Latest news with #GHF
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
US-backed aid model wastes resources, distracts from atrocities, says UNRWA head
Palestinians heading to receive food and aid packages from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. (AP pic) TOKYO : The new US-backed aid distribution model in Gaza is a waste of resources and a distraction from 'atrocities', the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini said on Wednesday. 'I believe it is a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities. We already have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose,' Lazzarini said in Japan. 'The humanitarian community in Gaza, including UNRWA, is ready. We have the experience and expertise to reach people in need,' he said. 'Meanwhile, the clock is ticking towards famine, so humanitarian (work) must be allowed to do its life-saving work now,' he added. The new US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operations at an aid distribution centre in southern Gaza on Tuesday. Chaotic scenes ensued as thousands of Palestinians rushed into the centre in Rafah, AFP journalists reported. The incident came days after the partial easing of a total aid blockade on the territory that Israel imposed on March 2, leading to severe shortages of food and medicine. 'We have seen yesterday the shocking images of hungry people pushing against fences, desperate for food. It was chaotic, undignified and unsafe,' Lazzarini said in Tokyo. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later acknowledged a 'loss of control momentarily' at the centre, but a senior military official said the distribution was nonetheless 'a success'. The United States announced the new model in early May, sidelining the UN. Israel has facilitated GHF's efforts to distribute aid in Gaza, saying it aims to keep supplies out of Hamas's hands. But, GHF has faced accusations of helping Israel fulfil its military objectives while excluding Palestinians, bypassing the UN system, and failing to adhere to humanitarian principles. 'The model of aid distribution proposed by Israel does not align with core humanitarian principle. It will deprive a large part of Gaza, the highly vulnerable people, of desperately needed assistance,' Lazzarini said Wednesday.
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Around 47 injured in chaos, shooting at Gaza relief centre
Thousands of Palestinians rushed to a new aid distribution centre run by the US-backed GHF yesterday. (AP pic) GENEVA : Around 47 people were injured, largely due to gunshots fired by the Israeli military, during chaotic scenes at a new aid distribution centre in Gaza, a senior UN official said today. Thousands of Palestinians rushed into the centre run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) yesterday, AFP journalists reported, as Israel implemented a new distribution system that bypasses the UN. The incident in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip came days after the partial easing of a total aid blockade on the Palestinian territory that Israel imposed on March 2, leading to severe shortages of food and medicine. 'From the information we have, there are about 47 people who have been injured' in yesterday's incident, Ajith Sunghay, the head of UN human rights office in the Palestinian territories, told the UN correspondents' association in Geneva. He added that 'most of those injured are due to gunshots' and based on the information he has, 'it was shooting from the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)'. Sunghay stressed that his office was still assessing and gathering information on the full picture of events. 'The numbers could go up. We are trying to confirm what has happened to them,' in terms of how seriously people were injured, Sunghay added. The Israeli military said its 'troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound' yesterday, and that it had re-established 'control over the situation'. The UN and international aid agencies have said they will not cooperate with the GHF, amid accusations it is working with Israel without any Palestinian involvement. Sunghay said: 'We have raised numerous concerns with this mechanism. 'What we saw yesterday is a very clear example of the dangers of distributing food under the circumstances which the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is doing'.
