Australia needs to find its courage because no matter what Trump says, this is not over
On Tuesday morning Australian time, President Donald Trump posted a message to Truth Social, declaring that a temporary 'CEASEFIRE!' had been agreed to by the United States, Israel and Iran, and that it would come into effect within hours.
But what the president says or posts to his social media platform is rarely reliable or consistent. Though a ceasefire has since been agreed to, neither Iran nor Israel had confirmed their agreement at the time of Trump's post. Not that Trump has any real interest in what other leaders think, know or do.
Not long before this so-called 'PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL' ceasefire agreement was reached, Trump speculated (on social media, of course) about a 'regime change' in Iran. It was 'not politically correct' to say it, he wrote, but 'why wouldn't there be a Regime change???' It's never about regime change. Until it is.
Trump has long framed himself as the anti-war president. Both his Make America Great Again supporter base (some of whom are genuinely anti-war), and many in the media lapped up his messaging.
But this has never been true. He is not anti-war. He's not even an isolationist. Trump relishes violence and assertions of power. Already since returning to the White House in late January, his administration has bombed Yemen, and now Iran.
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Trump is undeniably anti certain types of war, and anti certain types of people dying in them. He is also anti losing wars. He is the worst instincts of American power personified, violently asserting might over right.
For Australians, this week has been a reminder for us all of the significant risks and potential consequences of being aligned to a nation led by someone like this.
Australia – still, we are told, an important ally of the US – was not informed in advance of the strikes, even though Australian systems and bases, including the joint facilities at Pine Gap, may very well have been used to execute them.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Trump rebukes Israel for post-ceasefire strikes on Iran
US President Donald Trump has sharply rebuked Israel for its military response following a ceasefire deal, and accused both Israel and Iran of violating the agreement just hours after he announced it. "I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal. They didn't have to unload and I didn't like the fact that the retaliation was very strong," Trump told reporters before leaving the White House for a NATO summit on Tuesday. "In all fairness, Israel unloaded a lot, and now I hear Israel just went out because they felt it was violated by one rocket that didn't land anywhere. That's not what we want." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had said he had ordered the military to mount new strikes on targets in Tehran in response to what he said were Iranian missiles fired in a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire. Iran denied launching any missiles and said Israel's attacks had continued for an hour and a half beyond the time the ceasefire was meant to start. "ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran," Trump, as he pressed both sides to abide by the ceasefire, posted on social media. "Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!" Trump had earlier announced the ceasefire with a post: "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" Later in the day, Trump told reporters Israel launched its strikes almost immediately after the agreement was reached. "Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before. The biggest load that we've seen. I'm not happy with Israel," he said. Both Israel and Iran had confirmed the ceasefire after Trump's announcement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had achieved the goals it set in launching its June 13 surprise attack on Iran - to destroy its nuclear program and missile capabilities. Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said its military had forced Israel to "unilaterally accept defeat and accept a ceasefire", and it was ready to respond to any further aggression. In the last reported strikes before the ceasefire, missiles killed four people in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, the Israeli ambulance service said. Iranian officials said nine people including a nuclear scientist were killed in a strike on a residential building in northern Iran. Despite the early threats to the ceasefire, the response across the region and wider world was largely one of relief at the prospect of an end to the biggest direct confrontation ever between the two foes. Israel attacked on June 13, hitting Iranian nuclear sites and killing the top echelon of its military command in the worst threat faced by the Islamic Republic since war with Iraq in the 1980s. During the campaign, Israel said it was prepared to topple Iran's clerical rulers if necessary to achieve its aims and struck symbolic targets unrelated to the military, culminating on Monday with a strike on Tehran's Evin prison. Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in air strikes, but full information about the extent of the damage cannot be confirmed independently, with media tightly controlled. Iran's retaliatory missile strikes killed 28 people in Israel, the first time large numbers of Iranian missiles have penetrated its defences. Trump entered the war on Saturday with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites buried under a mountain using huge bombs that Israel does not possess. Iran had responded to the US participation in the air strikes by firing missiles on Monday at the biggest US military base in the Middle East, in Qatar. No one was hurt in that strike, with Iran's retaliation apparently calibrated to allow de-escalation afterwards. The US had been negotiating with Iran to agree curbs to its nuclear program after Trump quit a previous agreement in 2018. Iran has always said its nuclear program is peaceful. with AP and PA US President Donald Trump has sharply rebuked Israel for its military response following a ceasefire deal, and accused both Israel and Iran of violating the agreement just hours after he announced it. "I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal. They didn't have to unload and I didn't like the fact that the retaliation was very strong," Trump told reporters before leaving the White House for a NATO summit on Tuesday. "In all fairness, Israel unloaded a lot, and now I hear Israel just went out because they felt it was violated by one rocket that didn't land anywhere. That's not what we want." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had said he had ordered the military to mount new strikes on targets in Tehran in response to what he said were Iranian missiles fired in a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire. Iran denied launching any missiles and said Israel's attacks had continued for an hour and a half beyond the time the ceasefire was meant to start. "ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran," Trump, as he pressed both sides to abide by the ceasefire, posted on social media. "Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!" Trump had earlier announced the ceasefire with a post: "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" Later in the day, Trump told reporters Israel launched its strikes almost immediately after the agreement was reached. "Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before. The biggest load that we've seen. I'm not happy with Israel," he said. Both Israel and Iran had confirmed the ceasefire after Trump's announcement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had achieved the goals it set in launching its June 13 surprise attack on Iran - to destroy its nuclear program and missile capabilities. Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said its military had forced Israel to "unilaterally accept defeat and accept a ceasefire", and it was ready to respond to any further aggression. In the last reported strikes before the ceasefire, missiles killed four people in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, the Israeli ambulance service said. Iranian officials said nine people including a nuclear scientist were killed in a strike on a residential building in northern Iran. Despite the early threats to the ceasefire, the response across the region and wider world was largely one of relief at the prospect of an end to the biggest direct confrontation ever between the two foes. Israel attacked on June 13, hitting Iranian nuclear sites and killing the top echelon of its military command in the worst threat faced by the Islamic Republic since war with Iraq in the 1980s. During the campaign, Israel said it was prepared to topple Iran's clerical rulers if necessary to achieve its aims and struck symbolic targets unrelated to the military, culminating on Monday with a strike on Tehran's Evin prison. Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in air strikes, but full information about the extent of the damage cannot be confirmed independently, with media tightly controlled. Iran's retaliatory missile strikes killed 28 people in Israel, the first time large numbers of Iranian missiles have penetrated its defences. Trump entered the war on Saturday with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites buried under a mountain using huge bombs that Israel does not possess. Iran had responded to the US participation in the air strikes by firing missiles on Monday at the biggest US military base in the Middle East, in Qatar. No one was hurt in that strike, with Iran's retaliation apparently calibrated to allow de-escalation afterwards. The US had been negotiating with Iran to agree curbs to its nuclear program after Trump quit a previous agreement in 2018. Iran has always said its nuclear program is peaceful. with AP and PA US President Donald Trump has sharply rebuked Israel for its military response following a ceasefire deal, and accused both Israel and Iran of violating the agreement just hours after he announced it. "I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal. They didn't have to unload and I didn't like the fact that the retaliation was very strong," Trump told reporters before leaving the White House for a NATO summit on Tuesday. "In all fairness, Israel unloaded a lot, and now I hear Israel just went out because they felt it was violated by one rocket that didn't land anywhere. That's not what we want." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had said he had ordered the military to mount new strikes on targets in Tehran in response to what he said were Iranian missiles fired in a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire. Iran denied launching any missiles and said Israel's attacks had continued for an hour and a half beyond the time the ceasefire was meant to start. "ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran," Trump, as he pressed both sides to abide by the ceasefire, posted on social media. "Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!" Trump had earlier announced the ceasefire with a post: "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" Later in the day, Trump told reporters Israel launched its strikes almost immediately after the agreement was reached. "Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before. The biggest load that we've seen. I'm not happy with Israel," he said. Both Israel and Iran had confirmed the ceasefire after Trump's announcement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had achieved the goals it set in launching its June 13 surprise attack on Iran - to destroy its nuclear program and missile capabilities. Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said its military had forced Israel to "unilaterally accept defeat and accept a ceasefire", and it was ready to respond to any further aggression. In the last reported strikes before the ceasefire, missiles killed four people in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, the Israeli ambulance service said. Iranian officials said nine people including a nuclear scientist were killed in a strike on a residential building in northern Iran. Despite the early threats to the ceasefire, the response across the region and wider world was largely one of relief at the prospect of an end to the biggest direct confrontation ever between the two foes. Israel attacked on June 13, hitting Iranian nuclear sites and killing the top echelon of its military command in the worst threat faced by the Islamic Republic since war with Iraq in the 1980s. During the campaign, Israel said it was prepared to topple Iran's clerical rulers if necessary to achieve its aims and struck symbolic targets unrelated to the military, culminating on Monday with a strike on Tehran's Evin prison. Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in air strikes, but full information about the extent of the damage cannot be confirmed independently, with media tightly controlled. Iran's retaliatory missile strikes killed 28 people in Israel, the first time large numbers of Iranian missiles have penetrated its defences. Trump entered the war on Saturday with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites buried under a mountain using huge bombs that Israel does not possess. Iran had responded to the US participation in the air strikes by firing missiles on Monday at the biggest US military base in the Middle East, in Qatar. No one was hurt in that strike, with Iran's retaliation apparently calibrated to allow de-escalation afterwards. The US had been negotiating with Iran to agree curbs to its nuclear program after Trump quit a previous agreement in 2018. Iran has always said its nuclear program is peaceful. with AP and PA US President Donald Trump has sharply rebuked Israel for its military response following a ceasefire deal, and accused both Israel and Iran of violating the agreement just hours after he announced it. "I didn't like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal. They didn't have to unload and I didn't like the fact that the retaliation was very strong," Trump told reporters before leaving the White House for a NATO summit on Tuesday. "In all fairness, Israel unloaded a lot, and now I hear Israel just went out because they felt it was violated by one rocket that didn't land anywhere. That's not what we want." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had said he had ordered the military to mount new strikes on targets in Tehran in response to what he said were Iranian missiles fired in a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire. Iran denied launching any missiles and said Israel's attacks had continued for an hour and a half beyond the time the ceasefire was meant to start. "ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran," Trump, as he pressed both sides to abide by the ceasefire, posted on social media. "Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!" Trump had earlier announced the ceasefire with a post: "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" Later in the day, Trump told reporters Israel launched its strikes almost immediately after the agreement was reached. "Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before. The biggest load that we've seen. I'm not happy with Israel," he said. Both Israel and Iran had confirmed the ceasefire after Trump's announcement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had achieved the goals it set in launching its June 13 surprise attack on Iran - to destroy its nuclear program and missile capabilities. Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said its military had forced Israel to "unilaterally accept defeat and accept a ceasefire", and it was ready to respond to any further aggression. In the last reported strikes before the ceasefire, missiles killed four people in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, the Israeli ambulance service said. Iranian officials said nine people including a nuclear scientist were killed in a strike on a residential building in northern Iran. Despite the early threats to the ceasefire, the response across the region and wider world was largely one of relief at the prospect of an end to the biggest direct confrontation ever between the two foes. Israel attacked on June 13, hitting Iranian nuclear sites and killing the top echelon of its military command in the worst threat faced by the Islamic Republic since war with Iraq in the 1980s. During the campaign, Israel said it was prepared to topple Iran's clerical rulers if necessary to achieve its aims and struck symbolic targets unrelated to the military, culminating on Monday with a strike on Tehran's Evin prison. Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed in air strikes, but full information about the extent of the damage cannot be confirmed independently, with media tightly controlled. Iran's retaliatory missile strikes killed 28 people in Israel, the first time large numbers of Iranian missiles have penetrated its defences. Trump entered the war on Saturday with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites buried under a mountain using huge bombs that Israel does not possess. Iran had responded to the US participation in the air strikes by firing missiles on Monday at the biggest US military base in the Middle East, in Qatar. No one was hurt in that strike, with Iran's retaliation apparently calibrated to allow de-escalation afterwards. The US had been negotiating with Iran to agree curbs to its nuclear program after Trump quit a previous agreement in 2018. Iran has always said its nuclear program is peaceful. with AP and PA
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
More Gaza bloodshed after Israel makes truce with Iran
Israeli forces have killed at least 29 Palestinians in Gaza and ordered new evacuations, local medics and residents say, in further bloodshed shortly after Israel and Iran reached a ceasefire to end a 12-day air war. The Israel-Iran deal announced by US President Donald Trump raised hopes among Palestinians of an end to more than 20 months of war in Gaza that has widely demolished the territory and displaced most residents, with malnutrition widespread. "Enough! The whole universe has let us down. (Iran-backed Lebanese group) Hezbollah reached a deal without Gaza, and now Iran has done the same," said Adel Farouk, 62, from Gaza City. "We hope Gaza is next," he told Reuters via a chat app. But deadly violence continued with little respite. Marwan Abu Naser, of the Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat in central Gaza, said it had received 19 dead and 146 injured from crowds who tried to reach a nearby aid distribution centre of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Abu Naser told Reuters the casualties resulted from gunfire. Israel's military said a gathering overnight was identified next to forces operating in Gaza's central Netzarim Corridor, and it was reviewing reports of casualties. The GHF told Reuters in an e-mail it had not heard of any violent incident near their aid site, which it said was several kilometres south of the Netzarim Corridor. UN aid trucks entering Gaza also use area roads and Palestinians have in the past few days reported killings of people by Israeli fire as they waited at roadsides to grab bags of flour from the trucks. Israel has been channelling much of the aid it lets into Gaza through the GHF, which operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces. The United Nations rejects the GHF delivery system as inadequate, dangerous and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules. Israel says it is needed to prevent the Hamas militants it is fighting from diverting aid deliveries. The Palestinian Islamist group denies doing so. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations' Palestinian aid agency UNRWA, told reporters in Berlin the new mechanism was an "abomination" and "a death trap". Separately, 10 other people were killed by an Israeli air strike on a house in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City, taking Tuesday's death toll to at least 29, medics said. Palestinians said they wished the Israel-Iran ceasefire announced by Trump had applied to Gaza. Adding to their frustration, the Israeli military dropped leaflets over several areas in north Gaza ordering residents to leave their homes and head towards the south, in what appeared to herald renewed Israeli military strikes against Hamas. Sources close to Hamas told Reuters there had been some new efforts to resume ceasefire talks with Israel. They said Hamas was open to discussing any offers that would "end the war and secure Israel's withdrawal from Gaza". But these echoed longstanding Hamas conditions that Israel has always rejected. Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms. The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed about 56,000 Palestinians, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than two million and spread a hunger crisis. Israeli forces have killed at least 29 Palestinians in Gaza and ordered new evacuations, local medics and residents say, in further bloodshed shortly after Israel and Iran reached a ceasefire to end a 12-day air war. The Israel-Iran deal announced by US President Donald Trump raised hopes among Palestinians of an end to more than 20 months of war in Gaza that has widely demolished the territory and displaced most residents, with malnutrition widespread. "Enough! The whole universe has let us down. (Iran-backed Lebanese group) Hezbollah reached a deal without Gaza, and now Iran has done the same," said Adel Farouk, 62, from Gaza City. "We hope Gaza is next," he told Reuters via a chat app. But deadly violence continued with little respite. Marwan Abu Naser, of the Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat in central Gaza, said it had received 19 dead and 146 injured from crowds who tried to reach a nearby aid distribution centre of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Abu Naser told Reuters the casualties resulted from gunfire. Israel's military said a gathering overnight was identified next to forces operating in Gaza's central Netzarim Corridor, and it was reviewing reports of casualties. The GHF told Reuters in an e-mail it had not heard of any violent incident near their aid site, which it said was several kilometres south of the Netzarim Corridor. UN aid trucks entering Gaza also use area roads and Palestinians have in the past few days reported killings of people by Israeli fire as they waited at roadsides to grab bags of flour from the trucks. Israel has been channelling much of the aid it lets into Gaza through the GHF, which operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces. The United Nations rejects the GHF delivery system as inadequate, dangerous and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules. Israel says it is needed to prevent the Hamas militants it is fighting from diverting aid deliveries. The Palestinian Islamist group denies doing so. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations' Palestinian aid agency UNRWA, told reporters in Berlin the new mechanism was an "abomination" and "a death trap". Separately, 10 other people were killed by an Israeli air strike on a house in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City, taking Tuesday's death toll to at least 29, medics said. Palestinians said they wished the Israel-Iran ceasefire announced by Trump had applied to Gaza. Adding to their frustration, the Israeli military dropped leaflets over several areas in north Gaza ordering residents to leave their homes and head towards the south, in what appeared to herald renewed Israeli military strikes against Hamas. Sources close to Hamas told Reuters there had been some new efforts to resume ceasefire talks with Israel. They said Hamas was open to discussing any offers that would "end the war and secure Israel's withdrawal from Gaza". But these echoed longstanding Hamas conditions that Israel has always rejected. Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms. The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed about 56,000 Palestinians, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than two million and spread a hunger crisis. Israeli forces have killed at least 29 Palestinians in Gaza and ordered new evacuations, local medics and residents say, in further bloodshed shortly after Israel and Iran reached a ceasefire to end a 12-day air war. The Israel-Iran deal announced by US President Donald Trump raised hopes among Palestinians of an end to more than 20 months of war in Gaza that has widely demolished the territory and displaced most residents, with malnutrition widespread. "Enough! The whole universe has let us down. (Iran-backed Lebanese group) Hezbollah reached a deal without Gaza, and now Iran has done the same," said Adel Farouk, 62, from Gaza City. "We hope Gaza is next," he told Reuters via a chat app. But deadly violence continued with little respite. Marwan Abu Naser, of the Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat in central Gaza, said it had received 19 dead and 146 injured from crowds who tried to reach a nearby aid