Latest news with #AhmadAl-Farra
Egypt Independent
05-05-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
Hamas executes Palestinians for looting as desperation grows under Israeli blockade
CNN — Hamas has executed six Palestinians in Gaza and shot 13 others in the legs for alleged looting, the militant group said in a statement, as desperation grows under a complete Israeli blockade that has now entered its third month. In a statement issued Friday, Hamas said it would carry out more executions against 'every criminal we can reach in the next two days.' Since last week, armed gangs have increasingly taken to the streets of Gaza City, going after some of the remaining food supplies and challenging Hamas' control of the territory, according to CNN journalists in Gaza. Hamas claims some of these 'criminal gangs' are collaborating with Israel. 'A warning has been issued – those who ignore it bear full responsibility,' Hamas said in the statement. The executions – and Hamas' vow that more will follow – is a stark reminder that the militant group, even weakened after more than 18 months of war, retains power in Gaza. As food supplies have begun running out across the coastal enclave, Palestinians have grown increasingly desperate to find whatever food remains. On Wednesday night, thousands of people stormed a UN facility and multiple warehouses across Gaza City looking for remnants of meals, such as flour or canned food, according to a journalist who witnessed one such incident. Hamas claimed some of the alleged looters were collaborating with Israel. On Saturday, Hamas' Ministry of Interior and National Security claimed that 'a group of outlaws, collaborators with the occupation, has emerged to threaten the lives of citizens, spreading fear and chaos in some neighborhoods, and attacking public and private properties.' Scenes of mass hunger have become far more common as Gaza's population of 2.1 million Palestinians edges closer to famine. Israel imposed a complete blockade of Gaza on March 2, stopping the supplies of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, into the besieged territory. Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, the head of the pediatric department at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza warned over the weekend that 'a looming health catastrophe is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands.' 'We are facing the danger of a massive wave of deaths due to malnutrition if the current humanitarian crisis continues unaddressed,' he told CNN. Earlier Saturday, two-month-old Janan Saleh Al-Sakkafi died due to malnutrition at Al-Rantisi Hospital, Dr. Munir Al Barsh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza told CNN. The US State Department said an announcement regarding humanitarian aid is possible 'in the coming days' that would allow much-needed food and medicine to reach the Palestinian population without being diverted by Hamas or Islamic Jihad. 'Safeguards are finally in place. Israel remains secure, Hamas empty handed, and Gazans with access to critical aid,' a State Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson described the project as an element of 'creative thinking' but did not provide any details on how it would function in Gaza. An unnamed private foundation would manage the aid mechanism and the delivery of the humanitarian supplies into Gaza, the spokesperson said. Since taking power in the enclave in 2007, Hamas has executed dozens of suspects including some accused of collaborating with Israel. The Israeli military, meanwhile, is pressing on with chief of staff Eyal Zamir saying on Sunday that the IDF would issue 'tens of thousands' of orders to reservists in the coming week, to ramp up its offensive in the enclave. Khader Al-Za'anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed to this story.
