Latest news with #JakeWood
The Hindu
39 minutes ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
Aid finally started flowing into Gaza last week, ending a three-month blockade by Israel. In charge of aid operations was the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a Swiss-based entity backed by the U.S and Israel. The GHF has started distributing aid in Gaza via four centralised distribution centres, and said it will open more hubs within a month. Aid will be delivered to the centres via armoured tanks operated by private subcontractors, who will also safeguard its operations. The BBC has noted the presence of Israeli soldiers near the distribution centres. The GHF aimed to reach one million people at the end of its first week of operations. Three of its sites are in the Rafah area in southern Gaza. A fourth camp is close to the Netzarim corridor in Central Gaza, controlled by the Israeli military. None of the sites are in the north, the region mainly targeted by Israel's strikes. Thousands have reportedly crossed Israeli military lines to access the aid sites. A GHF spokesperson said on May 30 that the Foundation had already distributed 2 million meals. However, only one site was reportedly active, and shut down after it ran out of supplies. Eyewitness accounts say aid packages have consisted of canned food, pasta, rice, cooking oil, biscuits and lentils. The GHF has said it will distribute meals with 1,750 calories- below the 2,100-calorie per day standard for meals used by UN agencies in emergency situations. A GHF document has reportedly promised to hand out water and hygiene kits at the sites as well. As per a New York Times report, the GHF resulted from 'private meetings of like-minded officials, military officers and businesspeople with close ties to the Israeli government'. Until his resignation last Sunday, it was run by Jake Wood, a U.S military veteran who also headed a relief group called Team Rubicon, and consists of a group of American security contractors, army veterans and aid workers. It is unclear who is now in charge, and funding streams remain vague, with the U.S and Israel both denying financial backing. An AP report noted that the GHF claims that an unnamed government in the EU has committed around $100 million. The GHF aims to sidestep the UN as the main provider of aid to the devastated region. Earlier, Mr. Wood said parallel aid from the UN would continue till eight GHF hubs are established, and that non-humanitarian aid would also be distributed by the UN network. UN agencies had been moving food, medicine and other supplies across Gaza since the war began in October 2023, operating 400 distribution sites for aid before they were blocked by Israel. About a week back, Israel opened up the border to allow a small inflow of supplies, indicating that the UN would be able to distribute the supplies till the GHF was up and running. The initial operations of the GHF were further complicated by Palestinian civilians overrunning the aid distribution centre after it opened on Tuesday, resulting in injuries and at least three deaths. Hunger on the rise Hunger and desperation are on the rise in Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a multi-partner initiative focused on analysing nutrition and improving food security, warned in March last year that Gaza was facing a famine. UN estimates say that almost 2 million Gazans are on the brink of starvation; the WHO warned that hunger in Gaza threatened to permanently stunt the growth and cognitive development of an entire generation of children. The GHF said in a statement it is apolitical and that it won't displace Palestinians. However, it has been condemned by the UN and other aid agencies, which say that the mechanism would allow Israel to use food as a weapon, and that it violates humanitarian principles. Palestinians have also alleged that the aid effort by the GHF was disorganised, and was hampered by a lack of communication. Misinformation also proliferated on social media about the aid sites, claiming that looting had taken place or that centres were shut down. Further criticisms emerged after videos showed Palestinians running away from the perimeter of one of the aid centres to escape a projectile thrown by the security contractors. The GHF said in a statement that its personnel had 'encountered a tense and potentially dangerous crowd that refused to disperse' and had used 'non-lethal deterrents' to 'prevent escalation and ensure the safety of civilians and staff'. Israel has mooted for an alternative aid distribution system to avoid what it claims is theft by Hamas from the existing aid networks. Aid convoys of the UN have previously been attacked by Israel. Some of these strikes have killed aid workers as well. Hamas, meanwhile, has denied looting allegations. The Hamas-run interior ministry has warned Palestinians to be cautious while dealing with the GHF. In mid-2024, the U.S. built a humanitarian pier off Gaza to enable aid access to the strip, but Palestinians suspected that it would be used for military purposes. Rights organisations pointed out that this was eyewash to obfuscate Israel preventing all land crossings, even for aid. At one point, aid supplies were air-dropped to the war-torn region, a solution considered both dehumanising and ineffective by rights organisations The UN Relief and Works Agency, the primary aid organisation working to help Palestinians, has been undermined and hobbled. It has been targeted by misinformation and faced a withdrawal of funds and a ban imposed by Israel's Parliament. A former UNRWA representative called the GHF initiative 'aid-washing', meant to mask the starvation of Palestinians.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
What caused ‘human-made hunger crisis' in Gaza: UNRWA's senior official explains
