Latest news with #Houthis
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert condemns Gaza war as humanitarian crisis deepens
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he believes the war in Gaza no longer has a clear goal, and it has gone too far. Olmert made the comments in an interview with ABC News' Alex Presha Wednesday. Olmert's public criticism of his country's war comes as thousands of Palestinians are suffering from malnutrition and conditions of famine across the Gaza Strip after an 11-week blockade of humanitarian aid by the Israeli government. The distribution of aid entering the strip this week has led to chaotic scenes of people desperate for food fighting to get what they need, leaving two dead and several injured. "We have destroyed Gaza," Olmert told ABC News about the crisis. On Tuesday, chaos broke out at a new food distribution site in Rafah as families fought through crowds to get basic food supplies, the United Nations said. At least one person died and 47 others were hurt when shots were reportedly fired into the crowd of desperate Palestinians who were trying to get food, the UN said. The Israeli Defense Forces fired "warning shots" in the area of the distribution site as people flooded in. The cause of death for the person who was killed is unknown. Olmert said that while Israel had every right to fight back after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, he believes the war has gone too far. He said that while some of the thousands of people who have died in Gaza since the conflict began were terrorists who needed to be stopped, many were innocent people. "We are now almost 18 or 19 months after the beginning of that war." Olmert said. "We have destroyed Gaza. We have killed perhaps more than 50,000 people, of which there were few with. There were terrorists, and that should have been punished by so many who were not to carry on the war." Watch Olmert's full interview with ABC News in the video above. Over 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. While statistics do not distinguish between military and non-military casualties, women and children make up tens of thousands of this number, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. MORE: Israeli airstrikes target Yemen airport as Netanyahu warns Houthis, Iran "Yes, there was shooting. It's food dipped in blood," Mazen Yunis, a Gazan from Khan Younis, told ABC News outside the distribution site Tuesday. He added, "I have a 10-member family and only came back with a can of peas." Olmert told ABC News he is angry about what some Israeli leaders have been saying about the worsening crisis. He described their comments about "starving Gaza" and treating all Palestinians like terrorists as "war crime statements." He warned that this approach puts both Palestinian civilians and the 20 Israeli hostages still in Gaza in danger. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said military pressure will help free the hostages, Olmert disagrees. He calls Netanyahu's claims "ridiculous" and says they don't match what is really happening. "I think that the feeling is that Trump getting tired of the rhetoric and manipulation of Netanyahu. He should call him to Washington, as he did a few months ago, summoned him to the White House, to the Oval Office, beautiful office there, and in front of the whole world, you will tell him, Mr. Netanyahu, enough is enough," Olmert said. Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly fired back in a video response on Wednesday, calling Olmert's statements "horrible" words that he said feed into lies about Israel and the Israel Defense Forces. Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert condemns Gaza war as humanitarian crisis deepens originally appeared on
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert condemns Gaza war as humanitarian crisis deepens
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he believes the war in Gaza no longer has a clear goal, and it has gone too far. Olmert made the comments in an interview with ABC News' Alex Presha Wednesday. Olmert's public criticism of his country's war comes as thousands of Palestinians are suffering from malnutrition and conditions of famine across the Gaza Strip after an 11-week blockade of humanitarian aid by the Israeli government. The distribution of aid entering the strip this week has led to chaotic scenes of people desperate for food fighting to get what they need, leaving two dead and several injured. "We have destroyed Gaza," Olmert told ABC News about the crisis. On Tuesday, chaos broke out at a new food distribution site in Rafah as families fought through crowds to get basic food supplies, the United Nations said. At least one person died and 47 others were hurt when shots were reportedly fired into the crowd of desperate Palestinians who were trying to get food, the UN said. The Israeli Defense Forces fired "warning shots" in the area of the distribution site as people flooded in. The cause of death for the person who was killed is unknown. Olmert said that while Israel had every right to fight back after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, he believes the war has gone too far. He said that while some of the thousands of people who have died in Gaza since the conflict began were terrorists who needed to be stopped, many were innocent people. "We are now almost 18 or 19 months after the beginning of that war." Olmert said. "We have destroyed Gaza. We have killed perhaps more than 50,000 people, of which there were few with. There were terrorists, and that should have been punished by so many who were not to carry on the war." Watch Olmert's full interview with ABC News in the video above. Over 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. While statistics do not distinguish between military and non-military casualties, women and children make up tens of thousands of this number, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. MORE: Israeli airstrikes target Yemen airport as Netanyahu warns Houthis, Iran "Yes, there was shooting. It's food dipped in blood," Mazen Yunis, a Gazan from Khan Younis, told ABC News outside the distribution site Tuesday. He added, "I have a 10-member family and only came back with a can of peas." Olmert told ABC News he is angry about what some Israeli leaders have been saying about the worsening crisis. He described their comments about "starving Gaza" and treating all Palestinians like terrorists as "war crime statements." He warned that this approach puts both Palestinian civilians and the 20 Israeli hostages still in Gaza in danger. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said military pressure will help free the hostages, Olmert disagrees. He calls Netanyahu's claims "ridiculous" and says they don't match what is really happening. "I think that the feeling is that Trump getting tired of the rhetoric and manipulation of Netanyahu. He should call him to Washington, as he did a few months ago, summoned him to the White House, to the Oval Office, beautiful office there, and in front of the whole world, you will tell him, Mr. Netanyahu, enough is enough," Olmert said. Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly fired back in a video response on Wednesday, calling Olmert's statements "horrible" words that he said feed into lies about Israel and the Israel Defense Forces. Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert condemns Gaza war as humanitarian crisis deepens originally appeared on