Saudi Gazette
05-05-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Hamas executes Palestinians for looting as desperation grows under Israeli blockade
GAZA — Hamas has executed six Palestinians in Gaza and shot 13 others in the legs for alleged looting, the militant group said in a statement, as desperation grows under a complete Israeli blockade that has now entered its third month. In a statement issued Friday, Hamas said it would carry out more executions against 'every criminal we can reach in the next two days.' Since last week, armed gangs have increasingly taken to the streets of Gaza City, going after some of the remaining food supplies and challenging Hamas' control of the territory, according to CNN journalists in Gaza. Hamas claims some of these 'criminal gangs' are collaborating with Israel. 'A warning has been issued — those who ignore it bear full responsibility,' Hamas said in the statement. The executions – and Hamas' vow that more will follow – is a stark reminder that the militant group, even weakened after more than 18 months of war, retains power in Gaza. As food supplies have begun running out across the coastal enclave, Palestinians have grown increasingly desperate to find whatever food remains. On Wednesday night, thousands of people stormed a UN facility and multiple warehouses across Gaza City looking for remnants of meals, such as flour or canned food, according to a journalist who witnessed one such claimed some of the alleged looters were collaborating with Saturday, Hamas' Ministry of Interior and National Security claimed that 'a group of outlaws, collaborators with the occupation, has emerged to threaten the lives of citizens, spreading fear and chaos in some neighborhoods, and attacking public and private properties.'Scenes of mass hunger have become far more common as Gaza's population of 2.1 million Palestinians edges closer to famine. Israel imposed a complete blockade of Gaza on March 2, stopping the supplies of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, into the besieged Ahmad Al-Farra, the head of the pediatric department at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza warned over the weekend that 'a looming health catastrophe is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands.''We are facing the danger of a massive wave of deaths due to malnutrition if the current humanitarian crisis continues unaddressed,' he told CNN. Earlier Saturday, two-month-old Janan Saleh Al-Sakkafi died due to malnutrition at Al-Rantisi Hospital, Dr. Munir Al Barsh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza told US State Department said an announcement regarding humanitarian aid is possible 'in the coming days' that would allow much-needed food and medicine to reach the Palestinian population without being diverted by Hamas or Islamic Jihad.'Safeguards are finally in place. Israel remains secure, Hamas empty-handed, and Gazans with access to critical aid,' a State Department spokesperson spokesperson described the project as an element of 'creative thinking' but did not provide any details on how it would function in Gaza. An unnamed private foundation would manage the aid mechanism and the delivery of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, the spokesperson taking power in the enclave in 2007, Hamas has executed dozens of suspects including some accused of collaborating with Israeli military, meanwhile, is pressing on with chief of staff Eyal Zamir saying on Sunday that the IDF would issue 'tens of thousands' of orders to reservists in the coming week, to ramp up its offensive in the enclave. — CNN
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hamas executes Palestinians for looting as desperation grows under Israeli blockade
Hamas has executed six Palestinians in Gaza and shot 13 others in the legs for alleged looting, the militant group said in a statement, as desperation grows under a complete Israeli blockade that has now entered its third month. In a statement issued Friday, Hamas said it would carry out more executions against 'every criminal we can reach in the next two days.' Since last week, armed gangs have increasingly taken to the streets of Gaza City, going after some of the remaining food supplies and challenging Hamas' control of the territory, according to CNN journalists in Gaza. Hamas claims some of these 'criminal gangs' are collaborating with Israel. 'A warning has been issued - those who ignore it bear full responsibility,' Hamas said in the statement. The executions – and Hamas' vow that more will follow – is a stark reminder that the militant group, even weakened after more than 18 months of war, retains power in Gaza. As food supplies have begun running out across the coastal enclave, Palestinians have grown increasingly desperate to find whatever food remains. On Wednesday night, thousands of people stormed a UN facility and multiple warehouses across Gaza City looking for remnants of meals, such as flour or canned food, according to a journalist who witnessed one such incident. Hamas claimed some of the alleged looters were collaborating with Israel. On Saturday, Hamas' Ministry of Interior and National Security claimed that 'a group of outlaws, collaborators with the occupation, has emerged to threaten the lives of citizens, spreading fear and chaos in some neighborhoods, and attacking public and private properties.' Scenes of mass hunger have become far more common as Gaza's population of 2.1 million Palestinians edges closer to famine. Israel imposed a complete blockade of Gaza on March 2, stopping the supplies of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, into the besieged territory. Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, the head of the pediatric department at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza warned over the weekend that 'a looming health catastrophe is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands.' 'We are facing the danger of a massive wave of deaths due to malnutrition if the current humanitarian crisis continues unaddressed,' he told CNN. Earlier Saturday, two-month-old Janan Saleh Al-Sakkafi died due to malnutrition at Al-Rantisi Hospital, Dr. Munir Al Barsh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza told CNN. The US State Department said an announcement regarding humanitarian aid is possible 'in the coming days' that would allow much-needed food and medicine to reach the Palestinian population without being diverted by Hamas or Islamic Jihad. 'Safeguards are finally in place. Israel remains secure, Hamas empty handed, and Gazans with access to critical aid,' a State Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson described the project as an element of 'creative thinking' but did not provide any details on how it would function in Gaza. An unnamed private foundation would manage the aid mechanism and the delivery of the humanitarian supplies into Gaza, the spokesperson said. Since taking power in the enclave in 2007, Hamas has executed dozens of suspects including some accused of collaborating with Israel. The Israeli military, meanwhile, is pressing on with chief of staff Eyal Zamir saying on Sunday that the IDF would issue 'tens of thousands' of orders to reservists in the coming week, to ramp up its offensive in the enclave. Khader Al-Za'anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed to this story.
CNN
04-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
Hamas executes Palestinians for looting as desperation grows under Israeli blockade
Hamas has executed six Palestinians in Gaza and shot 13 others in the legs for alleged looting, the militant group said in a statement, as desperation grows under a complete Israeli blockade that has now entered its third month. In a statement issued Friday, Hamas said it would carry out more executions against 'every criminal we can reach in the next two days.' Since last week, armed gangs have increasingly taken to the streets of Gaza City, going after some of the remaining food supplies and challenging Hamas' control of the territory, according to CNN journalists in Gaza. Hamas claims some of these 'criminal gangs' are collaborating with Israel. 'A warning has been issued - those who ignore it bear full responsibility,' Hamas said in the statement. The executions – and Hamas' vow that more will follow – is a stark reminder that the militant group, even weakened after more than 18 months of war, retains power in Gaza. As food supplies have begun running out across the coastal enclave, Palestinians have grown increasingly desperate to find whatever food remains. On Wednesday night, thousands of people stormed a UN facility and multiple warehouses across Gaza City looking for remnants of meals, such as flour or canned food, according to a journalist who witnessed one such incident. Hamas claimed some of the alleged looters were collaborating with Israel. On Saturday, Hamas' Ministry of Interior and National Security claimed that 'a group of outlaws, collaborators with the occupation, has emerged to threaten the lives of citizens, spreading fear and chaos in some neighborhoods, and attacking public and private properties.' Scenes of mass hunger have become far more common as Gaza's population of 2.1 million Palestinians edges closer to famine. Israel imposed a complete blockade of Gaza on March 2, stopping the supplies of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, into the besieged territory. Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, the head of the pediatric department at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza warned over the weekend that 'a looming health catastrophe is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands.' 'We are facing the danger of a massive wave of deaths due to malnutrition if the current humanitarian crisis continues unaddressed,' he told CNN. Earlier Saturday, two-month-old Janan Saleh Al-Sakkafi died due to malnutrition at Al-Rantisi Hospital, Dr. Munir Al Barsh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza told CNN. The US State Department said an announcement regarding humanitarian aid is possible 'in the coming days' that would allow much-needed food and medicine to reach the Palestinian population without being diverted by Hamas or Islamic Jihad. 'Safeguards are finally in place. Israel remains secure, Hamas empty handed, and Gazans with access to critical aid,' a State Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson described the project as an element of 'creative thinking' but did not provide any details on how it would function in Gaza. An unnamed private foundation would manage the aid mechanism and the delivery of the humanitarian supplies into Gaza, the spokesperson said. Since taking power in the enclave in 2007, Hamas has executed dozens of suspects including some accused of collaborating with Israel. Khader Al-Za'anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed to this story.
