Latest news with #EffieDefrin
Boston Globe
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Israeli-backed aid sites in Gaza close temporarily after deadly shootings
Advertisement Also on Wednesday, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza because it was not linked to the release of hostages. The resolution before the UN's most powerful body also did not condemn Hamas' deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza — two other US demands. The 14 other members of the 15-nation council voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'catastrophic' and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory. The pause in military operations in Gaza came after days in which dozens of Palestinians trying to reach one of the foundation's sites in the southern Gaza city of Rafah were killed after coming under fire, according to local health workers. Advertisement The circumstances of the episodes remain contested. On Tuesday, the Red Cross and Gaza health officials said that at least 27 people had been killed in the second large-scale deadly shooting in recent days. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said a number of civilians had been injured and killed in an area outside the site but did not provide a number. According to the Red Cross, 'The majority of cases suffered gunshot wounds. Again, all responsive patients said they were trying to reach an assistance distribution site.' The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire roughly a third of a mile from the distribution site after they identified 'several suspects moving toward them' and away from the Israeli-designated access route. After they failed to respond to warning shots, troops fired 'near a few individual suspects,' the military said. Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the Israeli military's chief spokesperson, later suggested that the casualty numbers from the incident were inflated but did not provide an alternate toll. He said the Israeli military was investigating. On Sunday, more than 20 Palestinians were killed near an aid site, according to Gaza health officials. An Israeli military official said troops had fired 'warning shots' toward Palestinians roughly a kilometer away, although the Israeli military formally denied shooting civilians 'near or within' the site. But the deadly episodes have further ensnarled the Israeli-backed aid effort, which has come under severe international criticism. Hamish Falconer, a British Foreign Office minister responsible for the Middle East, called for an 'immediate and independent investigation' into the mass casualty events and criticized the new aid system. 'Israel's newly introduced measures for aid delivery are inhumane, foster desperation, and endanger civilians,' he said in Parliament. Advertisement Hunger has become widespread in Gaza after an 80-day Israeli blockade on food, fuel, medicine, and other supplies. The Israeli government began relaxing those restrictions last month and allowed some aid to enter the enclave, much of which has been destroyed during the war. Israel has said that the new aid distribution system, with sites in areas secured by Israeli troops and overseen mainly by US contractors, would prevent the supplies from falling into the hands of Hamas. The United Nations, however, says there is no evidence that Hamas systematically diverted international aid under the previous UN-coordinated distribution framework. The UN and other aid groups have boycotted the initiative and have warned that it could endanger Palestinian civilians by forcing them to travel on foot through a war zone and past Israeli lines. The rollout of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been chaotic. Its executive director resigned hours before the initiative was set to begin operations, and Palestinians pushed through fences at one of the sites last week, prompting Israeli troops to fire warning shots. Huge crowds of hungry Palestinians have been arriving early each morning at the aid sites, often walking for miles in the predawn darkness. Palestinian witnesses have described a violent scramble for whatever boxes of food are available. The foundation has pushed back against much of the criticism, arguing that Hamas is trying to undermine the initiative. In a statement Tuesday, the foundation said more than 100,000 boxes of food had been allocated at the sites. Advertisement
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Health
- USA Today
Trump-backed Gaza aid sites temporarily close after dozens killed in shootings
Trump-backed Gaza aid sites temporarily close after dozens killed in shootings Dozens of people were killed and injured near an aid site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a Trump administration-backed aid group. Show Caption Hide Caption Injured rushed to Gaza hospital after deadly Israeli attack An Israeli attack near an aid distribution killed at least 31 people in Gaza, local health authorities said. WASHINGTON − A Gaza aid group backed by the Trump administration is on the ropes after dozens of Palestinians were shot dead while trying to collect food from its militarized checkpoints, humanitarian officials said. The group temporarily paused operations on June 4 and said it was talking to Israel's military about safeguarding civilians after a hospital reported the recent deaths of at least 48 people trying to reach an aid site. The new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has denied anyone was injured – let alone killed – at the aid sites since they started operations on May 26. But shooting deaths and injuries have mounted among masses of Palestinians walking to the foundation's distribution points. Israel's forces "carried out warning fire" around a third of a mile from the Rafah distribution site on June 3, IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin said, "targeting a few individuals who were approaching in a way that posed a security threat." But the number of deaths and injuries exceeded "a few." Hospital workers described two shootings near a distribution site in Rafah, in southern Gaza, as "mass casualty" events. On June 1, medics received 179 wounded people, of whom 21 were dead on arrival, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which operates the field hospital. Another influx of 184 wounded arrived at the Red Cross field hospital June 3, the ICRC said in a statement; 19 were declared dead on arrival, and eight more died of their wounds not long afterwards. "Again, all responsive patients said they were trying to reach an assistance distribution site," the ICRC said. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has faced heavy criticism from established aid organizations, who alleged its closeness with Israel and militarized aid model would put civilians in harms way. With large groups of Palestinians passing by armed Israeli soldiers to collect food, "every day, they're running the risk of a mass shooting," Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of Refugees International, told USA TODAY. USA TODAY was not able to independently verify the number of people killed and wounded − or who fired the shots. A Gaza Humanitarian Foundation spokesperson confirmed operations were paused on June 4, adding the group was in discussions with the Israeli Defense Forces about how it could "enhance its security measures beyond the immediate perimeter" of the sites. While Israel blamed Hamas for the gunshot deaths and injuries, the foundation asked the IDF to "enhance" training for soldiers and "introduce measures that guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks near IDF military perimeters," according to a statement. In an email a day earlier, the foundation said that although "aid distribution was conducted safely and without incident," the IDF was investigating whether civilians were injured at "an area well beyond" its operating area. "We recognize the difficult nature of the situation and advise all civilians to remain in the safe corridor when traveling to our distribution sites," the group said. Konyndyk said the foundation's operating model made mass shootings a 'very predictable risk.' It 'forces huge crowds of desperately hungry people to pass through IDF security perimeters in order to get to the aid distribution sites,' he said. A solution to Gaza's food crisis? Israel completely shut down all aid entering Gaza for nearly three months beginning in early March, accusing Hamas of stealing the supplies. As the international community warned of imminent mass starvation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation appeared on the scene. The group touted its distribution sites, with high fences and armed guards, as a way to prevent theft while getting food to Palestinians. Israel has also long accused the United Nations, which previously distributed most of Gaza's aid, of anti-Israel bias. But distrust of the new group bloomed among aid workers over its ties to Israel. The foundation has also been criticized for opening just four sites throughout the 2 million-person enclave, forcing Palestinians to walk long distances to receive aid. Israel said militants had opened fire on civilians trying to collect aid on June 1, blaming Hamas for "spreading rumors" and "fake news" that its soldiers were behind the gunfire. Hamas is "trying bluntly, violently to stop the people of Gaza from reaching those distribution centers," Defrin said in a video statement. The U.S. has stood behind its ally. "It is Hamas that continues to terrorize and intimidate those who seek food aid," U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in a June 2 statement. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the shootings merited an independent investigation. "It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food," he said in a June 2 statement. More: Chaos and criticism for Trump-backed Gaza aid plan as 47 are injured Israel dropped its aid blockade in mid-May. Humanitarian organizations say only a trickle of aid has reached its population, which is on the brink of famine. Israel has accused Hamas of looting aid – a charge refuted by the World Food Program and other aid organizations, which say starving people have raided recently arriving trucks and warehouses amid the mass food shortage. Israel launched its siege of Gaza after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killed 1,200 Israelis. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Leaders
17 hours ago
- General
- Leaders
US-Backed Gaza Aid Centers Close Temporarily After Deadly Shooting
Aid centers in hunger-stricken Gaza will temporarily close on Wednesday, according to a controversial US-backed agency. The Israeli army warned that roads leading to distribution stations 'are considered combat zones.' This announcement follows a tragic incident where twenty-seven people died in southern Gaza on Tuesday. Israeli troops opened fire near one of the centers operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Israel recently eased its blockade of the Palestinian enclave. However, the United Nations has stated that the entire population remains at risk of famine. The UN Security Council will vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian access to Gaza. This measure is expected to face a veto from the United States. The GHF announced that its 'distribution centers will be closed for renovation, reorganisation, and efficiency improvement work' on Wednesday. They plan to resume operations on Thursday. The Israeli army confirmed the temporary closure and warned against travelling on roads leading to the distribution centers. Controversy Surrounding GHF Operations The GHF, which began operations a week ago, has faced criticism from the UN and major aid groups. They have refused to cooperate with the GHF due to concerns that it serves Israeli military objectives. Following Tuesday's deadly incident, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing of Palestinians seeking food aid as 'unacceptable.' Israeli authorities and the GHF, which employs contracted US security, denied allegations that the Israeli army shot at civilians, stating that the incident is under investigation. The Israeli military insists that its forces do not prevent Gazans from collecting aid. Army spokesperson Effie Defrin stated that soldiers fired at suspects who 'were approaching in a way that endangered' the troops. He confirmed that the 'incident is being investigated.' International Response to Civilian Casualties UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned such attacks against civilians as 'unconscionable.' He stated that they 'constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.' The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that Gazans face an 'unprecedented scale and frequency of recent mass casualty incidents.' The United States acknowledged that a US-backed relief effort in Gaza has succeeded in distributing meals. However, they also recognized the need for improvement following reports of shootings near the GHF center. Meanwhile, a boat organized by an international activist coalition is sailing toward Gaza to deliver aid. Israel has intensified its offensive, claiming it aims to defeat the Palestinian group Hamas, with health ministry in Gaza reported that at least 4,240 people have died since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, bringing the war's overall toll to 54,510, mostly civilians. Short link : Post Views: 82
Roya News
18 hours ago
- General
- Roya News
Gaza aid centers close temporarily as shooting of civilians draws global outrage
Humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza faced a fresh setback on Wednesday after the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced the temporary closure of its centers, citing a need for 'renovation, reorganisation and efficiency improvement.' The decision comes just one day after 27 Palestinians were killed near one of the centers in southern Gaza, when the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire as crowds gathered to receive food. The IOF, which confirmed the closures, issued a warning to residents to avoid roads leading to the GHF sites, declaring them 'combat zones.' No further information was given on the duration or specifics of the so-called renovations. The shooting incident has drawn international condemnation, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling the deaths of civilians seeking food 'unacceptable.' The IOF has denied deliberately targeting civilians, claiming troops opened fire on individuals who were 'approaching in a way that endangered' soldiers. IOF spokesperson Effie Defrin confirmed an investigation is underway. The GHF, which began operations just last week with US backing and private funding sources, has also denied responsibility. The organization employs US-contracted security forces and has faced criticism for operating without cooperation from the UN or major humanitarian agencies, who have raised concerns about the group's ties to IOF interests. Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk labeled attacks on civilians as 'unconscionable,' warning they may constitute 'a grave breach of international law and a war crime.' The International Committee of the Red Cross echoed those concerns, stating that Gazans are experiencing an 'unprecedented scale and frequency' of mass casualty events. As the situation worsens, the UN Security Council is set to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. However, the measure is expected to be blocked by the US.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Gaza officials say Israeli forces killed 27 heading to aid site
RAFAH: Israeli forces fired on people as they headed toward an aid distribution site in Gaza on Tuesday, killing at least 27, Palestinian health officials and witnesses said, in the third such shooting in three days. The army said it fired 'near a few individual suspects' who left the designated route, approached its forces and ignored warning shots. The near-daily shootings have occurred after an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation established aid distribution points inside Israeli military zones, a system it says is designed to circumvent Hamas. The United Nations has rejected the new system, saying it doesn't address Gaza's mounting hunger crisis and allows Israel to use aid as a weapon. The Israeli military said it 'fired to drive away suspects." In a statement, army spokesperson Effie Defrin said "the numbers of casualties published by Hamas were exaggerated' but that the incident was being investigated. He said the army is not preventing Palestinians in Gaza from reaching aid in the distribution areas, but rather allowing it. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates the sites, says there has been no violence in or around them. On Tuesday, it acknowledged that the Israeli military was investigating whether civilians were wounded 'after moving beyond the designated safe corridor and into a closed military zone,' in an area that was 'well beyond our secure distribution site.' A spokesperson for the group said it was 'saddened to learn that a number of civilians were injured and killed after moving beyond the designated safe corridor." Gaza's roughly 2 million people are almost completely reliant on international aid because Israel's offensive has destroyed nearly all of Gaza's food production capabilities. Israel imposed a blockade on supplies into Gaza in March, and limited aid began to enter again late last month after pressure from allies and warnings of famine.
