Latest news with #Jordanian
ITV News
2 hours ago
- Health
- ITV News
Israel says it will allow foreign countries to air drop aid into Gaza as humanitarian crisis worsens
Israel has said it will allow foreign countries to airdrop aid into Gaza, but has not given a timeframe, ITV News understands. The Jordanian government confirmed the information to ITV News on Friday. The news will bring relief amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where hunger is spreading and children have starved to death, causing alarm even among some of Israel's closest allies. At least nine Palestinians have died from starvation in the past 24 hours, according to the director general of Gaza's health ministry. Two of them were children. While the UN has said more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access food aid. An open letter published on Thursday from more than 100 international aid agencies warned of "mass starvation" across Gaza, because Israel had blocked access to tons of food and medical supplies. The letter stated that there were "tons" of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items and fuel sitting untouched within Gaza or just outside the region, but that organisations had been blocked from accessing or delivering the stock. "Humanitarian agencies have the capacity and supplies to respond at scale, but with access denied, we are blocked from reaching those in need, including our own exhausted and starved teams," the letter read. But Israel blamed UN agencies for failing to deliver food it had allowed in. It accused NGOs of 'echoing Hamas' propaganda' and said about 4,500 aid trucks had been allowed into Gaza since May, and that more than 700 trucks were waiting to be picked up and distributed by the UN. On Thursday, the UN's relief agency, Unwra, warned that parents in Gaza are "too hungry to care for their children," after the latest findings showed one in five children in Gaza City are now malnourished. Unwra Chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said the organisation has the equivalent of 6,000 loaded trucks of food and medical supplies waiting in Jordan and Egypt. The agency also said that 'people are being starved, while a few kilometres away supermarkets are loaded with food,' highlighting the stark reality between life in Israel and survival in Gaza. Air drops are not the most efficient way to get lifesaving supplies to those in need, as they provide far less aid than truck deliveries, and are usually reserved for remote crises or to help those trapped behind enemy lines. However, in Gaza, this method of delivery could overcome some of the extreme difficulties in getting aid, including political and security concerns. Aid agencies have previously warned against air drops, as they can have unintended deadly consequences. In 2024, a delivery killed five people in Gaza when a package's parachute failed to engage. In March 2024, ITV News was on board a British RAF plane that participated in an aid drop into Gaza, carrying tonnes of desperately needed supplies to Palestinians. Water, rice, cooking oil, flour, tinned food and baby formula were among the goods delivered via an A400M plane with a strategic airlift platform that was flown from Amman, Jordan. This was the first time a British plane had taken part in one of the Gaza airdrops. Those involved told ITV News it had taken weeks of work by 47 Air Despatch Squadron and 30 Squadron to get to this point. The UK has also given thousands of UK-funded blankets, tents and other relief items, as well as the establishment of a full UK-funded field hospital in Gaza run by British charity UK-Med. Gaza was already heavily dependent on aid and commercial shipments of food before Israel launched its war on Hamas. Earlier this week, the UK, along with 25 other nations, accused Israel of " drip feeding" aid into the Gaza Strip. The statement, signed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, called on the Israeli government to lift restrictions on the flow of aid into the enclave. "The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law," it reads. "We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life-saving work safely and effectively."
Roya News
8 hours ago
- Health
- Roya News
Gaza health chief warns of mass starvation, collapse
Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, Director General of the Health Ministry in Gaza, has warned of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged enclave, describing the situation as living in a 'triangle of death' due to the continued 'Israeli' assault and blockade that has lasted over nine months. Speaking on Roya TV's Donya Ya Donya program, Al-Bursh expressed gratitude to Jordan - its leadership, government, and people - for their continued support to Gaza, saying Jordan's stance is "deeply appreciated by the people of the Strip." Al-Bursh said residents of Gaza are facing a severe famine, with many surviving only on salt and water for days. 'Some people have lost up to 25 kilograms in recent weeks,' he noted, describing the situation as widespread across the population. He cited alarming findings from a recent health survey of pregnant women and children, which revealed that over 50% now suffer from acute malnutrition, a sharp increase from just 0.5% at the start of the month. Al-Bursh called the figures 'terrifying jumps' that point to total nutritional collapse. He accused the Israeli Occupation of deliberately creating crises and committing a slow-motion genocide against civilians. Over 13% of Gaza's population, he said, are crammed into an area no larger than one square kilometer, around 40,000 people living in what he called a 'maze of death.' Al-Bursh concluded by stating that Gaza has entered the fourth - and possibly fifth - stage of famine, warning that the international community remains silent as the war continues with no real pressure to stop it. Also appearing on the program, Jordanian doctor Ihab Jaradat, who recently returned from a medical mission to Gaza with the 'Mercy Around the World' delegation, described the situation as 'catastrophic in every sense.' He said that Nasser Medical Complex is functioning without the most basic resources, while the population in northern Gaza lives among ruins, tents, and debris. 'The medical staff is completely exhausted, trying to save lives in impossible conditions,' Jaradat said, highlighting the severe shortage of medications, equipment, and sanitary infrastructure.
