Latest news with #Gaza crisis
Fox News
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Israel slams UN for ignoring aid already in Gaza while demanding more
Israel is calling out international organizations and the United Nations for allegedly leaving pallets of aid uncollected while decrying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "Right now, there are thousands of pallets of humanitarian aid already inside Gaza, waiting to be picked up and distributed from the crossings by U.N. agencies and international organizations. Instead of publishing statements about 'Gaza needing more aid' or 'trucks waiting to enter,' aid can be collected and distributed to the civilian population," the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), an Israeli government agency, wrote on X. In response to a Fox News Digital request for comment on COGAT's statement, U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Spokesperson Eri Kaneko said the "restrictive operational environment" in Gaza has been making it more difficult to deliver humanitarian services. "Throughout this war, we have been clear that without meaningful safety, security or unimpeded access, large-scale humanitarian operations are impossible," Kaneko told Fox News Digital. "Planned UN missions to deliver aid and services continue to face significant access challenges, with many either denied outright or obstructed due to unpredictable and lengthy coordination procedures." Meanwhile, the GHF joined Israel in its criticisms of the U.N.'s handling of aid to Gaza. "No one is limiting the U.N.'s ability to deliver aid—certainly not GHF. In fact, GHF successfully pushed for the U.N.'s reauthorization to operate after Israel reopened access to Gaza," a GHF spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "The real problem is not access. It's execution. The U.N. currently has thousands of pallets of aid inside Gaza awaiting distribution because their trucks are consistently looted, hijacked, or overrun by Hamas, armed gangs, or desperate civilians. This is why over 400 U.N. distribution sites sit empty." COGAT's Tuesday statement comes shortly after U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher pushed a statement co-signed by his office declaring that "the fuel shortage in Gaza has reached critical levels." "For the first time in 130 days, a small amount of fuel entered Gaza this week. This is a welcome development, but it is a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running," the statement signed by several U.N. agencies read. In response, COGAT slammed Fletcher, saying that he was either unaware of the work his staff has done on the ground or was "spreading lies." "Fuel has been entering Gaza for over a week now for essential humanitarian needs, with your coordination. So, either get updated or stop spreading lies," COGAT wrote. The U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has faced harsh criticism from the international community, even as the organization has surpassed 76 million meals distributed in the Strip. "Each delivery reflects the bravery and dedication of our aid workers, who are operating in some of the world's toughest humanitarian conditions," GHF Interim Executive Director John Acree said in a statement on X. COGAT did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment in time for publication.
Al Mayadeen
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Hamas seeks full Israeli withdrawal, aid in Gaza truce talks
The Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas confirmed Wednesday evening that its leadership is continuing 'intensive and responsible' efforts to ensure the success of ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a comprehensive ceasefire agreement to end the Israeli regime's devastating war on Gaza. In an official statement, Hamas stressed its commitment to reaching an agreement that would guarantee the urgent and sustained flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis, and bring an end to the aggression that began on October 7, 2023. The group affirmed it has been 'working seriously and positively' with mediators to overcome obstacles in the talks, despite what it described as the intransigence of the Israeli occupation. Hamas emphasized that it had shown the 'necessary flexibility' in pursuit of a successful outcome, including agreeing to release 10 Israeli captives held in Gaza as part of a broader agreement. However, the movement made it clear that key issues remain under negotiation, particularly the permanent and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid, the full withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of a complete and lasting ceasefire. A senior Palestinian official speaking to Al Mayadeen revealed that the issue of Israeli withdrawal continues to stall progress in the Doha negotiations. 'The withdrawal point is still unresolved, and it is directly linked to the aid mechanism, and vice versa,' the official said. The source added that the Israeli military refuses to withdraw from several strategic areas, including Rafah, eastern Khan Younis, eastern Gaza City, and Tal al-Zaatar in the northern part of the Strip. Furthermore, the occupation insists on maintaining control over the aid entry points it has established during the conflict, a mechanism the Palestinian Resistance unequivocally rejects. On the diplomatic front, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-hour overnight meeting with the Qatari delegation at the White House to advance discussions on a Gaza ceasefire. The talks follow a second meeting in 24 hours between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas announced on Saturday that it has completed wide-ranging consultations with fellow Palestinian factions and submitted a joint response to mediators on the latest ceasefire framework aimed at halting the Israeli occupation's war on the Gaza Strip. In a statement issued by its National Relations Office, Hamas said it held 'an extensive series of contacts' with leaders of national and Islamic factions to coordinate and agree on a single position regarding the proposal's terms and the mechanisms for implementation. The talks, described as 'serious and practical,' produced what the movement called a 'unified national consensus' backing the stance of the Palestinian Resistance. 'All factions welcomed this unified reply,' the statement noted, adding that the response was forwarded to mediators 'in a positive spirit and with full unanimity' after both internal and external consultations were finalized. Hamas stressed that the joint effort reflects 'responsible Palestinian leadership' seeking to preserve the achievements of the Palestinian people and ensure a united front to end the genocide being waged against our people in Gaza. An Israeli official told Israeli media on Saturday that an Israeli delegation will travel to Doha in the coming days 'to complete the deal,' indicating that indirect negotiations are poised to resume in the Qatari capital. The response follows the unveiling of what US President Donald Trump labeled a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire, an initiative reportedly rooted in the Witkoff Plan and coordinated with Qatar, Egypt, and the US administration. According to Israeli reports, the deal includes phased Israeli military withdrawals, the release of captives and bodies, and a framework for extended negotiations toward a permanent agreement.
