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CBC
7 days ago
- General
- CBC
Canadian charity pauses Gaza aid after U.S.-backed group takes over distribution
Social Sharing A Canadian charity says it has suspended the distribution of some 38,000 boxes of food to the Gaza Strip, fearing the aid would never reach the Palestinians who need it due to controls imposed by a controversial, new U.S.-backed entity. "Human Concern International has made a difficult but principled decision" to pause delivery of 17 "fully loaded" aid trucks, said the group's chief programs officer Iftikhar Shaikh Ahmad at a news conference on Parliament Hill Thursday morning. The aid group and others are pushing Ottawa to enact sanctions against Israel. "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation were not abiding by humanitarian principles," Ahmad told CBC News, referring to the company now charged with distributing aid in Gaza. WATCH | Aid groups call for sanctions on Israel: Groups ask PM Carney to pressure Israel, say Canadian aid blocked from Gaza 4 hours ago Duration 7:05 Speaking from the House of Commons West Block Thursday, Human Concern International's Chief Programs Officer Iftikhar Shaikh Ahmad; Save the Children's Humanitarian Director (via zoom from Gaza) Rachael Cummings; Humanitarian Advisor Roula Kikhia and Oxfam Canada's Erin Kiley call upon the federal government to act, saying Canadian aid trucks are among those being blocked by the Israeli military from entering Gaza. The GHF is establishing four initial hubs in southern Gaza to distribute food with the help of subcontractors. "Only the population in the south would have access," Ahmad said. "We were not given any guarantee that the people that would be going to the distribution centre are going to be safe." Established in February, the GHF took control of aid distribution in Israel from independent groups over the course of the last month, with approval from the Israeli government, marking the partial end of a months-long blockade. Though the GHF has pledged over the next 30 days to build distribution centres across Gaza, including the north where most of the Palestinians displaced by war are located, it has yet to reveal locations. Palestinians would have to cross through Israeli military lines to reach hubs around Rafah, the southern Gaza city bordering Egypt, to access aid. On Monday, the head of the GHF resigned, stating the group did not adhere to humanitarian principles. WATCH | Shots fired during Gaza aid distribution: Shots fired in southern Gaza after crowds charge food distribution site 2 days ago Duration 2:01 Crowds rushed a food distribution site in southern Gaza before scattering when shots were fired in what the UN called a 'heartbreaking' scene. Humanitarian groups say the new Israel-backed effort to get aid into Gaza falls far short of what's needed. The next day, The Associated Press reported that several Palestinians were injured as the Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people rushing one of the hubs. "Our donors did not give to support forced displacement or selective aid," Ahmad said. "They gave to help all Palestinians, wherever they are." Worker describes groups of starving children On Thursday, the HCI was joined by Oxfam Canada, as well as Save the Children Canada, in asking the federal government to place sanctions against Israel. Ottawa has yet to act after threatening to do so in a joint statement with France and the United Kingdom on May 19. Rachael Cummings, one of Save the Children's representatives, joined the news conference remotely from Deir al-Balah, Gaza. "What we see in Gaza is children walking, equipped in the streets with empty bowls looking for food. Children with empty bottles looking for clean water," she said. Cummings said when her group has asked kids what their biggest wishes are for their future, some simply answered they want food or water. "One child shared that he wished to be dead, with his mother in paradise, where he knows he will be loved and he knows that there is food and water." The aid groups are not the first to take to Parliament Hill to call for sanctions. On Wednesday, a group of physicians who have worked in Gaza . "As a surgeon, I cannot treat a genocide. As doctors, we cannot stop a famine. So we demand that the Canadian government take meaningful action," said Deirdre Nunan, an orthopedic surgeon. CBC News has asked Global Affairs Canada questions about its red line for sanctions, but has yet to receive a response. On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand declined to walk by journalists after a Liberal caucus meeting, going to an elevator instead of stopping to answer questions. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the government for even issuing a statement. "I really think it's unfair that Mr. Carney is targeting the democratic Jewish state of Israel when in fact Hamas continues to hold hostages," he said on Wednesday. "It's time for the Liberals to stop trying to score political points by attacking Israel and singling out Israel." Both the Bloc Québécois and NDP opposition parties are pushing for sanctions, with the latter hoping to present a new private members' bill that would recognize a Palestinian state.
Toronto Sun
7 days ago
- General
- Toronto Sun
Humanitarian group pauses Canadian aid trucks bound for Gaza, citing Israeli restrictions
Published May 29, 2025 • 1 minute read A truck loaded with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip makes its way to the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel, in Israel-Gaza border, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Photo by Maya Alleruzzo / AP Photo OTTAWA — A humanitarian group says it's holding back 17 trucks filled with Canadian aid meant for desperate Palestinians in Gaza, citing what it calls a dangerous aid distribution system implemented by Israel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Human Concern International says it has food and medical supplies sitting in Jerusalem that it doesn't feel comfortable taking into the Gaza Strip after Israeli soldiers fired warning shots near crowds of desperate people rushing for food on Tuesday. Israel implemented the distribution system and claims Hamas is stealing large amounts of aid, a claim global institutions say hasn't been proven independently. Aid groups such as Save the Children say putting a warring party in charge of aid distribution politicizes the process, particularly when Israel is only making aid available far from the areas it's trying to clear of Palestinians. The United Nations, which has withdrawn from working with the new system, says Israel's restrictions on food aid in the territory are creating desperation and risking famine. Aid groups say Ottawa has fallen silent on the situation in Gaza in the days since Prime Minister Mark Carney and the leaders of France and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement threatening to impose 'targeted sanctions' over Israel's renewed military offensive in Gaza. Read More Toronto & GTA Ontario Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Humanitarian group pauses aid trucks bound for Gaza, citing Israeli restrictions
OTTAWA – A humanitarian group says it's holding back 17 trucks filled with Canadian aid meant for desperate Palestinians in Gaza, citing what it calls a dangerous aid distribution system implemented by Israel. Human Concern International says it has food and medical supplies sitting in Jerusalem that it doesn't feel comfortable taking into the Gaza Strip after Israeli soldiers fired warning shots near crowds of desperate people rushing for food on Tuesday. Israel implemented the distribution system and claims Hamas is stealing large amounts of aid, a claim global institutions say hasn't been proven independently. Aid groups such as Save the Children say putting a warring party in charge of aid distribution politicizes the process, particularly when Israel is only making aid available far from the areas it's trying to clear of Palestinians. The United Nations, which has withdrawn from working with the new system, says Israel's restrictions on food aid in the territory are creating desperation and risking famine. Aid groups say Ottawa has fallen silent on the situation in Gaza in the days since Prime Minister Mark Carney and the leaders of France and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement threatening to impose 'targeted sanctions' over Israel's renewed military offensive in Gaza. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
