Watch: Moment strikes hit in Damascus as reporter live on air
He could be heard saying the building was the Syrian military headquarters.
Israel launched powerful airstrikes in Damascus, damaging the defence ministry and hitting near the presidential palace as it vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw.
The attacks marked a significant Israeli escalation against the Islamist-led administration of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and came despite his warming ties with the United States and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel.
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Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Bob Geldof in furious Gaza rant as he shouts 'shut up' in live interview
Sir Bob Geldof has revealed that footage of malnourished youngsters in Gaza "enrages" him whilst condemning the UK Government for failing to take sufficient action. The Band Aid founder accused Israel's administration of "lying" about the absence of "no famine caused by Israel", declaring: "They're dangling food in front of starving, panicked, exhausted mothers." During an impassioned Sky News interview, an incensed Sir Bob questioned how Britain could develop a cutting-edge supercomputer this month whilst infants in Gaza were forced to survive on mere teaspoons of salt and minimal water supplies, demanding: "Shut up. What have we become that we can do this miracle and perpetuate this agony?". He also criticised the UK administration, claiming they had achieved "not enough". Sir Bob dismissed the idea that recognising Palestinian statehood - something Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to do - would make any "difference" to the humanitarian crisis, reports the Mirror. Palestinian Yezen Abu Ful, 2, whose health has deteriorated due to lack of access to food and nutritional supplements. (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) A charity organization distributed food to Palestinians facing severe difficulties accessing basic necessities due to Israel's ongoing blockade and military operations in the Gaza Strip on July 24, 2025. (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) He urged Labour MPs to cease signing correspondence calling for recognition, branding it a form of "virtue signalling" at this stage, stating: "Enough. Guys, focus on the issue to hand." The political activist emphasised that the most urgent matter is to prevent starving mothers and infants from being exploited as "instruments of war". Regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, he stated: "I'm really not interested in what either of these sides are saying. When you target infants and children, when their wounds are no longer capable of healing, when breastfeeding mothers can no longer do this, then everything goes out the window." Sir Bob expressed his views on the situation in Gaza, suggesting that Israelis who disagree with their government's actions should take direct action: "What's unfair is what's happening to these babies.... What's unfair is that one hour from the hunger, people are sitting down to their unthreatened dinners to turn on the next Netflix show." He boldly proposed a solution for Israeli protesters: "So if Israelis want to protest, get in your cars. This is very bold stuff, I know, sorry about that. Get in your car, stuff your cars full of food and drive through that border and let your own army stop you." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Journal
5 hours ago
- The Journal
Another Gaza-bound aid ship stopped by Israeli forces in international waters
ISRAELI FORCES HAVE intercepted another humanitarian aid ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists in international waters, in what campaigners have called an 'unlawful' and 'violent' act against civilians attempting to deliver relief to Gaza. The Handala, a refurbished fishing boat operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was stopped last night around 100km off the coast of Gaza and 50km from Egypt. The vessel was carrying aid supplies including baby formula, nappies, food, and medicine, intended for civilians in the besieged territory. In a statement on X, Israel's foreign ministry said its navy had prevented the Handala, registered as Navaren, from 'illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza'. It said the vessel was 'safely making its way to the shores of Israel' and that 'all passengers are safe'. 'Unauthorised attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts,' the statement added. Video footage from the Handala showed passengers with their hands raised in surrender and singing the anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao as Israeli soldiers boarded. The Handala has just been illegally intercepted by the Zionist entity of Israel while carrying baby formula to starving children — Thiago Ávila | Gaza Freedom Flotilla (@thiagoavilabr) July 26, 2025 The livestream was cut shortly afterward, and the FFC later said that communication systems and cameras on board had been disabled. 'The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized,' the FFC said. The group claims the vessel was intercepted in international waters at 11.43pm local time. Advertisement Among the 21 people aboard were human rights campaigners, two Al Jazeera journalists, and elected representatives from France's national and European parliaments. One of the coalition's steering committee members, Ann Wright, said in a statement that the ship's seizure 'is not a matter of internal Israeli jurisdiction.' 'These are foreign nationals operating under international law in international waters. Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end,' Wright said. Gaza blockade The interception comes just over a month after another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Madleen, was stopped en route to Gaza. That ship carried 12 activists, including Greta Thunberg, and was also attempting to deliver aid in defiance of Israel's naval blockade. Activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aboard the Madleen boat in June. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The blockade, enforced by Israel since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, has been widely criticised for exacerbating a humanitarian crisis. Since 2 March, Israel has largely restricted the entry of aid into the territory, prompting warnings from the UN and humanitarian organisations of mass starvation and a looming famine. The Handala's mission was part of what the flotilla organisers called a 'people's humanitarian corridor'. The group has called for the immediate release of those on board and for governments to intervene. Today, Israel's military announced the opening of humanitarian corridors and limited daily pauses in military operations to allow the delivery of aid . Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
