Latest news with #ArbelYehud
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6 days ago
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4 die at aid centre in Gaza, UN food agency says 'hordes of hungry' Palestinians stormed warehouse
At least four people have died in the accident, with two being fatally crushed to death while the others were shot. AFP released video footage showing crowds storming the Al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir Al-Balah, seizing bags of flour and boxes of food while gunfire echoed in the background. The source of the gunshots, however, remained unclear read more Men look around on alert in the wake of gunfire shots as displaced Palestinians receive food packages from a US-backed foundation pledging to distribute humanitarian aid in western Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 27, 2025. AFP The United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) has said that 'hordes of hungry' people stormed into a food supply warehouse in central Gaza, days after aid started entering the Palestinian territory after days of blockage. At least four people have died in the accident, with two being fatally crushed to death while the others were shot. AFP released video footage showing crowds storming the Al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir Al-Balah, seizing bags of flour and boxes of food while gunfire echoed in the background. The source of the gunshots, however, remained unclear. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The WFP said in a statement that the stampede-like situation occurred after humanitarian needs 'spiralled out of control' in Gaza following a three-month-long blockade by Israel. 'Hordes of hungry people broke into WFP's al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, in search of food supplies that were pre-positioned for distribution,' WFP said. 'Gaza needs an immediate scale-up of food assistance. This is the only way to reassure people that they will not starve,' the agency added. Another food distribution site witnesses chaos According to a report by The Guardian, the latest incident came a day after one civilian was shot dead and 48 others were left injured at a separate food distribution point. The outlet said that Israel had opened fire at the gathering of Palestinians who were collecting aid from the centre. Witnesses say Israeli forces opened fire after crowds of Palestinians breached the fences surrounding a distribution centre operated by a US-backed organisation selected by Israel to deliver food into Gaza. The group had reportedly lost control of the site. An Israeli military helicopter was seen firing flares, and distant bursts of gunfire were heard. In one video, a large group of frightened civilians, including women and children, is seen fleeing in panic, trampling over the fencing. What about ceasefire? Israel stepped up its military offensive earlier this month, while mediators push for a still elusive ceasefire. In Tel Aviv, hundreds of people called for a ceasefire, lining roads at 6:29 am – the exact time the unprecedented October 7 attack began. Relatives of hostages held since that attack also gathered in Tel Aviv. 'I want you to know that when Israel blows up deals, it does so on the heads of the hostages,' said Arbel Yehud, who was freed from Gaza captivity in January. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Their conditions immediately worsen, food diminishes, pressure increases, and bombings and military actions do not save them, they endanger their lives.' Out of 251 hostages seized during the October 7 attack, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34, the Israeli military says, are dead. With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gaza ceasefire once again in doubt as first phase nears end
As the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is meant to be drawing to an end, it has once again been put in doubt. After the last six living Israel hostages due to be released in this phase were freed, more than 600 Palestinian prisoners were due to be released by Israel in exchange - the biggest number so far to be freed in one go. But that has now been delayed indefinitely by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with his demand that Hamas must stop what he called its "cynical use of hostages for propaganda purposes". Hamas has in turn accused Israel of deliberately trying to disrupt the ceasefire agreement. It's the latest big bump in the road that's intended ultimately to lead to a permanent end to hostilities and the start of rebuilding Gaza. Israel complained about the chaotic scenes in one of the first handovers, saying the physical safety of the hostages had been put in jeopardy. Then, Israel said Hamas had broken the terms of the agreement by not releasing a female civilian hostage, Arbel Yehud. In response, it delayed opening access for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the north of Gaza for 48 hours. That was resolved when Arbel Yehud was freed in an extra handover before the next scheduled for the following Saturday. Hamas later accused Israel of not living up to its commitments to permit heavy machinery, tents and caravans into Gaza. It then said it would not carry out the next hostage handover as scheduled. That prompted threats from both Netanyahu and the US President Donald Trump that all out war would resume in Gaza if the hostages weren't freed as agreed. With the clock ticking down, Hamas agreed to release them. And just in the past few days, the discovery that the body Hamas handed over on Thursday as that of Shiri Bibas turned out not to be her. That set off new anger and shock in Israel, where the images of Shiri trying to shield her two young children as they were abducted on 7 October, 2023, is seen as the most potent symbol of the horror of that day. Netanyahu denounced Hamas for what he called a "cruel and evil violation" of the agreement. Once again, the ceasefire was kept on track only at the last moment by Hamas providing another body within a day that this time did indeed prove to be hers. All these incidents have shown how fragile the ceasefire process remains. They may also have contributed to the fact talks on the second phase - due to start earlier this month - have not yet got under way. Time is running out, with the first phase due to end in a week's time. Hamas has offered to release the remaining hostages due to be freed in the second phase in one go, but only if Israel pulls all its forces out of Gaza and there is a permanent end to the war. Israel has demanded the complete disarmament of Hamas, which