An estimated 50 people were shot at and injured in Rafah this week after thousands of Palestinians desperate for food swarmed an aid distribution site operated by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an NGO backed by the US and Israel. Gaza had been under a total blockade for almost three months until this week. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has said it cannot work with GHF. Jake Wood, head of GHF, quit on May 25, saying its work was not in accordance with 'humanitarian principles'. Is famine imminent in Gaza? Since the assessment of the [UN-backed] Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) came out [on May 12], the situation has worsened every day. There is a human-made hunger crisis in Gaza. Our colleagues there tell us that if a mother manages to get a piece of bread, she breaks it in half to give some to the children, and saves the rest for tomorrow. Even before the [January 19 to March 18] ceasefire [between Hamas and Israel], there were famine-like conditions in pockets of Gaza as the amount of aid that was allowed to enter was pitiful compared to the needs. The ceasefire allowed international organisations and NGOs to scale up aid to the minimum required level, which helped stave off hunger in the initial days. But as soon as the blockade began [on March 2] and the ceasefire collapsed, these organisations began to ration the aid. No aid was allowed for nearly 11 weeks, which led to food insecurity. This is against international humanitarian law. One cannot starve populations as part of a military goal (Article 54 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions). Israel cannot use food as leverage to get hostages released. On May 26, Israel said 665 aid trucks had entered Gaza. The head of the UN's World Food Programme said this was a 'drop in the bucket'. What is the minimum aid that Gaza needs? The minimum number of trucks required in Gaza for survival needs is 500 to 600 per day. There is a lot of uncertainty around the actual numbers of trucks that have reached the Strip in recent days. Before the ceasefire, the Israeli rules for inspection were that trucks had to arrive half-empty in Gaza. I am not saying that is what is happening right now, but this is a possibility. Why have the UN and other aid agencies refused to work with GHF? Under the new distribution system, pockets have been created where people can come to collect aid. This is incompatible with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Aid has to go to people who need it, wherever they may be. Otherwise it would exclude people who have disabilities, who are injured, or are unable to move easily. Limiting aid distribution to restricted collection points also risks augmenting the forced displacement of the population. People in Gaza have already been displaced once a month on average since the start of the war. They are being squashed into supposed safe zones, which are not safe at all. What is the situation like for aid workers in Gaza now? Gaza is currently the most dangerous place in the world for aid workers. Our staff, who are overwhelmingly Palestinian, have been dying regularly since the beginning of this war. (More than 400 aid workers, including more than 300 UNRWA staffers, have been killed so far.) There is no precedent for such a high number of UN staff being killed in any conflict since the organisation was formed in 1945. We have repeatedly seen the failure of proportionality. International humanitarian law says decisions must be based on the proportional potential impact on non-combatants. One cannot bomb a camp full of displaced people to kill five combatants, or target aid workers, hospitals, schools. Aid workers are also facing the hunger crisis in Gaza. They too are losing their relatives. Our colleagues have pulled the bodies of their children from under the rubble; some have been unable to even retrieve the bodies. How has Israel's ban on UNRWA's operations impacted its work? The two laws passed in October 2024 came into effect at the end of January. The first prohibited UNRWA from operating in Israel's sovereign territory. This impacted UNRWA's operations in East Jerusalem, which is an occupied territory in the eyes of international law. Visas of international UNRWA staff were curtailed; they had to vacate the organisation's facility in East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities forcibly closed UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem, denying around 800 students their right to education. There is a fear that UNRWA clinics, on which some 70,000 Palestinians depend, will be shut down. The second law, which barred contact between UNRWA and Israeli officials, has severely impacted operations in the West Bank and Gaza. UNRWA had a formal line of communication with the Israeli military, which helped in certain situations such as when children needed to be evacuated from school in case of a nearby military operation. This does not happen now. What is UNRWA's role currently in Gaza? UNRWA is not banned from operating in Gaza as the law prohibits operations only in Israel's sovereign territories. UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency working in the Strip; it has 12,000 members there; the rest of the UN system has 300. It also has a large logistical network including several warehouses for aid. It has set up mobile healthcare points, its staff go from tent to tent to treat patients. More than 20,000 children are part of UNRWA's 'Back to Learning' initiative, which has play activities, psychosocial social support, basic literacy, numeracy, etc. UNRWA's sanitation labourers collect trash and clean refugee camps. UNRWA does not run these camps, only provides facilities and services in them. UNRWA 'as a whole' has been accused of being 'a haven for Hamas' radical ideology'. How does it ensure that its operations and staff remain neutral? There are solid mechanisms to deal with people who breach or allegedly breach UN impartiality rules. Whenever allegations have emerged, staff have been sanctioned depending on the nature of breaches of neutrality. If there are allegations against a dozen staff members or even 50, they are not representative of the entire organisation, which has 30,000 people. Last year, the Israelis made allegations against 19 staff members. UNRWA immediately moved to suspend them, and handed over investigations to the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services. The Office struggled to get any evidence from the Israeli authorities. In nine cases, it was felt that there was a sufficient balance of probability that the staff may have been involved in some unspecified breaches of neutrality. Their termination was upheld. What role can countries like India play in the crisis in Gaza? Any country that believes in the importance of multilateralism needs to advocate for international law, and decisions of the International Court of Justice and UN General Assembly, to be upheld in Gaza. Multilateralism is not perfect, but it is the best system that currently exists. If it is destroyed, the world will become much more dangerous. Jonathan Fowler is Senior Communications Manager, UNRWA. He spoke on Zoom with Alind Chauhan. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EastEnders 'is bringing back an iconic character' in shock recast after an eight-year absence from the Square
