'Prevent Dying Of Starvation': Barack Obama Calls For 'Immediate Action' Amid Gaza Crisis
Former US President Barack Obama has emphasised that aid must be allowed to reach people in Gaza as 'there's no justification for keeping food and water away from civilians.'
Former US President Barack Obama has reacted to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict for the first time and called for 'immediate action".
Taking to X, Obama said, 'While a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gaza must involve a return of all hostages and a cessation of Israel's military operations, these articles underscore the immediate need for action to be taken to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation."
He further stressed that aid 'must be permitted" to reach people in Gaza, adding that 'there is no justification for keeping food and water away from civilian families."
His remark came as the World Health Organisation has reported a sharp rise in malnutrition and disease, with a large portion of Gaza's 2 million residents now starving, as reported by AP.
Experts have also raised an alarm over the worsening situation and warned that Gaza is nearing famine.
Amid the concerns over rising hunger in Gaza, the Israeli military on Sunday started a limited halt in fighting in three populated areas. This also comes as Israel has faced massive backlash for the 21-month-long war.
The military said it would begin a 'tactical pause" in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, three areas of the territory with large populations, to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid" entering the territory. The pause begins every day at 10:00 am to 8:00 pm local time until further notice, starting Sunday, according to a report by AP.
Meanwhile, several recent images from Gaza being widely shared online show emaciated children.
Israel says it is prepared to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and goes into exile, something the group has refused to agree to.
Israel has allowed in around 4,500 trucks for the UN and other aid groups to distribute since May. However, according to the UN, the average of 69 trucks a day is far lower than the 500 to 600 trucks Gaza needs in a day.
The UN says it has been unable to distribute much of the aid because hungry crowds and gangs take most of it from its arriving trucks.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Slovenia becomes first EU nation to ban arms trade with Israel over Gaza war
Slovenia has become the first European Union country to impose a complete ban on weapons trade with Israel, citing the ongoing war in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. The embargo, which includes the import, export, and transit of weapons to and from Israel, was announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob following a cabinet meeting on Thursday. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MCA Degree PGDM Data Science CXO healthcare Technology Others Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Healthcare Finance others Digital Marketing Management Leadership Design Thinking Product Management Data Science MBA Operations Management Project Management Public Policy Data Analytics Skills you'll gain: Programming Proficiency Data Handling & Analysis Cybersecurity Awareness & Skills Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Master of Computer Applications Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details "Slovenia is the first European country to ban the import, export and transit of weapons to and from Israel," the government said in a statement, according to Al Jazeera. It further noted that the decision was made independently because the European Union was "unable to adopt concrete measures ... due to internal disagreements and disunity." Amid the devastating conflict in Gaza, where "people ... are dying because humanitarian aid is systematically denied them," the government added it was the "duty of every responsible state to take action, even if it means taking a step ahead of others," Al Jazeera reported. Live Events Slovenia's government also stated that it had not granted any permits for the export of military weapons and equipment to Israel since October 2023 due to the ongoing conflict. Earlier in July, Slovenia also became the first EU nation to ban two far-right Israeli ministers from entering its territory, declaring them persona non grata. The ministers were accused of inciting "extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians" with "their genocidal statements," according to Al Jazeera. In June 2024, Slovenia joined Ireland, Norway, and Spain in recognising Palestinian statehood. The parliamentary decree came in response to mounting global condemnation of Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza. While other nations, including France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have also indicated plans to recognise a Palestinian state, Israel has rejected such moves, calling them a reward for Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. Al Jazeera reported that Israel has been waging a nearly 22-month-long war in Gaza, which human rights groups and UN experts have compared to genocide. Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the campaign, and many more are at risk due to Israel's ongoing blockade. Meanwhile, several countries including South Africa have filed cases before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide. Despite global outcry, the United States has remained a firm ally of Israel. US President Donald Trump has also warned that recognising Palestinian statehood would amount to rewarding Hamas, Al Jazeera added.
