The Elders group of global leaders warns of Gaza 'genocide'
"Today we express our shock and outrage at Israel's deliberate obstruction of the entry of life-saving humanitarian aid into Gaza," the non-governmental group of public figures, founded by former South Africa President Nelson Mandela in 2007, said in a statement after delegates visited border crossings in Egypt.
"What we saw and heard underlines our personal conviction that there is not only an unfolding, human-caused famine in Gaza. There is an unfolding genocide," it added.
Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, called on Israel to open the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza so aid could be delivered, after visiting the site.
"Many new mothers are unable to feed themselves or their newborn babies adequately, and the health system is collapsing," she said.
"All of this threatens the very survival of an entire generation."
Ms. Clark was joined by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the visit.
She said that international leaders "have the power and the legal obligation to apply measures to pressure this Israeli government to end its atrocity crimes".
Call for ceasefire, hostage release
The delegation "saw evidence of food and medical aid denied entry, and heard witness accounts of the killing of Palestinian civilians, including children, while trying to access aid inside Gaza," said the statement.
They urged Israel and Hamas to agree a ceasefire and for the immediate release of remaining Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.
The London-based group also called for the "recognition of the State of Palestine", but added "this will not halt the unfolding genocide and famine in Gaza".
"Transfers of arms and weapons components to Israel must be suspended immediately," it added, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be sanctioned.
Israel has faced mounting criticism over the 22-month-long war with Hamas, with United Nations-backed experts warning of widespread famine unfolding in besieged Gaza.
Mr. Netanyahu is under mounting pressure to secure the release of the remaining hostages, as well as over his plans to expand the war, which he has vowed to do with or without the backing of Israel's allies.
Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,499 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, whose toll the UN considers reliable.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Mali junta arrests former Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga
Mali's former Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga was arrested Tuesday, according to his entourage and a judicial source, several months after he was dismissed for criticising the country's ruling junta. Plagued by jihadist and separatist violence, Mali has been led by the military since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. Maiga's detention comes days after the junta carried out dozens of arrests to quash an alleged plot within the army's ranks to topple the government in turn. His sacking in November 2024 appeared at the time to confirm that the army, which went back on a pledge to hand the reins back to civilians by the end of March 2024, had tightened its grip on power. Maiga was arrested in relation to an investigation into allegations of "misappropriation of public funds" made in a report by Mali's auditor general, his lawyer Cheick Oumar Konare said in a statement sent to AFP. "Several of his former allies" were also in custody, Konare added. Having been named to the post following the second coup in 2021, Maiga was fired after he publicly condemned the lack of clarity over when the military would give up power in the West African country. He was widely seen as isolated and without room for manoeuvre. His moves to distance himself from the junta sparked months of speculation that he would be sacked, and he was soon replaced by a namesake officer, General Abdoulaye Maiga. Before the coup, Maiga was a key figure in the Movement of June 5/Rally of Patriotic Forces (M5/RFP) opposed to former civilian leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was toppled by the army in August 2020. At the end of February he insisted that the "breakup is complete" between his movement and the junta, led by General Assimi Goita. Besides his sidelining by the military, Maiga also complained of "arrests and extrajudicial detentions" of members of his M5/RFP.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
TMC slams BJP over ‘citizenship' status of its 2 Bongaon MLAs
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: A fresh controversy has erupted over the citizenship status of two BJP MLAs in Bongaon, ratcheting up the political temperature between Trinamool and BJP over the special intensive revision (SIR) of poll rolls. The names of the MLAs' parents are missing from the recently published Bengal 2002 SIR data. The issue surfaced after the TMC-backed faction of All India Matua Mahasangha submitted a deputation to the Bongaon sub-divisional officer (SDO) on Tuesday, demanding the disqualification of Bongaon North MLA Ashok Kirtaniya. The organisation alleged that while the 2002 electoral roll contains the MLA's name — then a resident of Ghatbaur panchayat — it does not include the names of his father or other family members. The Mahasangha claimed Kirtaniya's father entered India illegally after 2010. Prosenjit Biswas, representing the Mahasangha, said: "We will approach the Union home minister and assembly speaker seeking Ashok Kirtaniya's disqualification as an MLA." Bongaon district TMC president Biswajit Das said, "Usually, the father's name appears in the voter list before the son's. Here, the son was registered first, the father later. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Egypt Solar Panels: See How Much It Will Cost To Install Them (See Prices) Solar Panel | Search Ads Learn More Undo Let Kirtaniya prove this. BJP should act." You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in Kolkata In response, Kirtaniya presented documents, including his father's 1950 border slip and a 1993 voter list entry, as proof of citizenship. "Let TMC say what they want. I have all documents. They are making these allegations only to harass me," he said. Before this row could settle, similar allegations emerged against Bongaon South BJP MLA Swapan Majumdar. Trinamool accused him of being a Bangladeshi national, claiming that neither he nor his parents were listed in the 2002 rolls. Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, youth president of Bongaon's TMC's organisational district, lodged a written complaint with the SDO and also shared documents with the media. These included two Bangladeshi records — one from April 2022 in which the chairman of Nizamuddin Union Parishad claimed that Majumdar's family members were residents of Nishchintapur village in Gopalganj, and another from 1996 showing his father, Santosh Kumar Majumdar, as the seller in a land deed. TMC alleged that Majumdar moved to India after 2002 and illegally enrolled in the voter list in Palla under Gopalnagar PS. Denying the allegations, Majumdar said: "My father passed away before 2002. I moved to Mumbai for work, so I couldn't be physically present during voter list hearings, which is why my name was added later. I possess all necessary documents proving my Indian citizenship. TMC is trying to shield infiltrator Rohingya and grant citizenship to refugees." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Four chip plants entailing Rs 4.6k crore investment in AP, Odisha, Punjab get govt nod
NEW DELHI: Strengthening India's efforts in attaining self-sufficiency in the critical semiconductor segment, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved four semiconductor projects, entailing a total investment of Rs 4,594 crore, with one of them being backed by US chipmaker Intel as well as defence and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The projects will come up in Odisha, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, IT & electronics minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The proposals were approved under the India Semiconductor Mission, which initially started the country's semiconductor manufacturing push with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore to provide support for those setting up chip manufacturing facilities. "This is a new industry that we have started in India, and we were able to make a breakthrough after trying for decades previously. We will build upon this," Vaishnaw said. The Cabinet also approved US chip major Intel-backed 3D Glass semiconductor manufacturing unit in Odisha with an investment of Rs 1,943 crore. The plant will be set up by Heterogenous Integration Packaging Solutions with an annual production capacity of five crore units. Vaishnaw said the project will be backed by US firm Lockheed Martin as well.