NBC News
04-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Starvation looms as Israel's total blockade on Gaza enters its third month
Gazans are fighting over the last cans of food, malnourished mothers are struggling to make milk for their thinning babies, and doctors have begun counting down the days before the slow deaths by starvation begin to happen en masse. 'Within one week, we will see a severe starvation,' Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, head of pediatrics and obstetrics at Nasser Hospital, told NBC News. The besieged enclave is under its longest blockade of humanitarian aid since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, as Israel's total ban on the entry of all goods, including food, fuel and medical supplies, enters its third month. Despite international outrage, Israel has not only kept the gates shut for the past 63 days, but the security Cabinet is voting Sunday night to expand its offensive in Gaza. For weeks, families were surviving on very little — fewer meals and smaller spoonfuls — and each day has brought a new low of deprivation. Parents are now watching their vulnerable children starve, with warehouses now empty and community kitchens forced shut. In a place where 80% of the population relies on aid, according to the United Nations, those aid agencies no longer have much to supply. What little food is left in the markets is sold at exorbitant prices. Ossama Al-Raqab was lying in the pediatric ward of Nasser Hospital, unable to sit up properly. The 5-year-old suffers from cystic fibrosis and is so starved that he can barely lift his gaunt head. His cheeks have sunk into the hollows of his face, his ribs are protruding and his scrawny limbs are little more than bone. His facial muscles have wasted away so much, he can no longer close his mouth. 'Mommy, Mommy, I want to go back,' he whimpers, unable to speak for long. His mother, Mona Al-Raqab, sits next to him, showing a picture of her once healthy and smiling son, at a time when his diet included eggs, avocados, cashews and almonds. 'He needs food and food that contains protein and fat,' she says. 'But these things are not available now, and if they are, they are expensive.' Young Ossama is among the thousands of people already being treated for malnutrition, and for months, doctors like Al-Farra have been warning that the hunger will one day turn fatal. That warning is now a reality. 'We are talking about 57 deaths from starvation for pediatrics,' Al-Farra told NBC News, adding the cases were not only expected to rise in number, but also severity. 'We are talking about increased cases of malnutrition and anemia.' More than 52,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, local health officials say, where less than half of the remaining 59 hostages taken from southern Israel are believed to still be alive in captivity. About 1,200 were killed in Israel and 250 kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, led by Hamas, that sparked this major escalation of a decadeslong conflict. Israel imposed the current blockade on March 2 after it ended a two-month ceasefire and resumed its military operations, justifying the blockade as necessary for pressuring Hamas into releasing the hostages. Israel, which has been accused of violating international humanitarian law by using starvation as a weapon of war, has defended its blockade by saying enough aid entered the strip during the ceasefire and accused Hamas of hijacking its delivery. Those who survive malnutrition in Gaza also have to survive Israel's ongoing bombardment. But in Gaza's barely functioning health care system, even the most critical injuries are not getting treated and the simplest injuries are turning fatal without blood supply, which is also being depleted by hunger. Even when there is an available donor, Al-Farra said, 'unfortunately a lot of them already have anemia,' which disqualifies them from donation. The blockade's resumption has resulted in a sharp increase in acute malnutrition among children, according to UNICEF, which said the number of such cases doubled in March from the previous month. More than 9,000 children have been admitted or treated for acute malnutrition since the start of the year, it said. With bakeries shut, farming land destroyed or taken over by Israeli forces, and fishing restricted, 'humanitarian aid has provided the only lifeline for children, and now it is close to running out,' UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement Friday. Starvation begins with the most vulnerable, and newborns and children already suffering other conditions are especially prone. Siwar Ashour, a 5-month-old child from Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, has lost half of her weight, her mother, Najwa Aram, 23, told NBC News. 'I can't even afford milk. I beg for clothes for her,' Ashour says, crying. Ashour said her daughter first contracted intestinal flu, which worsened with the lack of clean water and food. 'Every day his condition worsens,' Al-Raqab says, looking at her son, Ossama, who was so frail he now appeared swallowed by the clothes that once fit him. 'I want him to be like a normal child, play with children and go out and finish kindergarten.'