The Herald
an hour ago
- General
- The Herald
Deadly break in at UN warehouse as aid trickles into Gaza
UN VS GHF Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel's killing of Hamas Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar marked a turn towards the 'complete defeat of Hamas', adding that Israel was 'taking control of food distribution' in Gaza. Israel has accused Hamas of diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied stealing aid. At the UN, more than half the Security Council called on Wednesday for the 15-member body to act on Gaza. Slovenia's UN Ambassador Samuel Zbogar said some members are working on a draft resolution to demand unimpeded aid access. 'Remaining silent is not an option,' he told the council. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council that Israel would allow aid deliveries 'for the immediate future' via both the UN and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began aid deliveries on Monday. However, Israel ultimately wants the UN to work through the GHF, which is using private US security and logistics companies to transport aid into Gaza for distribution by civilian teams at so-called secure distribution sites. 'The UN should put their ego aside and co-operate with the new mechanism,' Danon told reporters before the council meeting. The UN and other international aid groups have refused to work with the GHF because they say the plan is not neutral. 'This new scheme is surveillance-based rationing that legitimises a policy of deprivation by design,' senior UN aid official for the occupied Palestinian territories, Jonathan Whittall, told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday. 'The UN has refused to participate in this scheme, warning that it is logistically unworkable and violates humanitarian principles by using aid as a tool in Israel's broader efforts to depopulate areas of Gaza,' he said. WARNING SHOTS The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, told Reuters it was 'sad and disgusting' that the UN and other groups would not work with the GHF, describing the foundation's aid distribution as 'effective so far'. The Israeli military on Tuesday said it fired warning shots in the area outside a GHF distribution site, which was briefly rushed by people waiting for aid. Footage shared on social media showed fences broken down by crowds as private security contractors fell back before restoring order. 'I am a big man, but I couldn't hold back my tears when I saw the images of women, men and children racing for some food,' said Rabah Rezik, 65, a father of seven from Gaza City. The UN human rights office said on Wednesday that 47 people had been injured on Tuesday while seeking aid from the GHF, citing information from partners on the ground. It could not give a specific location of where people were injured. The GHF said no-one was injured at the distribution site. The foundation said aid distribution continued on Wednesday without incident as it opened a second distribution hub. Across the two sites it has so far given out the equivalent of 840,262 meals. The GHF said it is working to open four sites and expand further in Gaza in the weeks ahead. The UN said that since aid deliveries resumed last week Israel had approved about 800 truckloads of relief. But UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that fewer than 500 truckloads had made it to the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, 'where we and our partners could collect just over 200 of them — limited by insecurity and restricted access.' Israel is under pressure over Gaza's dire humanitarian situation. France, Britain, Canada and Germany have said they may take action if the military campaign is not halted. Italy on Wednesday said the offensive had become unacceptable. Reuters
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'Hordes of hungry people' stormed Gaza warehouse, says WFP
Thousands of Palestinians have stormed a United Nations warehouse in central Gaza, with the World Food Programme reporting two possible deaths in the disorder as Israel and the UN traded blame over the deepening hunger crisis. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, where aid has finally begun to trickle in after a two-month blockade, is dire following 18 months of devastating war. Food security experts say starvation is looming for one in five people. AFP footage showed crowds of Palestinians breaking into a WFP warehouse in Deir Al-Balah and taking bags of emergency food supplies as gunshots rang out. "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 in a statement on X. "Initial reports indicate two people died and several were injured in the tragic incident," WFP said, adding that it was still confirming details. Israel accused the United Nations yesterday of seeking to block Gaza aid distribution, as the global body said it was doing its utmost to facilitate distribution of the limited assistance greenlit by Israel's authorities. The issue of aid has come sharply into focus amid starvation fears and intense criticism of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private US-backed aid group that has bypassed the longstanding UN-led system in the territory. Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council that aid was entering Gaza under limited authorisation by Israel at the Kerem Shalom crossing, and via a "new distribution mechanism developed in coordination with the US and key international partners". Mr Danon was referring to the GHF operation, which he accused the UN of "trying to block", saying it was "using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism". . A Palestinian medical source reported at least one death. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reiterated the world body's opposition to coordinating with GHF. "We will not participate in operations that do not meet our humanitarian principles," Mr Dujarric said. He said the UN was doing all it could to send aid, adding that since last week 800 truckloads were approved by Israel but fewer than 500 made it into Gaza. As the war entered its 600th day yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the offensive had "changed the face of the Middle East". He said it had killed tens of thousands of militants including Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas's presumed Gaza leader and the brother of Yahya Sinwar - mastermind of the October 2023 attacks that sparked the Gaza war. Israeli media said Mohammed Sinwar was targeted by strikes in southern Gaza earlier this month. His brother was killed in October 2024. In Washington, US envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about a possible ceasefire, saying he expected to propose a plan soon. "I have some very good feelings about getting to a ... temporary ceasefire, and a long term resolution, a peaceful resolution of that conflict," he said. But Gazans remained pessimistic. "600 days have passed and nothing has changed. Death continues, and Israeli bombing does not stop," said Bassam Daloul. "Even hoping for a ceasefire feels like a dream and a nightmare." 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 6.29am - the exact time the 7 October 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. "Their conditions immediately worsen, food diminishes, pressure increases, and bombings and military actions do not save them, they endanger their lives," she said. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 3,924 people had been killed in the territory since Israel ended the ceasefire on 18 March, taking the war's overall toll to 54,084, mostly civilians. Out of 251 hostages abducted during the 7 October attack, 57 remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Some 1,218 people were killed in the Hamas attack, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Four people killed as starving Palestinians storm Gaza aid warehouse
'Hordes of hungry people' stormed a warehouse in central Gaza as aid trickled into the Palestinian enclave on the brink of famine, a United Nations agency said on Thursday. Eyewitness video independently verified by Reuters showed large crowds of people pushing into the warehouse and removing bags and boxes while gunfire could be heard in the background. Doctors at al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah reported that two people died after being crushed by the crowd and two more people were shot dead. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the gunfire. The incident comes one day after the Israeli military was seen firing warning shots in the area outside a distribution site run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which was briefly rushed by people waiting for aid. The World Food Programme, a UN agency, said the deadly stampede showed an immediate scale-up of food aid was necessary 'to reassure people that they will not starve'. '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 in a statement on X. 'Initial reports indicate two people died and several were injured in the tragic incident,' WFP said, adding that it was still confirming details. #Gaza — WFP in the Middle East & North Africa (@WFP_MENA) May 28, 2025 On Tuesday, footage from the GHF site showed fences broken down by crowds as private security contractors fell back before restoring order. The UN human rights office said that 47 people had been injured. The foundation said aid distribution continued on Wednesday without incident as it opened a second distribution hub. Across the two sites it has so far given out the equivalent of 840,262 meals. The GHF said it is working to open four sites and expand further in Gaza in the weeks ahead. Israel ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago following international pressure but so far only the GHF and the UN has been allowed to deliver the food and supplies. UN Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had so far allowed the UN to deliver was 'comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk' when everyone in Gaza was facing the risk of famine. Israel has denied cutting of aid, instead accusing the terror group Hamas of diverting and seizing supplies. Hamas has denied the claims. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel's killing of Hamas Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar marked a turn towards the 'complete defeat of Hamas', adding that Israel was 'taking control of food distribution' in Gaza. At the UN, Slovenia's UN Ambassador Samuel Zbogar said some members are working on a draft resolution to demand unimpeded aid access. 'Remaining silent is not an option,' he told the council. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council that Israel would allow aid deliveries 'for the immediate future'. However, Israel ultimately wants the UN to work through the GHF, which is using private US security and logistics companies to transport aid into Gaza for distribution by civilian teams at so-called secure distribution sites. 'The UN should put their ego aside and cooperate with the new mechanism,' Mr Danon told reporters before the council meeting. The UN and other international aid groups have refused to work with the GHF because they say the plan is not neutral. People in Gaza have said they are frightened to attend GHF aid sites over concerns the deliveries are part of an Israeli plot to gather intelligence. A non-profit registered in Geneva and Delaware, it is still not clear who is funding GHF, which has been rocked by the recent resignation of two of its most senior officials. Jake Wood, the executive director, resigned on Sunday because GHF's plans could not be consistent with what he called the 'humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence'. David Burke, the chief operating officer, also resigned, sources told the Washington Post. Jonathan Whittall, a senior UN aid official for the occupied Palestinian territories, told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday: 'This new scheme is surveillance-based rationing that legitimises a policy of deprivation by design.' 'The UN has refused to participate in this scheme, warning that it is logistically unworkable and violates humanitarian principles by using aid as a tool in Israel's broader efforts to depopulate areas of Gaza,' he said.