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Gaza fatalities soar as UN says 875 Palestinians killed in 6 weeks near aid sites
The UN rights office said on Tuesday it had recorded at least 875 killings within the past six weeks at aid points in Gaza run by the US-and-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and convoys run by other relief groups, including the United Nations. Most those killed were in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, while the remaining 201 were killed on the routes of other aid convoys. The GHF uses private US security and logistics companies to get supplies into Gaza, largely bypassing a UN-led system that Israel alleges has let Hamas-led militants loot aid shipments intended for civilians. Hamas denies the allegation. The GHF, which began distributing food packages in Gaza in late May after Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade, previously said that such incidents have not occurred on its sites and accused the UN of misinformation, which it denies. The GHF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest UN figures. People mourn the death of Palestinians who lost their lives while waiting for humanitarian aid at the Netzarim corridor. Photo: dpa 'The data we have is based on our own information gathering through various reliable sources, including medical human rights and humanitarian organizations,' Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva.
Al Jazeera
8 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
Video shows shooting at crowded Gaza food collection site
Video shows shooting at crowded Gaza food collection site NewsFeed Video shows Israeli soldiers opening fire towards Palestinians trying to reach a food distribution site in southern Gaza. At least 838 people have been killed at or near GHF aid sites since May. Video Duration 02 minutes 20 seconds 02:20 Video Duration 01 minutes 10 seconds 01:10 Video Duration 01 minutes 34 seconds 01:34 Video Duration 00 minutes 47 seconds 00:47 Video Duration 03 minutes 10 seconds 03:10 Video Duration 00 minutes 39 seconds 00:39 Video Duration 02 minutes 42 seconds 02:42
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Israel not yet fully implementing Gaza aid agreement, EU says
Israel has taken some positive steps but is not yet fully implementing an agreement with the European Union to increase humanitarian aid supplies in Gaza , EU aid chief Hadja Lahbib said on Tuesday. 'We have (seen) some positive developments. It's true that we have trucks that are able to enter, but we don't know exactly how many. And what is clear is that the agreement is not fully implemented,' she told reporters before a meeting EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Meanwhile, one in ten children screened in clinics run by the United Nations refugee agency in Gaza is malnourished, Unrwa said. 'Our health teams are confirming that malnutrition rates are increasing in Gaza, especially since the siege was tightened more than four months ago on the second of March,' Unrwa's Director of Communications, Juliette Touma, told reporters in Geneva via a video link from Amman, Jordan. READ MORE [ Future of Israel's plan to force Gazans to southern city hangs in balance Opens in new window ] The UN rights office said it had recorded at least 875 killings within the past six weeks at aid points in Gaza run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and convoys run by other relief groups, including the United Nations. The majority of those killed were in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, while the remaining 201 were killed on the routes of other aid convoys. The GHF uses private US security and logistics companies to get supplies into Gaza, largely bypassing a UN-led system that Israel alleges has let Hamas-led militants loot aid shipments intended for civilians. Hamas denies the allegation. The GHF has repeatedly denied incidents have occurred on its sites and accused the UN of misinformation, which it denies. Reuters