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
Watch: Karnataka MLA Gives 13 Honda Bikes To Cops From 'Development Fund', Each Costs Over Rs 2L
Last Updated: Talking about the price bracket of motorcyle, each vehicle costs more than Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom), making it a total of more than Rs 25 lakh for 13 units. In a move to boost area development, North MLA Asif Sait, who represents Belgaum Uttar as a member of the Indian National Congress, distributed 13 Honda bikes to the police. According to the details available on the internet, these bikes have been given using local area development funds. A viral video surfaced on X, where multiple black-coloured Honda CB350s can be seen parking in a line, while the cops stand at behind, what it seems like waiting for the order to ride them. As the clip moves further, MLA, along with a top officer, shows the green flag to the cops and joins the ride by leading the convoy. Take a look at video According to the details available on the internet, these bikes have been given using local area development funds. Each vehicle costs more than Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom), making it a total of more than Rs 25 lakh for 13 units. It comes with a 348.66cc engine that generates a maximum power of 20.7 bhp at 5500 rpm and 29.4 Nm of peak torque at 3000 rpm, and has a top speed of 130 kmph. Social Media Reaction Ever since the clip surfaced on the internet, it has received a mixed reaction. While some slammed the MLA for wasting public money by giving expensive bikes to the cops instead of an affordable one. Some appreciated his work for at least trying to level up the development game in his constituency. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who is backing Palestine? From Nato to UN, countries recognising its statehood; what is India's stance?
Entire districts were razed to the ground in Gaza (Photo: NYT) In a sweeping diplomatic shift, several key allies of the United States are now preparing to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign state. This development will increase global pressure on Israel and change how the world views Palestinian statehood. In 1988, India became one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine. Here are the 10 big things to know: 147 of the 193 So far, 147 of the 193 United Nations member states recognise Palestine as a state. That number is expected to grow, with France, Britain and Canada — three close US allies and key global players — announcing plans to join the list in the coming months. Nato and G20 Among Nato's 32 member countries, 14 already recognise a Palestinian state. If Britain, France and Canada follow through, that number will rise to 17. Within the G20, 10 countries currently extend recognition. The latest announcements would push this total to 13. India's stance India was one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine after its declaration in 1988. Even earlier, in 1974, India had recognised the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, showing its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo India is set to take part in a UN high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue and the two-state solution. So far, 123 countries and organisations have signed up for the three-day meeting starting Monday. The event will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. UN security council divide France confirmed it would extend recognition by September, while Britain has tied its decision to whether Israel agrees to a ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If Britain and France formalise their decisions, the United States will be the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that does not recognise Palestine. China and Russia already do. Canada's stance and Trump's response Canada is set to formally recognise the State of Palestine in September 2025 during the United Nations General Assembly, as announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney said that worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and continued settlement expansion have made the two-state solution untenable without international action. US President Donald Trump has expressed disapproval, warning that if Canada joins the line of countries supporting Palestine, it may become harder for the country to continue trade with its neighbour. Arab League breaks new ground In a historic shift, all 22 Arab League nations have jointly called on Hamas to end its rule in Gaza, give up its weapons, and release hostages. This was announced at a high-level UN conference in New York focused on achieving a two-state solution. International backing for the Arab Declaration The Arab League statement was backed by all 27 European Union countries and 17 other nations. It called for a 'temporary international stabilisation mission' in Gaza, under the invitation of the Palestinian Authority and supervised by the United Nations. New roadmap: The New York Declaration The UN conference, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, brought together delegates from 125 countries. The resulting 'New York Declaration' outlines a phased roadmap for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. UN member states have until the General Assembly session in September to endorse it. Australia, Finland, Malta, Portugal and New Zealand have also expressed interest in recognising Palestine before the upcoming UN General Assembly. Hamas reacts to the Declaration Hamas responded by welcoming international support for Palestinian rights but called for 'unconditional international recognition' of statehood. It did not directly address the Arab League's call to disarm. 'The Palestinian situation is an internal affair of our people,' the group said. Humanitarian cost of the war Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. Nearly 2 million people are now facing extreme hunger and hardship. The Israeli assault began in response to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Both Israel and the United States have criticised the push for recognition, saying it rewards Hamas and undermines current ceasefire negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders warn that international recognition efforts threaten Israeli security. Hamas, for its part, denounced calls for regional normalisation with Israel, saying such efforts 'reward the enemy for its crimes.'