Scoop
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Yemen: UN Warns Against Houthi-Israel Escalation, Calls For Dialogue
On Wednesday, Israel launched airstrikes on Yemen's main airport in the capital, Sana'a, destroying the last operational Yemenia Airways plane, according to media reports. The attack came a day after the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, fired missiles at Israel. Fragile situation worsening In Yemen, the rebels have been fighting with Government troops, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for over a decade. But since the start of the war in Gaza they have been targeting Israel as well as commercial ships in the Red Sea, as an act of solidarity with Palestinians. 'The ongoing military confrontation between the Houthis and Israel is exacerbating an already very fragile situation in Yemen and the broader region,' said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. 'Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including Sana'a airport in Yemen and Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, are unacceptable.' He said the strike on Sana'a airport and the destruction of the civilian aircraft 'deprives many Yemenis of a critical means to leave the country for medical, educational, family or religious regions, especially at a time when thousands of pilgrims are preparing for the Hajj.' De-escalation and dialogue The Spokesman called on all stakeholders, including the Houthis, to de-escalate and exercise restraint, uphold their obligations under international law, and protect civilian infrastructure. He also urged the warring parties to return to the intra-Yemeni dialogue, with the support of the region, as the only viable path toward lasting peace and security. In related developments, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen concluded a visit to Oman's capital Muscat on Wednesday, his office said in a statement. Hans Grundberg met senior Omani officials, members of Ansar Allah leadership and representatives of the diplomatic community, including senior Iranian officials. 'Discussions focused on the cessation of hostilities between the United States and Ansar Allah and the need to translate this into sustainable progress that benefits all Yemenis and includes guarantees for the region and international community,' the statement said. The ceasefire agreement was brokered by Oman and came into effect on 6 May following the resumption of deadly US airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. Free detained personnel Mr. Grundberg further addressed regional dynamics and the shared responsibility of all to support de-escalation and a UN-led political process for a durable and comprehensive resolution to the conflict in Yemen. As the Houthis continue to arbitrarily detain scores of personnel from the UN, non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions, the Special Envoy called for their immediate and unconditional release in all his engagements. 'He stressed that their prolonged detention is not only unjustifiable but undermines the UN's and international community's ability to provide humanitarian support to millions of Yemenis,' the statement said.
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Israel air strikes destroy last civilian plane at Yemen's Sanaa airport
Israel said it had launched air strikes on Yemen's main airport in the capital, Sanaa, a day after Yemen's Houthi rebels fired two projectiles towards Israel. The Houthi-affiliated news outlet Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday that four strikes hit the runway. Khaled al-Shaief, general director of Sanaa International Airport, wrote on X that the strike had completely destroyed the last of the civilian planes that Yemenia Airways was operating from the airport. According to aviation data checked by Al Jazeera, the Yemenia plane was scheduled to take those performing the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli air force struck Houthi 'terror targets' at the airport and 'destroyed the last aircraft remaining'. 'This is a clear message and a continuation of our policy: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,' Katz said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that any harm directed at Israel will meet greater force. The leader of the Houthis, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said the attack was to pressure the group on their steadfast stance of solidarity in supporting Palestinians suffering under Israeli fire in Gaza. 'No matter the size of Israeli aggression and no matter how often it repeats, it will not affect our people's stance in supporting the Palestinian people. The Israeli enemy remained in a weak position following the cessation of American aggression due to its failure,' he said. 'The Israeli enemy is trying to restore deterrence through this repeated aggression on civilian facilities in our country,' he added. The attack comes a day after the Houthi armed group fired two projectiles towards Israel that were shot down by Israeli air defences. The Houthis later confirmed that they had launched two 'ballistic missiles'. Sanaa airport, the largest in Yemen, came back into service last week after temporary repairs and runway restoration following previous Israeli attacks. (Agencies)
MTV Lebanon
8 hours ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Watch: Israel Strikes Sana'a Airport in Clear Warning
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that fighter jets from the Israeli Air Force struck targets at Sanaa International Airport, which is controlled by the Houthis. In a statement, Katz said the airstrikes "destroyed the last remaining aircraft used by the Houthis; previous planes had been destroyed in a strike on the airport on May 6." He added, "This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we set: whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price." Katz continued, "Targeting ports in Yemen will continue intensively, and Sanaa Airport will be repeatedly destroyed, along with other strategic infrastructure in the region used by the Houthi terrorist organization and its supporters." He clarified, "The Houthis will be under a naval and aerial blockade, as we promised and warned — anyone who harms us will suffer sevenfold damage."
