Rural Development/AGRI Committee and a substitute on Environment, Public Health & Food Safety/ENVI Committee as an MEP. She was voted by her colleagues as MEP of the Year for Agriculture in 2011. In 2014 she was awarded the UCD Foundation Day Alumni Award in Agriculture and Food Science. In 2020, she was appointed European Commissioner for Financial services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union until 2024.