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: JCI issues report on boosting national exports to global markets
AMMAN — The Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) on Thursday issued an analytical report designed to bolster industrial export competitiveness and expand the national product's footprint in global markets. The comprehensive report includes technical and regulatory requirements for entering several promising, non-traditional export destinations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The publication complements an earlier report, "Promising Markets for Jordanian Industry," which identified an estimated $7.4 billion in untapped export opportunities worldwide. JCI Director General Hazem Rahahleh underscored the report's role in the chamber's strategy to build an "integrated" framework supporting export decision-making. He stressed that global market success transcends "mere" product quality, hinging critically on manufacturers' capacity for international compliance and their grasp of market-specific legislation. Rahahleh highlighted the JCI's commitment to enhancing its analytical and networking tools, in "direct" alignment with the national objectives articulated in Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV). The report serves as a practical guide, empowering Jordanian industrialists to navigate the regulatory, health and technical prerequisites for market access, ultimately aiming to diversify and expand Jordan's export base geographically. It provides focused insights into strategic and emerging markets, including the US, the EU, Kenya, Rwanda, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It also analyses key sectors for competitive advantage include food products, chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. For the US market, the report highlights "essential" food export requirements, stressing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration, compliance with the Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA), implementation of the Foreign Supplier Verification Programme (FSVP), a food safety plan, and adherence to labelling mandates. Regarding the EU, the report includes technical and environmental regulations governing chemical and plastic exports, such as traceability systems, packaging and environmental safety standards. It also addresses specific requirements for certain food products like potato chips and dairy, including acrylamide reduction protocols and veterinary oversight, aligning with international Codex specifications. In Africa, the report clarifies technical prerequisites for exports to Kenya and Rwanda, particularly for fertilisers and chemicals. The East African Community (EAC) member states require adherence to unified technical standards, encompassing heavy metal testing, multi-language labelling, and local quality and registration certificates. For Central Asian nations, the report includes procedures for exporting pharmaceuticals and medical devices to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The report includes mandatory registration with relevant health ministries and obtaining conformity certificates from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), alongside Uzbek language labelling and the implementation of digital tracking systems like "Asl Belgisi." The report forms part of an ongoing series from the JCI's Studies and Strategies Department, designed to enable national industries to expand into international markets, thereby boosting the value-added contribution of exports to Jordan's Gross Domestic Product.
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: National tech firms target European market with Dutch collaboration
AMMAN — The ICT Association of Jordan (int@j), in collaboration with the Dutch organisation PUM and the Jordan Europe Business Association (JEBA), on Thursday hosted a workshop aimed at facilitating the entry of Jordanian companies into the Dutch and European markets. The two-day workshop, which was attended by 22 Jordanian information technology companies, aligns with int@j's ongoing efforts to boost its role as a bridge to connect Jordanian tech firms with international markets, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The programme featured specialised sessions on Dutch market regulations, sales and marketing practices, legal compliance, and partnership matching. It also provided individual consultations for each participating company, with additional follow-up sessions and planned field visits to the Netherland. CEO of int@j Nidal Bitar said that the association seeks to deliver "significant" added value to its members by opening doors to Jordanian technology companies, particularly towards markets with "tangible" potential like the Netherlands. First Secretary for Economic and Water Affairs at the Dutch embassy in Jordan Mariska Lammers highlighted that supporting Jordan's technology sector bolsters bilateral relations and empowers youth through entrepreneurship and the creation of high-value job opportunities. PUM Director in Jordan Jos Backer noted that the programme aims to integrate Dutch expertise with Jordanian innovation to foster sustainable growth in both markets. For his part, Director General of JEBA Hussam Saleh said that establishing a connection between Jordan and the European Union via the Netherlands would generate a 'tangible' economic impact. During the workshop, participants explored practical strategies designed to effectively and methodically prepare Jordanian companies for the Dutch market. Discussions also covered mechanisms for entering the wider European market, including legal and regulatory procedures for company establishment, compliance requirements, and key considerations for taxation and intellectual property, as well as practical guidance on company registration in the Netherlands was also provided. During the sessions, topics focused on the best practices for service delivery and contract execution, particularly in areas such as outsourcing, software development, managed services, and consulting, in addition to providing practical examples and success stories from similar companies. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Middle East Eye
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Jordan fuelling 'internal crisis' with Palestine solidarity crackdown, sources say