distribution centre of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Abu Naser told Reuters the casualties resulted from gunfire. Israel's military said a gathering overnight was identified next to forces operating in Gaza's central Netzarim Corridor, and it was reviewing reports of casualties. The GHF told Reuters in an e-mail it had not heard of any violent incident near their aid site, which it said was several kilometres south of the Netzarim Corridor. UN aid trucks entering Gaza also use area roads and Palestinians have in the past few days reported killings of people by Israeli fire as they waited at roadsides to grab bags of flour from the trucks. Israel has been channelling much of the aid it lets into Gaza through the GHF, which operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces. The United Nations rejects the GHF delivery system as inadequate, dangerous and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules. Israel says it is needed to prevent the Hamas militants it is fighting from diverting aid deliveries. The Palestinian Islamist group denies doing so. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations' Palestinian aid agency UNRWA, told reporters in Berlin the new mechanism was an "abomination" and "a death trap". Separately, 10 other people were killed by an Israeli air strike on a house in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City, taking Tuesday's death toll to at least 29, medics said. Palestinians said they wished the Israel-Iran ceasefire announced by Trump had applied to Gaza. Adding to their frustration, the Israeli military dropped leaflets over several areas in north Gaza ordering residents to leave their homes and head towards the south, in what appeared to herald renewed Israeli military strikes against Hamas. Sources close to Hamas told Reuters there had been some new efforts to resume ceasefire talks with Israel. They said Hamas was open to discussing any offers that would "end the war and secure Israel's withdrawal from Gaza". But these echoed longstanding Hamas conditions that Israel has always rejected. Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms. The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed about 56,000 Palestinians, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than two million and spread a hunger crisis. Israeli forces have killed at least 29 Palestinians in Gaza and ordered new evacuations, local medics and residents say, in further bloodshed shortly after Israel and Iran reached a ceasefire to end a 12-day air war. The Israel-Iran deal announced by US President Donald Trump raised hopes among Palestinians of an end to more than 20 months of war in Gaza that has widely demolished the territory and displaced most residents, with malnutrition widespread. "Enough! The whole universe has let us down. (Iran-backed Lebanese group) Hezbollah reached a deal without Gaza, and now Iran has done the same," said Adel Farouk, 62, from Gaza City. "We hope Gaza is next," he told Reuters via a chat app. But deadly violence continued with little respite. Marwan Abu Naser, of the Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat in central Gaza, said it had received 19 dead and 146 injured from crowds who tried to reach a nearby aid distribution centre of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Abu Naser told Reuters the casualties resulted from gunfire. Israel's military said a gathering overnight was identified next to forces operating in Gaza's central Netzarim Corridor, and it was reviewing reports of casualties. The GHF told Reuters in an e-mail it had not heard of any violent incident near their aid site, which it said was several kilometres south of the Netzarim Corridor. UN aid trucks entering Gaza also use area roads and Palestinians have in the past few days reported killings of people by Israeli fire as they waited at roadsides to grab bags of flour from the trucks. Israel has been channelling much of the aid it lets into Gaza through the GHF, which operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces. The United Nations rejects the GHF delivery system as inadequate, dangerous and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules. Israel says it is needed to prevent the Hamas militants it is fighting from diverting aid deliveries. The Palestinian Islamist group denies doing so. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations' Palestinian aid agency UNRWA, told reporters in Berlin the new mechanism was an "abomination" and "a death trap". Separately, 10 other people were killed by an Israeli air strike on a house in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City, taking Tuesday's death toll to at least 29, medics said. Palestinians said they wished the Israel-Iran ceasefire announced by Trump had applied to Gaza. Adding to their frustration, the Israeli military dropped leaflets over several areas in north Gaza ordering residents to leave their homes and head towards the south, in what appeared to herald renewed Israeli military strikes against Hamas. Sources close to Hamas told Reuters there had been some new efforts to resume ceasefire talks with Israel. They said Hamas was open to discussing any offers that would "end the war and secure Israel's withdrawal from Gaza". But these echoed longstanding Hamas conditions that Israel has always rejected. Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms. The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed about 56,000 Palestinians, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than two million and spread a hunger crisis.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Bombs and an F-bomb': Trump condemns Iran-Israel ceasefire breach
Former Labor councillor Linda Scott reacts to US President Donald Trump's condemnation of the Iran-Israel ceasefire breach, following his blunt remark that the two nations do not know 'what the f**k they are doing'. 'It's actual bombs and an F-bomb from the US President in one week, so it's a pretty extraordinary time,' Ms Scott told Sky News host Paul Murray. 'It's interesting because we have seen so many foreign affairs and diplomacy officials talking for so long about how the second wave of a Trump administration would create real regime change for the world, and we are now seeing that. 'A very dangerous, volatile time.'