it has so far rejected. The stage-managed ceremonies at each hostage handover, which Netanyahu has so strongly condemned, are intended to show it is still a force to be reckoned with in Gaza. In Israel, voices on the right demand the government resumes its war against Hamas, while the families of the hostages - backed by much of Israel - say securing the release of the remaining hostages is what matters above and beyond all else. Trump's plan for Gaza has brought new uncertainty into the equation. The third phase of the ceasefire is meant to set Gaza on the path towards reconstruction and renewal. Arab states are hurriedly trying to come up with a concrete alternative proposal in which Palestinians would continue to live in Gaza while it is rebuilt, rather than being removed from the enclave as envisaged in Trump's plan. The future governance of Gaza also remains a key sticking point, with Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries all so far appearing to have contradictory proposals. These issues will require difficult negotiations, which will be conducted amid the constant risk of a return to war, for which some on both sides continue to advocate. But for now, the mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US may have their work cut out just getting the first phase of the ceasefire over the line. Stories of the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel 'The smallest coffins are the heaviest': Israel grieves youngest hostages Israeli troops stay inside south Lebanon after withdrawal deadline
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Gaza ceasefire once again in doubt as first phase nears end
As the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is meant to be drawing to an end, it has once again been put in the last six living Israel hostages due to be released in this phase were freed, more than 600 Palestinian prisoners were due to be released by Israel in exchange - the biggest number so far to be freed in one go. But that has now been delayed indefinitely by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with his demand that Hamas must stop what he called its "cynical use of hostages for propaganda purposes". Hamas has in turn accused Israel of deliberately trying to disrupt the ceasefire the latest big bump in the road that's intended ultimately to lead to a permanent end to hostilities and the start of rebuilding Gaza. Israel complained about the chaotic scenes in one of the first handovers, saying the physical safety of the hostages had been put in jeopardy. Then, Israel said Hamas had broken the terms of the agreement by not releasing a female civilian hostage, Arbel Yehud. In response, it delayed opening access for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the north of Gaza for 48 hours. That was resolved when Arbel Yehud was freed in an extra handover before the next scheduled for the following later accused Israel of not living up to its commitments to permit heavy machinery, tents and caravans into Gaza. It then said it would not carry out the next hostage handover as scheduled. That prompted threats from both Netanyahu and the US President Donald Trump that all out war would resume in Gaza if the hostages weren't freed as agreed. With the clock ticking down, Hamas agreed to release just in the past few days, the discovery that the body Hamas handed over on Thursday as that of Shiri Bibas turned out not to be her. That set off new anger and shock in Israel, where the images of Shiri trying to shield her two young children as they were abducted on 7 October, 2023, is seen as the most potent symbol of the horror of that day. Netanyahu denounced Hamas for what he called a "cruel and evil violation" of the agreement. Once again, the ceasefire was kept on track only at the last moment by Hamas providing another body within a day that this time did indeed prove to be these incidents have shown how fragile the ceasefire process remains. They may also have contributed to the fact talks on the second phase - due to start earlier this month - have not yet got under way. Time is running out, with the first phase due to end in a week's has offered to release the remaining hostages due to be freed in the second phase in one go, but only if Israel pulls all its forces out of Gaza and there is a permanent end to the has demanded the complete disarmament of Hamas, which it has so far rejected. The stage-managed ceremonies at each hostage handover, which Netanyahu has so strongly condemned, are intended to show it is still a force to be reckoned with in Israel, voices on the right demand the government resumes its war against Hamas, while the families of the hostages - backed by much of Israel - say securing the release of the remaining hostages is what matters above and beyond all plan for Gaza has brought new uncertainty into the equation. The third phase of the ceasefire is meant to set Gaza on the path towards reconstruction and renewal. Arab states are hurriedly trying to come up with a concrete alternative proposal in which Palestinians would continue to live in Gaza while it is rebuilt, rather than being removed from the enclave as envisaged in Trump's future governance of Gaza also remains a key sticking point, with Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries all so far appearing to have contradictory issues will require difficult negotiations, which will be conducted amid the constant risk of a return to war, for which some on both sides continue to for now, the mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US may have their work cut out just getting the first phase of the ceasefire over the line.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The released Palestinian prisoners are not hostages