Jordanian authorities are inadvertently fuelling an "internal crisis" with their decision to crack down on Palestine solidarity activists, sources have told Middle East Eye. The sources said that the situation was reaching a boiling point due to Jordan's intelligence services launching a heavy-handed campaign of arrests targeting activists, political opponents and party leaders. The arrests come amid mounting instability in neighbouring Syria, worsening conditions for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Israel pursuing a campaign of genocide by starvation in Gaza. On Wednesday, Jordanian authorities arrested the prominent social media activist Ayman Aballi, days after he published a video denouncing what he called the country's "silence" over Israel's starvation policy in Gaza. Criticism of the intelligence services, commonly known as the Mukhabarat, was already escalating after a young man died in police custody a day after his arrest, the sources told MEE. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Local media reported that tensions began to escalate after Ahmed al-Ibrahim died in police custody after being subject to a "severe physical assault" during detention. According to his family, Ibrahim was taken to a nearby hospital on multiple occasions while at the Ramtha police station in Ar-Ramtha, 5km from the Syrian border. He reportedly succumbed to his injuries hours after being transferred to the hospital for the final time. His death triggered a night of anger in Ar-Ramtha, with videos seen by MEE showing angry protesters blocking roads, setting tyres on fire and demanding full accountability. Jordan targeting Gaza solidarity in largest arrest campaign in decades Read More » On the same day that Ibrahim died, security forces arrested Yanal Freihat, an MP from the Islamic Action Front (IAF) party, over a Facebook post in which he criticised the government's stance on the Muslim Brotherhood. Security forces also briefly detained Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Moaz al-Khawaldeh, before releasing him the following day. "The security forces are creating an internal crisis and causing an unprecedented wave of anger in the streets," a Jordanian political analyst told MEE on condition of anonymity, due to fear of reprisals. "This comes at a time when Jordan is facing serious external threats that require internal unity, not deep political and societal divisions. "Jordan now faces two major, unprecedented strategic threats. The first is the threat of the collapse of the Syrian state and the secession of Sweida with Israeli support, possibly sparking a widespread civil war that would impact the region and Jordan," the analyst said. "The second is the threat of the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan, leading to a change in the demographic composition of the Hashemite kingdom." Jordan needs internal stability One of the sources MEE spoke to emphasised that in both cases, Jordan needed internal stability to confront these threats. Neighbouring Syria has been beset with another round of deadly sectarian clashes, with Israel seeking to exploit the vacuum in the war-torn state. The violence was reportedly triggered by a petty crime on 11 July, when a Bedouin gang allegedly robbed and then kidnapped a Druze merchant. This prompted a series of tit-for-tat sectarian kidnappings and killings. When Syrian security forces entered the province to restore order, they were ambushed by Druze fighters. Jordan forcibly evicting Bedul Bedouins in Petra, says Human Rights Watch Read More » Reports that the Druze fighters executed government forces and killed women and children caused widespread outrage. As Syria's government deployed more troops, including tanks and heavy weapons, Israel began attacking them and military positions across the country. The source said that amid the wave of arrests, the security services were being attacked for cracking down on Jordanian civil society while "turning a blind eye to the real threat posed by Israeli activity in the region". In April, a Jordanian opposition website claimed that the government had launched a widespread arrest campaign against activists, in addition to its decision to target the Muslim Brotherhood. It claimed that this was reportedly in response to demands from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and aimed at obtaining financial aid from both countries. Earlier this month, tribesmen from the city of Tafilah gathered and organised a sit-in near the intelligence headquarters in Amman, to demand the release of 72-year-old Ahmed al-Zarqan, a former mayor of the southern Jordanian city. Zarqan is the deputy general supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was recently banned in the Hashemite kingdom. Security forces arrested him in late April. To date, Zarqan has not been charged, referred to court, or allowed to contact a lawyer. His family has not been allowed to visit him. Anger grows over 1994 'normalisation' As the situation in Gaza deteriorates, Jordanian authorities have faced unprecedented criticism over Amman's diplomatic relations with Israel. The two countries normalised relations in 1994 and are known to cooperate on numerous regional security issues. Massive protests have erupted over the 1994 accord and the genocidal war on Gaza, where at least 58,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians. Anger has also been steadily rising over Israel's occupation of the West Bank and the mounting civilian death toll. Jordan has a lengthy and complicated relationship with the West Bank, after occupying the area and East Jerusalem in 1948, before annexing them in 1950. Jordan offered citizenship to the Palestinians living there, including refugees, and ruled the West Bank until losing it to Israel during the 1967 war. Although the West Bank had been formally incorporated inside the kingdom, the 1950 annexation agreement decreed Jordanian rule a temporary arrangement, to be held in trust until a final resolution was found for the Palestinian issue. Following the 1967 war, Israel encouraged Jews to settle in the West Bank, providing land, military protection, electricity, water and roads. Some Israeli Jews justify settlement on religious grounds, but many Israelis consider control of the territory necessary to prevent Palestinians from attacking Israel.