EastEnders has reportedly decided to bring back an iconic character who has not been spotted in the Square for nearly a decade. In another shocking recast, the legendary soap is said to see the return of Max Branning's son Oscar, according the Sun. But the character, who has not had a story line since 2017, will not be played by Charlee Hall but it will be recast to Pierre Moullier. A source told the publication: 'It is an exceptional bout of casting - Pierre looks more like a younger Jake than Jake did himself. It's uncanny. 'He's going to bring something new to Oscar and the character will definitely set the cat amongst the pigeons in the Square.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. This will be Pierre's soap debut as he has previously appeared in as a 'boy in the street' during one episode of Cast Offs. MailOnline has contacted representatives for the show for a comment. Actor Jake Wood is also set to reprise his role as Max Branning later this year, in a return much-anticipated by fans following a four-year absence. Jake's return comes a year after he celebrated being sober for over 20 years. The actor, 51, opened up about his past struggles with alcohol as he filmed himself from his hot tub while reflecting on life. The soap star wore a woolly hat as he enjoyed a cigar while sending an inspirational message to his followers. Posting on Twitter, he said: 'So I'm sat here in a hot tub, having a cigar, it's pretty cool. 'And just reflecting on how grateful I am for all the amazing things I've got in my life. I've got an amazing family, beautiful family, fantastic friends. Everyone is happy and healthy. The soap star played Max Branning in the BBC soap from 2006 to 2021 'Also, and I don't really talk about this often, I just want to say that tonight I'm 20 years sober. [I] stopped drinking 20 years ago tonight and that changed my life in so many ways. 'It's immeasurable. So anyone on the same journey, I send you love and support, and if anyone's struggling there's help out there, alright?' He signed off by saying: 'You can do it. Love you guys. Happy New Year.' Jake captioned the post: 'I am 20 years sober tonight. So proud of myself and for anyone out there on a similar journey. 'If you are struggling there is help out there, please reach out and believe me if I did it you can too. Sending you all love & strength and a happy and healthy 2024.' Jake was inundated with support from friends and fans, including some of his former co-stars. Musician Nitin Sawhney wrote: 'Congratulations and have a great new year, Jake.' Danny Robbins, writer of West End production 2:22 A Ghost Story which Jake Wood has starred in, penned: 'Well done Jake. Great achievement. Happy New Year. See you soon x'. And this is not the only exciting news for the BBC soap as they are set to battle it out against Emmerdale for the top categories at the British Soap Awards 2025 this month, with each show receiving 13 nominations. The two shows have eclipsed rivals Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, who have secured 11 nominations each ahead of the ceremony on May 31. The glitzy event will be returning to London to Hackney Empire, after previously taking place in Manchester, and will once again be hosted by Jane McDonald as it returns following a surprise hiatus last year. As always, the numerous accolades will be presented by an array of well-known faces from across the TV and showbiz world, with the TV event broadcasting a few days later in a primetime slot. The ceremony will celebrate a mammoth year in soaps looking back on 12 months of murder, mystery, make-ups, break ups, trials, tribulations and tears. An incredible year saw Gail Platt depart the cobbles after 50 years in Coronation Street and EastEnders celebrate its 40th anniversary. Lacey Turner has been nominated for Best Leading Performer for her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders ahead of the May 31 ceremony Ned Porteous will compete for Villain of the Year at the awards thanks to his fine performances as Joe Tate in Emmerdale Meanwhile Hollyoaks leapt a year into the future and in Emmerdale a dramatic limousine crash into a frozen lake left viewers stunned. The Viewer Voted Categories include Best British Soap, Best Leading Performer, Villain of the Year and Best Comedy Performance. The nominees for Best Leading Performer are Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders), Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders), Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) and Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale). And the public has a tough choice when it comes to Villain of the Year with Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street), Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders), Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) and Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) to choose from. The Best Comedy Performance category includes Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street), Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders), Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) and Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks). The ceremony, which first began in 1999, was rested in 2024 but is back with Jane hosting the ceremony which will air on ITV1 and ITVX in June. Viewer Voted Categories: Best British Soap: Coronation Street EastEnders Emmerdale Hollyoaks Best Leading Performer: Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders) Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders) Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Villain of the Year: Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street) Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) Best Comedy Performance: Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street) Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders) Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks) Panel