25 tonnes of aid dropped into Gaza amid IDF 'tactical pause'
Two Jordanian and one Emirati plane have dropped 25 tonnes of humanitarian aid over Gaza, the Jordanian army said in a statement, after Israel earlier announced a "tactical pause" in fighting amid a deepening hunger crisis. "The Jordanian Armed Forces on Sunday carried out three air drops on the Gaza Strip carrying humanitarian and food aid, one of which was with the United Arab Emirates," the statement said, adding that they were carrying 25 tonnes of aid. The IDF declared a 'tactical pause' to military operations in some parts of Gaza and said it would allow the UN and aid agencies to open secure land routes to tackle a hunger crisis that is worsening. The military also said it had begun air-dropping food into the territory and angrily rejected allegations it was using starvation as a weapon against Palestinian civilians. In a statement, the army said it coordinated its decisions with the UN and international organisations to "increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip". The United Nations' aid chief welcomed Israel's announcement, and said the UN would try to reach as many starving people as possible. "Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through," UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher said on X. "In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window." Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through. In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window. — Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) July 27, 2025 The pause in fighting would be limited to areas where the military says Israeli troops are not currently operating - Al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City - and last from 10am until 8pm every day. But the Israeli statement added that "designated secure routes" had been opened across all of Gaza to enable the safe passage of UN and humanitarian aid organisation convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine. The Israeli military said these operations, alongside its ongoing campaign against Palestinian armed groups, should disprove "the false claim of deliberate starvation in the Gaza Strip". Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza on 2 March after ceasefire talks broke down. In late May, it began allowing a small trickle of aid to resume, amid warnings of a wave of starvation. Aid trucks started moving towards Gaza from Egypt, the Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said, after months of international pressure and warnings from relief agencies of starvation spreading in the Palestinian enclave. Dozens of trucks carrying tonnes of humanitarian aid moved towards the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing in southern Gaza, the Al Qahera correspondent said from the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Germany's chancellor has called on Israel's prime minister to quickly provide aid to "starving" civilians in Gaza, in a phone call between the two leaders. Chancellor Friedrich Merz "expressed his deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza," said a government statement. "He called on Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu to do everything in his power to achieve an immediate ceasefire. He urged him to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now. This aid must reach the civilian population quickly, safely, and in the required quantities." International aid organisations say there is mass hunger among Gaza's 2.2 million people, with food running out after Israel cut off all supplies to the territory in March, before resuming it in May with new restrictions. Israel says it has let enough food into Gaza and accuses the United Nations of failing to distribute it. The UN says it is operating as effectively as possible under Israeli restrictions. Activist boat seized Before Israel announced the airborne delivery of seven pallets of food, the United Arab Emirates had said it would restart aid drops and the UK said it would work with partners including Jordan to assist them. Yesterday alone, the Palestinian civil defence agency said over 50 more Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes and shootings, some as they waited near aid distribution centres. Israeli troops boarded a boat carrying activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as it attempted to approach Gaza from the sea to challenge a naval blockade. The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory has gravely deteriorated in recent days, with more than 100 NGOs warning this week that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza. On Telegram, the Israeli military announced it "carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip". Humanitarian chiefs are deeply sceptical that air drops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the deepening hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants. But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the idea, vowing to work with Jordan to restart air drops. The United Arab Emirates said it would resume air drops "immediately". 'Starving civilians' A number of Western and Arab governments carried out air drops in Gaza in 2024, when aid deliveries by land also faced Israeli restrictions, but many in the humanitarian community consider them ineffective. "Air drops will not reverse the deepening starvation," said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. "They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians." Israel's military insists it does not limit the number of trucks going into Gaza, and alleges that UN agencies and relief groups are not collecting aid once it is inside the territory. But humanitarian organisations accuse the army of imposing excessive restrictions, while tightly controlling road access within Gaza. A separate aid operation is under way through the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. But it has faced fierce international criticism after Israeli fire killed hundreds of Palestinians near distribution points. Naval blockade Yesterday evening, the live feed on the Handala boat belonging to pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla showed Israeli troops boarding the vessel. The soldiers moved in as the boat approached Gaza and three video live feeds of the scene broadcasting online were cut minutes later. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
