Latest news with #Hamas-imposed
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation denies five killed at aid distribution site
GHF stated that two Palestinians were ill from issues unrelated to facility security, that two food sites were operational, and had handed out 840,262 meals. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) on Thursday denied reports of five Palestinian deaths following the last two days of distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. According to GHF, "there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Their goal is to force a return to the status quo, even if it means risking lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza." "We continue to see false reporting about deaths, mass injuries, and chaos at the Secure Distribution Sites. To reiterate, there have been no deaths at any GHF location. To date, two Gazans have required medical care that was delivered on-site, one relating to dehydration and another who was injured by others seeking aid. Reports to the contrary originated from Hamas and are inaccurate," stated GHF. Also, GHF rebutted claims against it, stating that "no shots were fired at Palestinian crowds at the SDS [Safe Distribution Site] and there were no casualties." GHF stated that as of Wednesday, two Safe Distribution Sites were fully operational, and that across the two sites, approximately 14,550 food boxes had been distributed. The group said that each box feeds 5.5 people for 3.5 days, totaling 840,262 meals. More specifically, GHF said that its third SDS site was operational on Wednesday and distributed eight trucks worth of aid – enough for 378,262 meals. Additionally, COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) announced that 121 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday. They said that the trucks carried food, including flour for bakeries. GHF also said that no Palestinians at the site had been questioned or detained. They also noted that the site was not overrun or destroyed on Monday, though they stated that they anticipated that the area "may experience pressure due to acute hunger and Hamas-imposed blockades, which create dangerous conditions outside the gates." Approximately 997,920 meals were distributed on Thursday, according to GHF, bringing the total number of meals distributed to date to approximately 1,838,182 via roughly 17,280 boxes. The authority said that eight trucks of aid were distributed from the central Gaza site, totaling 7,680 boxes that provide 443,520 meals. Next, the first food site in Rafah distributed food from six trucks, totaling 5,760 boxes that provide 332,640 meals. Finally, the other Rafah food site continued operations, distributing four trucks of food totaling 3,840 boxes that provide 221,760 meals. In addition, GHF made some surprising news, saying that besides existing food sites in southern and central Gaza, which were the original plan, the authority plans to expand to establish more sites in northern Gaza in the coming weeks. "Operations will continue scaling, with plans to build additional sites across Gaza, including in the northern region, in the weeks ahead," said GHF. Originally, Israel said it would limit GHF operations, and would not include northern Gaza at all, or only at a much later stage. It was unclear what caused the change in policy, though it seems that many of the one million Palestinians in northern Gaza have not left, despite original IDF plans to get most of them to go to southern Gaza. "According to established protocol, for a brief moment, the GHF team intentionally relaxed its security protocols to safeguard againstcrowd reactions to finally receiving food. No beneficiaries were injured, no lives were lost, and all food available was distributed without interference. Order was restored without incident," the aid group reported. They noted that this type of reaction in conflict zones is expected, and that the aid group is "prepared" to continue with aid operations. Operations will continue to grow across 4 sites, with plans to build additional aid distribution sites across Gaza in the coming weeks, GHF said. Further, GHF rejected claims that any of its distributed content is fake. "GHF is publicly sharing authentic, unedited photos and videos from our operations, with only faces blurred to protect identities. Any claim that our documentation is fake or generated by AI is false and irresponsible," said the authority. Regarding attacks on a supposed GHF Facebook page, the authority responded, "GHF does not have a Facebook or any other social handles right now. A number of outlets today referenced a fraudulent Facebook page posing as GHF. That content is not affiliated with our organization." "We urge journalists and the public to verify sources carefully. In several instances, we are seeing news reports echo Hamas statements or online disinformation campaigns without verification for accuracy. These narratives endanger humanitarian efforts and mislead the public," continued GHF. Separately, COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) announced that 121 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday. They said that the trucks carried food, including flour for bakeries.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Israeli ambassador slams UN's 'mafia-like' tactics against US-backed Gaza foundation
UNITED NATIONS — Israeli United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon condemned what he called a "shakedown" by the U.N. to prevent Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) from working with the new U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). While addressing the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Danon claimed that the world body was using "threats, intimidation and retaliation" against NGOs that dared to defy the international body's call to boycott GHF. The Israeli diplomat described the U.N.'s response to NGOs cooperating with GHF as "mafia-like." "Without any discussion, without due process, the U.N. removed those NGOs from the shared aid database. That database is the central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza," Danon told the Security Council. "This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles. It is extortion of well-meaning NGOs that refuse to kiss the ring." In the same Security Council meeting, Acting U.S. Alternate Representative John Kelley urged the U.N. to work with GHF and Israel "to reach agreements on how to operationalize this system in a way that works for all." Kelley also emphasized the need to ensure that Hamas cannot benefit from any humanitarian aid distribution system that is established. New Us-backed Aid Group Begins Distributing Food In War-torn Gaza On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that it had opened another secure aid distribution site "without incident." The organization also addressed some claims about its operations. GHF said that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid. Read On The Fox News App GHF disputes reports that its sites were overrun on Tuesday: "GHF anticipated that the [safe distribution sites] may experience pressure due to acute hunger and Hamas-imposed blockades, which create dangerous conditions outside the gates. "According to established protocol, for a brief moment the GHF team intentionally relaxed its security protocols to safeguard against crowd reactions to finally receiving food. No beneficiaries were injured, no lives were lost and all food available was distributed without interference. Order was restored without incident. As in all emergency response situations, particularly in conflict zones, this type of reaction from stressed beneficiary populations is expected and we remain prepared to continue providing lifesaving assistance should disruptions occur. "Unfortunately, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Conditions remain very difficult and the lives of both Gazans and aid workers are at stake," GHF said in a statement. Israeli Ambassador Lashes Out At Un Official, Condemns Uk, France, Canada Statement On Aid The international community has not relented in its push against GHF. U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher — who once called the plan behind GHF a "fig leaf for further violence and displacement" of Palestinians in Gaza — has made his objections to the program clear. Fletcher made an appeal in a post on X to let the U.N. take control of aid distribution in Gaza. "We have the supplies, plan, will, and networks to deliver massive amounts of lifesaving aid to civilians in Gaza, in line with humanitarian principles, as the world is demanding," Fletcher wrote. Israel Turns Tables On Un Official Claiming 'Genocide' In Gaza With Basic Questions Earlier this month, Fletcher urged the international community not to "waste time" with a new plan when the U.N. already had one in place. On Wednesday, as Israel marked 600 days since the Oct. 7 massacre, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) noted that "121 trucks belonging to the U.N. and the international community" were allowed into the Gaza Strip. The IDF said that the trucks were carrying food and other article source: Israeli ambassador slams UN's 'mafia-like' tactics against US-backed Gaza foundation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Controversial aid foundation opens second Gaza distribution point
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced the opening on Wednesday of a second distribution centre for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, following the chaotic launch of its controversial operation the previous day. Food aid from eight trucks was distributed without incident from the new distribution centre, the foundation said in a statement. At the two distribution centres, 14,550 food packages had so far been distributed, it said. Each package should feed 5.5 people for three and a half days, amounting to an overall 840,262 meals. New food supplies had also arrived at the first distribution station in Rafah, the GHF said. Earlier, delays were reported following disturbances at the centre's opening on Tuesday. Contradictory claims about operation launch The UN Human Rights Office reported earlier on Wednesday that one person had been killed and 47 injured in chaotic scenes during Tuesday's launch of the controversial relief operation in the south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops had fired shots during the relief operation, according to information made available to the UN agency, its spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told dpa on Wednesday. The foundation rejected the claims however. "This is false," the foundation said. No shots had been fired at Palestinian crowds in the centre and there had been no casualties, it added. The Israeli military had previously stated that soldiers fired warning shots outside the centre. Challenging conditions The foundation said that the centre was neither overrun nor destroyed, contrary to media reports of chaos and looting. "GHF anticipated that the SDS [Safe Distribution Site] may experience pressure due to acute hunger and Hamas-imposed blockades, which create dangerous conditions outside the gates," the foundation wrote. It said that order was restored "without incident." "As in all emergency response situations, particularly in conflict zones, this type of reaction from stressed beneficiary populations is expected, and we remain prepared to continue providing life saving assistance should disruptions occur," the GHF added. The activities are now due to be expanded to all four planned locations. "Operations will continue scaling across all four sites, with plans to build additional sites across Gaza in the weeks ahead," the foundation noted. Israel seeking to circumvent Hamas The desperate situation of many people in the embattled coastal strip has deteriorated further in the face of a months-long blockade of aid supplies by Israel, despite a recent easing. The largely destroyed area, populated by around 2 million Palestinians, severely lacks food, drinking water, medicines and almost all everyday necessities. The Israeli government wants to make the GHF responsible for the distribution of aid supplies in future. In this way, Israel seeks to bypass UN aid organizations and other international volunteers. With the distribution strategy supported by the United States, the Israeli government says it wants to prevent Hamas from diverting supplies for its own purposes and reselling them to pay for fighters and weapons. UN representatives say that Israel has provided no evidence of this occurring, while rejecting cooperation with the GHF. UN aid workers believe that the limited number of initially planned GHF distribution points will force people in the region to undertake long and hazardous trips through conflict zones to access the aid. 'Momentary' loss of control On Tuesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu merely spoke of a "momentary loss of control" in the aid distribution. He said the aim was to establish a "sterile zone" in southern Gaza for the protection of Palestinians. Many Palestinians fear a new wave of flight and expulsion from the Gaza Strip, similar to those that followed the founding of the Israeli state in 1948 and during the Six-Day War in 1967. Israel's actions in the coastal strip, where dozens of deaths are reported daily as a result of Israeli attacks, have come under heavy international criticism. The crisis in the coastal region has drastically worsened since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history: militants from Hamas and other Islamist groups killed around 1,200 people in an attack on the south of the Jewish state and abducted more than 250 as hostages to the Gaza Strip. According to the health authority controlled by Hamas, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in the Gaza Strip. This figure, which is difficult to verify independently, includes both fighters and civilians. Hostages held for 600 days The relatives of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza were on Wednesday marking the fact that their loved ones have been in the hands of Hamas for 600 days. According to Israeli sources, at least 20 hostages are currently still alive in the Gaza Strip. For three other abductees, it is unclear whether they are still alive. Additionally, the remains of 35 abductees are in the sealed-off area, which has numerous underground tunnel systems.