Voted Categories: Best Family: The Platts (Coronation Street) The Slaters (EastEnders) The Dingles (Emmerdale) The Osbornes (Hollyoaks) Best Dramatic Performance: Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street) Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) Best Single Episode: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Phil's psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders) April's life on the streets (Emmerdale) Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks) Best On-Screen Partnership: Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street) Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders) William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks) Best Newcomer: Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street) Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders) Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) Best Storyline: Paul's battle with MND (Coronation Street) Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders) Belle and Tom - Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale) Sibling sexual abuse (Hollyoaks) Best Young Performer: Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street) Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders) Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks) Scene of the Year: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Angie Watts' shock return (EastEnders) Amy's deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale)
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Branding those opposed to Netanyahu policies antisemitic is ‘slander'
He said the slander has been used against Ireland and individuals, including the president himself. Speaking at the Bord Bia Bloom in Phoenix Park in Dublin, Mr Higgins said there is an active campaign against Ireland in the United States. He said that it 'breaks my heart' that there are countries who are holding back on a ceasefire. Mr Higgins said that more than 81% of the people in Gaza have been displaced. 'They have been put into temporary accommodation that has been bombed. Their soil is being destroyed,' he added. 'Their hospitals have been bombed.' Mr Higgins, who lasted visited Gaza in 2006, also spoke about the importance of the bakeries in the region. And he was critical of the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, saying it was an 'entirely unaccountable body', whose executive director resigned last week. Jake Wood, the American heading the foundation, unexpectedly resigned earlier this week, saying it had become clear that the foundation would not be allowed to operate independently. Mr Higgins added: 'One of the things you should look at is what is in the boxes they are distributing. Far from me to speak about any delay in anyone getting any relief but they are branded products for the future private sector of retail. 'Look at the wrappings. Imagine giving a starving person something wrapped in your own brand so that you will have opportunities in the future.' He also said that those who are seen to criticise Mr Netanyahu's policies are being described as antisemitic. 'That is a disgrace and a slander and has been a slander against Ireland, against individuals, including myself,' he said. 'People who have worked all their lives in relation to human rights activity. I think it has been given too much space. 'The idea that propaganda can pay against Ireland is now active in the United States, so that when we are seeking to have meetings with people who are investing in Ireland, they are being contacted in advance with a suggestion by saying, 'you must open why is Ireland so against the US position in Israel'.' He also repeated comments in which he urged the UN General Assembly to use its special powers to override the Security Council if it fails to act in Gaza. 'Now is the time, today is the day for food and medical aid and water to be made available,' he added.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Branding those opposed to Netanyahu policies antisemitic is ‘slander'
He said the slander has been used against Ireland and individuals, including the president himself. Speaking at the Bord Bia Bloom in Phoenix Park in Dublin, Mr Higgins said there is an active campaign against Ireland in the United States. He said that it 'breaks my heart' that there are countries who are holding back on a ceasefire. Mr Higgins said that more than 81% of the people in Gaza have been displaced. 'They have been put into temporary accommodation that has been bombed. Their soil is being destroyed,' he added. 'Their hospitals have been bombed.' Mr Higgins, who lasted visited Gaza in 2006, also spoke about the importance of the bakeries in the region. And he was critical of the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, saying it was an 'entirely unaccountable body', whose executive director resigned last week. Jake Wood, the American heading the foundation, unexpectedly resigned earlier this week, saying it had become clear that the foundation would not be allowed to operate independently. Mr Higgins added: 'One of the things you should look at is what is in the boxes they are distributing. Far from me to speak about any delay in anyone getting any relief but they are branded products for the future private sector of retail. 'Look at the wrappings. Imagine giving a starving person something wrapped in your own brand so that you will have opportunities in the future.' He also said that those who are seen to criticise Mr Netanyahu's policies are being described as antisemitic. 'That is a disgrace and a slander and has been a slander against Ireland, against individuals, including myself,' he said. 'People who have worked all their lives in relation to human rights activity. I think it has been given too much space. 'The idea that propaganda can pay against Ireland is now active in the United States, so that when we are seeking to have meetings with people who are investing in Ireland, they are being contacted in advance with a suggestion by saying, 'you must open why is Ireland so against the US position in Israel'.' He also repeated comments in which he urged the UN General Assembly to use its special powers to override the Security Council if it fails to act in Gaza. 'Now is the time, today is the day for food and medical aid and water to be made available,' he added.
