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Daily News Egypt
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Israel expands ground offensive in Gaza as humanitarian crisis reaches critical point
Israel has significantly expanded its ground operations in the Gaza Strip, deploying all regular infantry and armored brigades into the territory, according to Hebrew-language media reports on Saturday evening. The move marks a major escalation in the ongoing offensive, amid intensifying airstrikes and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The latest escalation follows a decision by the Israeli government to broaden its military campaign inside Gaza. Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that at least 52 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes since dawn Saturday. Since the start of hostilities on October 7, 2023, more than 176,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured—most of them women and children—according to local health authorities. Over 11,000 people are still reported missing. Amid mounting international concern over conditions in Gaza, uncertainty looms over the launch of the US-backed Gaza Relief Foundation, an initiative intended to manage food distribution in the enclave. Israeli outlet Ynet reported on Saturday that the American firm responsible for overseeing the foundation's operations has again delayed the start date, originally set for Sunday. According to the Associated Press, an internal letter suggests that Israel may allow longstanding humanitarian organizations to continue delivering non-food aid, while reserving food distribution exclusively for the new US-supported foundation. This represents a shift from Israel's previous plan to assume full control over all humanitarian aid. However, Israeli officials have not clarified what is included in the category of 'non-food' assistance. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) issued a stark warning on Saturday, saying Palestinian families are on the brink of famine and underscored the urgent need for a sustained and safe flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. 'Only a meaningful and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid can prevent the current catastrophe from escalating further,' the WFP wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Aid operations in Gaza have been severely restricted since Israel closed all border crossings on March 2. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) echoed the concern, saying that 500 to 600 aid trucks per day are needed to meet the population's basic needs. 'The people of Gaza cannot wait any longer,' the agency said in a statement on Facebook. Meanwhile, Gaza's Government Media Office accused Israel of executing a 'deliberate campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing,' asserting that Israeli forces now control roughly 77% of the territory. According to the office, this control has been achieved through a combination of direct military presence, indiscriminate fire that denies civilians access to their homes, and forced displacement that has driven thousands into repeated internal relocation. An investigation published Saturday by Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israeli forces attacked at least ten hospitals and clinics across Gaza in the past week, rendering many of them partially or completely inoperative. The assault on the European Hospital in Khan Younis is said to have marked the start of the expanded campaign—dubbed Operation Gideon Chariots—which has included widespread strikes on medical facilities. Separately, the Associated Press reported firsthand accounts from seven Palestinians who alleged they were used as human shields by Israeli forces in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Two Israeli soldiers reportedly confirmed their involvement in such practices, which are banned under international humanitarian law. Human rights organizations have expressed alarm, warning that the use of human shields appears to be growing more systematic. On the battlefield, Hamas' armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a coordinated ambush against Israeli troops on Tuesday in eastern Khan Younis. According to a statement posted on Telegram, fighters detonated explosives inside a house where Israeli soldiers had taken cover, followed by a second ambush involving gunfire and an explosive tunnel device targeting reinforcements.
Days of Palestine
24-05-2025
- Business
- Days of Palestine
Three Obstacles Facing Israel-US Aid Distribution Plan in Gaza
DayofPal– A controversial U.S.-backed aid distribution plan faces mounting refusal and logistical challenges just one day before its scheduled implementation at a time the humanitarian crisis deepens for more than 2.4 million residents of the Gaza Strip. The plan, spearheaded by the American nonprofit 'Gaza Relief Foundation' and led by a former U.S. Marine, proposes a distribution system tightly controlled by Israel and secured by private American security firms. However, the plan is encountering serious opposition, particularly from the United Nations and major humanitarian organizations. According to reports from Zman Israel, three major obstacles threaten the viability of this aid model: No Humanitarian Experience The plan relies on two private firms, Safe Reach Solutions and U.G. Solutions, both run by former U.S. military and CIA officers, and lacking any significant background in humanitarian work or knowledge of the Palestinian context. The involvement of executives formerly associated with Blackwater has raised concerns among relief agencies, many of which have declined to participate. Notably, Safe Reach Solutions has reportedly advertised positions on LinkedIn for 'humanitarian liaison officers' to bridge operations with the aid sector. Unclear Funding The Gaza Relief Foundation has yet to clarify how it will fund its operations, including the procurement of food and the payment of contractors. Israeli media revealed attempts to broker deals with Israeli companies to supply the aid material, prompting fears that the plan is blending humanitarian assistance with commercial gains for the Israeli occupation. Observers warn that this could compromise the neutrality of the aid effort. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that only minimal aid will be allowed into Gaza, a move experts warn could lead to inflated prices and widespread theft. A 20-kilogram food box meant to support a family for a week could become a highly coveted commodity. One senior Israeli diplomat acknowledged that Gaza residents carrying aid over long distances could be at risk of robbery. The plan to draw tens of thousands of people into queues each day was described as 'insane and unfeasible.' Widespread Criticism from UN UN humanitarian official Tom Fletcher criticized the aid model as a 'cruel sideshow' during a recent Security Council session. He warned that placing distribution centers only in southern and central Gaza could be seen as advancing Israel's objective of depopulating the north. Fletcher emphasized that the proposed model would not only exclude vital areas from receiving aid but also make humanitarian assistance conditional on political and military goals, effectively using hunger as a bargaining tool. The Washington Post reported that this plan could severely limit the operational capacity of established UN agencies and international relief groups in Gaza. Many organizations adhere strictly to principles of impartiality and independence, avoiding involvement with armed entities. Representatives from 10 major humanitarian organizations told the newspaper that limiting distribution to select southern locations would be discriminatory and could provoke further displacement. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed that the organization would not support a plan that disregards core humanitarian principles. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that both the Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator have pledged not to participate in any initiative that lacks neutrality or independence. The UN urged global leaders to push for an end to the blockade and enable unrestricted aid entry. 'Our teams remain on the ground in Gaza, ready to scale up deliveries as soon as the blockade is lifted,' the office stated. 'We have significant stocks of vital supplies waiting for entry.' Shortlink for this post:
