Israel slams 'fake' reporting of attack near aid distribution centre in Gaza
Amidst the ongoing face-off in Gaza, a humanitarian aid distribution centre in Southern Gaza's Rafah came under fire on Sunday, resulting in the death of more than 30 Palestinians. Gaza was quick to pin blame on Israel for 'killing innocents' but the latter dismissed the claims as plain lies and also accused Hamas of colluding with major news portals like Al Jazeera and BBC to fan a fake propaganda.
Hamas accused Israeli forces of committing a 'new massacre' against hungry civilians in the name of humanitarian aid, however, Israel dismissed the claims of Israeli tanks hitting the civilians as '100 per cent fake'.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which supervises humanitarian efforts in the war-torn region, also dismissed the reports of mass killings at its aid distribution centre as 'untrue and fabricated' and said that rumours were actively fomented for disturbing and derailing its efforts.
Israel Ambassador to India Reuven Azar took to X to call out Hamas' desperate attempts to discredit GHF's humanitarian efforts by making false claims and accused the news publications of 'promoting unsubstantiated claims'.
'Hamas, together with its accomplices Al Jazeera and BBC World, are spreading yet another blood libel in order to undermine true humanitarian efforts in Gaza,' he wrote in a post on X.
The GHF, backed by the United States and Israel, said that there was a concerted and coordinated campaign by some media outlets to promote falsehoods and misinformation.
'Major news outlets that are relying on unverified and unsubstantiated reports,' the GHF said in an official statement.
'We are observing coordinated efforts every day that instigate false narratives and distort media coverage around the operations of our distribution sites. Unfortunately, some media outlets are reporting on these falsehoods and misinformation without verifying the validity of the reports,' it added.
Setting records straight on aid distribution in war-affected zones, the GHF said, 'Over 4.7 million meals have been distributed in six days' and added that operations will continue scaling, with plans to build additional sites across Gaza, including in the northern region.
GHF interim executive director John Acree also shed light on the challenges faced by the team providing humanitarian relief.
'For every truck we successfully bring into our network, other humanitarian groups are being looted before reaching those in need. Despite these conditions, our team is managing massive, desperate crowds without a single casualty,' he pointed out.
Notably, Al Jazeera, in its article titled 'Israel kills 32 Palestinians waiting for food at US-backed Gaza aid sites', reported that Israeli tanks opened fire at people lined up at the humanitarian aid distribution site, operated by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), while BBC also reported about mass deaths.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Foreign Embassy staffer puts up ‘Wanted' posters of Netanyahu: Delhi Police informs MHA
Delhi Police have approached the Union Home Ministry after a foreign citizen working with a Western European embassy put up posters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the word "Wanted" in Chanakyapuri. The police scanned CCTV footage and found the person responsible, who is an embassy staffer and has immunity.
Indian Express
42 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘With support of your friends in China…': Shashi Tharoor censures Pakistan, Beijing for shielding terror group at UN
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is currently leading an all-party delegation overseas, attacked Pakistan and China for preventing Lashkar-e-Taiba's 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) from being named in a UNSC statement. Tharoor alleged that Pakistan, 'with the support of their friends in China', made sure that the front is not named in a press statement made by the United Nations Security Council. While interacting with Ambassador Celso Amorim, Head Adviser of the Special Advisory to the President of Brazil, Tharoor pointed out that India tried to raise the issue of LeT-backed terror group the Resistance Front before the UN Sanctions Committee multiple times, but the action was blocked by China's support to Pakistan. Tharoor said, 'LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) has created this front called Resistance Front, we have been reporting about Resistance Front to UN Sanctions Committee, time after time. They (TRF) claimed credit for the killings, and the next day they repeated that claim. But when they realised the gravity of it, their handlers in Pakistan got them to delete the claim. However, their claim is on record for 24 hours.' Attacking Pakistan and Beijing, the Congress MP said, 'When India encouraged our friends on Security Council to mention the Resistance Front in the press statement that Security Council issued, Pakistan government, I am sorry to say that, with the support of your friend in China, took out the name, so there is not even a reference.' Tharoor, among other MPs, is part of an all-party delegation tasked with travelling to dozens of countries and spreading the message behind India's Operation Sindoor and the fight against terrorism. During his interaction with Ambassador Amorim in Brazil, the senior Congress leader said that India's fight is against terrorism being used as an instrument of state policy. He also pointed out how the funerals of terrorists who were killed in Operation Sindoor were attended by senior police and military officials in Pakistan. Tharoor, while holding up a photo of one of these funerals, said, 'When we struck those terror bases on May 7, there was a funeral at one of these sites conducted by Hafiz Abdur Rauf, an LeT figure named by the United Nations. Look who's attending the funeral – uniformed officials of the police and military of Pakistan. These are all senior officials, this is what is going on in Pakistan.'
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
Washington DC [US], June 3(ANI): A trade deal between India and the United States could be finalised soon, with both countries finding common ground that suits their interests, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said, expressing 'strong optimism' about the direction of ongoing talks while speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. Lutnick said, 'I think to be in a very, very good place, and you should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not-too-distant future because I think we found a place that really works for both countries.' When asked if he was hopeful about the outcome, Lutnick said he was 'very optimistic,' and added, 'It could be sort of the way I come across.' Lutnick also praised India for moving swiftly in trade talks, noting that both sides were working to finalise a deal far quicker than is typical, a deal that benefits both countries. 'Earlier countries get a better deal. That's the way it is. I think India is trying hard to be one of the earlier countries which I appreciate. But these kind of deals used to take two or three years and we're trying to get them done in a month, which is just not the ordinary DNA of trading relationships between countries,' he said. The Secretary's remarks come ahead of a July 9 deadline he referenced for ongoing trade discussions. Lutnick, who has decades of business experience in India, said the partnership between New Delhi and Washington has strong potential, especially given the 'rare connection' between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, Lutnick did not shy away from raising concerns about India's current trade practices. He criticised what he described as New Delhi's ' very protectionist' policies. 'You ask them why? The answer is, I don't know why. It just is,' he said, referring to high tariffs on American goods. 'Bring them down to a level that is reasonable and appropriate so we can be treated as partners with each other.' He also pointed to India's defence ties with Russia as a matter of concern. 'You generally buy military gear from Russia, some way that kind of get up, you know, under the skin of America,' Lutnick mentioned, while also acknowledging India's recent shift towards purchasing American defence equipment. On India's role in BRICS, Lutnick said, 'That's not really the way to make friends and influence people in America.' Lutnick highlighted India's potential as a hub in America's competition with China in artificial intelligence, promising a more open approach to tech-sharing under the Trump administration. 'We are willing to sell our best chips, but they have to be done in certain ways,' he said, adding that the US plans to support the creation of 'giant data centres' in India. He also floated a proposal for a new immigration programme called the 'Trump Gold Card,' aimed at attracting global entrepreneurs. 'A wonderful opportunity for people to be part of two economies,' Lutnick said, adding that it would offer flexibility on tax arrangements and residency status. On the trade front, Lutnick said certain industries would be relocated to India while high-end manufacturing returns to the US. 'There are enormous numbers of industries that we'd really like to go to India,' he added. Interestingly, according to the US Secretary of Commerce, he is a 'great fan of India' and 'even the people in the government know that that's true.' He added that 'one' of his 'best friends' happens to be 'Indian', and they used to have 'fun' together, going to house parties and even playing cricket. (ANI)