It is impossible to imagine what the Israeli hostages have been through since the October 7 attacks. Yet even on their release their suffering has been cruelly exploited. The release of the hostages has become a sickening ritual, carefully choreographed by the terrorists of Hamas as a shameless propaganda spectacle. Last week, when four female hostages were released, Hamas forced the women to wear ill-fitting army uniforms and made them wave and smile from a specially-constructed stage. They were made to thank their captors, terrorists who had taken them from their beds, exploited and imprisoned them. With a final flourish of mocking cruelty, the women were presented with goodie bags of farewell gifts and certificates of captivity. It was simply grotesque. The hostage exchange that followed a few days later took on a greater edge of menace and danger. 29-year-old Arbel Yehud was forced to make her way through baying Palestinian crowds before reaching safety. Alongside her, 80 year-old Gadi Moses somehow composed himself with unthinkable dignity before the hate mob. Hamas wants these ugly scenes to be projected around the world, to reach us all via our TV screens and phones. They intend to project power, control and the promise of future terrorist violence. Their masked fighters strut and brandish guns for the cameras to warn they are ready to inflict genocidal terror attacks again if they are given the chance. You could argue that all media organisations providing live coverage of the hostage releases are giving a platform to terror. Yet this is perhaps unavoidable in our era of rolling news. What is unforgivable is the false equivalence made by so many news' organisations – including the BBC – between Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. This has distorted the story in a manner that will have delighted Hamas. News outlets across the globe have repeatedly referred to the Palestinians to be released as 'hostages'. They have equated the victims of a terrorist attack with violent murderers who seek to kill civilians and erase Israel from the map. Yet the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who are set for release as a result of the negotiations with Hamas have never been hostages, and the majority have been convicted of violent offences. They include Mohammad Abu Warda, a Hamas commander who ordered a 1996 bus bombing in Jerusalem in which 45 people died. Also set for release is Mahmoud Attallah: he had been jailed for life for the murder in 2003 of a Palestinian woman he deemed to be a 'collaborator' with the Israeli authorities. Then there are three members of the Silwan Squad, a terror cell responsible for multiple attacks in which 35 people were murdered and many more injured. These are but a few of the hundreds of prisoners who were rightly jailed by the Israeli authorities after due judicial process but are now set to go free. More than half are members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. That they are being released in vastly disproportionate numbers for the few hostages left alive in Gaza is a reflection of the very different values put on life by Israel and its terrorist foes. It is terrible enough for the hostages and their families to endure the grotesque circus being staged each week by Hamas. We must not add to their ordeal by falling for terrorist propaganda in subscribing to the 'hostage exchange' lie. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Saudi Gazette
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Israel releases 110 Palestinian prisoners on same day UNRWA ban comes into effect
RAMALLAH — Israel had delayed their release in protest against the way the seven hostages freed by Hamas were treated as they were handed over to Red Cross staff in Khan has released 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for eight hostages being held by Hamas, the third such swap since the ceasefire in Gaza came into exchange of hostages for prisoners is a key part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and former prisoners were met by thousands of cheering Palestinians as they were bussed in to the West Bank city of has so far released 15 hostages since 19 January, when the ceasefire came into effect. The 110 Palestinians released on Thursday brings the total of prisoners freed by Israel to Israel delayed their release in protest against the way the hostages were treated as they were handed over to Red Cross staff in Khan hostages were led through chaotic scenes of cheering crowds, escorted by armed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a sharp rebuke, warning of consequences if any of the hostages were harmed."During the release of our hostages today, we all saw shocking sights. We made it clear to the mediators that we do not intend to accept any risk to our hostages. And I add to that: whoever dares to harm our hostages – may his blood be on his head," he said in a televised hostage release saw two Israelis and five Thai nationals freed from Israeli hostages were Arbel Yehud, 29, and 80-year-old Gadi was immediately transferred to a hospital in Tel Aviv where his condition is said to be good."After initial evaluation, I'm happy to say that his condition is quite good and stable. It allows him to spend the first hours here with his family in a private environment, they can talk, they can be together, they can rest a little from this very exciting and not easy day," said Professor Gil Fire, the deputy director of the Ichilov Medical five Thai agricultural workers - Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao and Surasak Lamnao - were taken to a hospital in central Israel for medical were met at the Shamir Medical Centre by Thailand's ambassador to Israel, Pannabha a law passed last year by the Knesset banning the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from operating within Israeli territory also came into force on agency said it had received no official communication from Israeli authorities about how the ban would be implemented, but a day earlier around 25 international staffers left Jerusalem and decamped to the Jordanian capital, Amman."It's like a nightmare scenario. And it's also completely outlandish that a member state of the United Nations system would choose to undo the mandate of an organisation which, let's not forget, is mandated by the UN General Assembly," said UNRWA spokesperson, Jonathan immediate concern now is aid for Gaza, the majority of which comes from UNRWA and part of phase one of the ceasefire deal makes provision for a marked increase in aid deliveries to the Strip."We're responsible for over half of deliveries inside the Gaza Strip. Over half of the aid coming in. UNRWA has been described repeatedly, not by ourselves, but by others as the backbone of the international aid operation. Because the rest of the aid operation is just the UN presence, is just a few hundred people. Without UNRWA being able to operate, there's a very real risk of this humanitarian operation collapsing," Fowler has long been at odds with UNRWA, claiming its existence has prolonged the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. It also alleges that around a dozen of UNRWA's 13,000 employees in Gaza participated in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that sparked the war in Gaza and that many others support or sympathise with the militant group. The agency denies knowingly aiding armed groups and says it acts quickly to purge any suspected militants among its staff. — Euronews
