Israel announces to allow gradual entry of goods to Gaza via local merchants
"This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the U.N. and international organisations," the agency said.
On Sunday, Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions.
Palestinian and U.N. officials said Gaza needs around 600 aid trucks to enter per day to meet the humanitarian requirements - the number Israel used to allow into Gaza before the war. Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Jordan Times
2 hours ago
- Jordan Times
Israel to partially reopen Gaza private goods trade
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israel will partially reopen private sector trade with Gaza to reduce its reliance on humanitarian aid, the defence ministry civil affairs agency for the Palestinian territories said on Tuesday. "As part of formulating the mechanism, a limited number of local merchants were approved by the defence establishment, subject to several criteria and strict security screening," COGAT said. Israel has been fighting Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza for 22 months and imposed a total blockade on March 2, partially lifted in May to allow a US-backed private agency to open food distribution centres. Aid convoys and airdrops by Arab and European militaries resumed last month, as UN-mandated expert reports warned famine was unfolding in the war-torn territory. The COGAT statement said private sector deliveries would be paid for by monitored bank transfers and be subject to inspections by the Israeli military before entering Gaza, "to prevent the involvement of the Hamas terrorist organisation". Permitted goods under the new mechanism will include food staples, fruit, vegetables, baby formula and hygiene products, COGAT said. The agency said more than 300 aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, a larger number than in previous days, and that hundreds more were "still queued up for UN pickup". In addition, 120 pallets of aid were airdropped in cooperation with Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, it added. Hamas contested the figures, saying that only 95 aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday and that the majority of them were looted amid a "deliberate state of security chaos instigated by [Israel]". The United Nations estimates that between 500 and 600 truckloads of aid a day are needed to meet the needs of Gaza's more than two million inhabitants.
Roya News
3 hours ago
- Roya News
Calls to cancel Bob Vylan grow ahead of Boardmasters festival
Punk-rap duo Bob Vylan is set to take the stage at the Boardmasters music festival on August 10, despite mounting pressure from critics, government figures, and nearly 300 formal complaints demanding their removal. The London-based group has come under intense scrutiny after leading anti-'Israeli' military chants during a June performance at Glastonbury, which aired on the BBC. During the Glastonbury set, Bob Vylan chanted 'death to the IDF' and made other politically charged remarks about Zionism and the situation in Gaza. The performance sparked backlash at the highest levels of government, including criticism from the UK Prime Minister, questions in Parliament, and a rare apology from the BBC for failing to cut the live feed. In the weeks since, Cornwall Council has been flooded with nearly 300 complaints, many reportedly from outside the region, demanding the band be removed from the Boardmasters lineup. Councillor Dulcie Tudor described the scale of the response as 'more than the most-controversial planning application.' Critics have even taken to social media to call for the cancellation of Bob Vylan. One user stated, "Bob Vylan has had all his concerts for Europe, and the USA canceled. His career is over." Bob Vylan has had all his concerts for Europe, and the USA canceled. His career is over. — Israel Now (@neveragainlive1) July 2, 2025 However, the council has confirmed that any licensing hearing will only take place after the event concludes, citing regulations requiring a 20-day consultation period. Council leader Leigh Frost stated he would respond to each complaint and invite public participation in the eventual license review. Dr. Ed Abrahamson, who filed the initial complaint, claimed the band has been dropped from festivals around the world, had its US visas revoked, and is under investigation by UK anti-terror authorities. He urged local officials to act, warning of the potential influence on young festivalgoers. But Cornwall Council says only Devon and Cornwall Police have the authority to intervene, and the force has signaled it will not act to stop the show. In a statement, police emphasized their focus on event safety and confirmed performance decisions are up to the festival's organizers. Boardmasters, for its part, defended its decision to allow the band to perform. A spokesperson stressed that the festival 'does not tolerate hate speech, incitement to violence or behavior that puts anyone at risk' and had communicated clear expectations to the artists. Following the uproar, Bob Vylan maintained that their message had been misunderstood. 'We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people,' the band posted on Instagram. 'We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine.' Support for the band has also emerged within the music community. Artists, including Massive Attack and Brian Eno, have denounced what they describe as coordinated smear campaigns by pro-'Israel' advocates.
Roya News
3 hours ago
- Roya News
US reverses policy to block disaster aid over 'Israel' boycott
The Trump administration on Monday reversed a controversial funding requirement that would have denied disaster preparedness grants to US states and cities that support boycotts of 'Israeli' companies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that it had removed the earlier condition from its website, which had stated that recipients of certain federal disaster funds must certify they do not 'sever commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies.' The language had appeared in at least 11 grant notices tied to USD 1.9 billion in funding, according to Reuters. These funds, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are crucial for covering expenses like emergency response equipment, salaries of disaster management personnel, and backup power systems. DHS now says that the grants 'remain governed by existing law and policy and not political litmus tests,' according to spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. The withdrawn provision had sparked backlash for targeting supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign that aims to apply economic pressure on 'Israel' over its treatment of Palestinians. Calls to boycott 'Israel' intensified following its 2023 invasion of Gaza. While the administration has previously sought to penalize institutions it viewed as unsupportive of 'Israel' or insufficiently tough on anti-Semitism, this reversal marks a rare retreat. FEMA's updated guidance now omits the earlier requirement barring states from engaging in what the agency had labeled a 'discriminatory prohibited boycott.'
