Latest news with #PascaleCoissard
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gaza desperately needs aid. How many trucks has Israel let in?
Palestinians in Gaza are on the verge of starvation and are desperate for aid. But, despite Israel officially relenting and publicly stating that it will now allow trucks to enter Gaza after a more-than-two-month blockade, only five aid trucks have actually entered the territory as of Tuesday night. And, even with those trucks inside Gaza, humanitarian workers have been prevented from distributing the aid inside them, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke. The population of the Gaza Strip, more than two million people before Israel's war on Gaza, is on the brink of famine, numerous aid agencies have said, with up to 14,000 babies at risk of dying from malnutrition if aid does not reach them. Despite the immense humanitarian cost, Israel's siege of the Strip continues. Israel says 93 trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday, but even if that were true and the aid distributed, it still amounts to approximately 20 percent of the territory's daily pre-war needs. After 11 weeks of unrelenting siege, the situation within Gaza is reported by numerous agencies to be desperate. Half a million people, or one in five Palestinians, are facing starvation. The rest of the population is, according to the UN's Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), suffering from high levels of acute food insecurity. 'The risk of famine in the Gaza Strip is not just possible – it is increasingly likely,' the IPC said, warning that an official famine could be declared as a direct result of Israeli action at any point between now and September. Officially, a famine occurs when at least 20 percent (one-fifth) of households face extreme food shortages; more than 30 percent of children suffer from acute malnutrition; and at least two out of every 10,000 people or four out of every 10,000 children die each day from starvation or hunger-related causes. The term famine refers to more than simply hunger. It refers to one of the worst humanitarian emergencies possible, indicating a complete collapse of access to food, water and the systems necessary to support life. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported last week that at least 57 children have died from the effects of malnutrition since Israel's complete blockade began on March 2. Emergency coordinator in Gaza for Doctors Without Borders – known by its French initials, MSF – Pascale Coissard, described the aid allowed into Gaza as 'ridiculously inadequate'. The organisation said that Israel was only permitting food and medicine into Gaza as 'a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over'. 'The Israeli authorities' decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while, in fact, keeping them barely surviving,' Coissard said. Israel faces intense international pressure to lift its siege on Gaza. Twenty-three nations, including many of Israel's traditional allies, have condemned Israel's action in Gaza, with the United Kingdom, France and Canada threatening sanctions if aid is not allowed to reach those trapped within the enclave. Even the United States, typically Israel's closest ally, has conceded that aid is not entering Gaza in 'sufficient amounts' to avert the threat of famine. Not particularly. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in indiscriminate Israeli attacks over the last week, taking the overall death toll to more than 53,500. Of those, more than 3,500 have been killed since the Israeli government decided to unilaterally break a ceasefire on March 18 and resume its offensive on the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Israeli military confirmed that it had expanded ground operations in the northern and southern stretches of the Gaza Strip as part of what it said was an intensified campaign to gain the concessions from Hamas that had eluded it through nineteen months of intense warfare, the destruction of nearly all of Gaza's buildings and the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, the majority women and children. Despite the humanitarian cost, the decision to allow what critics say is a performative and insufficient amount of food and medicine into Gaza has proven controversial within Israel. Israel's ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned the decision to allow the small amount of aid into Gaza, calling it 'a serious and grave mistake'. However, Ben-Gvir's fellow traveller on the hard right, Finance Minister Beezalel Smotrich, defended the decision, saying in a televised statement that Israel would permit the 'minimum necessary' so 'that the world does not stop us and accuse us of war crimes'.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gazans wait for aid as Israel faces mounting pressure
Gazans waited desperately for vital supplies on Wednesday after Israel said it let in dozens of UN trucks but faced mounting international pressure to increase the aid flow and abandon its intensified military campaign. Rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory told AFP that overnight Israeli strikes killed at least 19 people, including a week-old baby. Israel said 93 trucks had entered Gaza on Tuesday but faced accusations the amount fell far short of what was required. The United Nations said the aid had been held up. The world body had announced on Monday that it had been cleared to send in aid for the first time since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2, sparking critical shortages of food and medicine. Umm Talal Al-Masri, 53, a displaced Palestinian living in an area of Gaza City, described the situation as "unbearable". "No one is distributing anything to us. Everyone is waiting for aid, but we haven't received anything," she told AFP. "We're grinding lentils and pasta to make some loaves of bread, and we barely manage to prepare one meal a day." Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the volume of aid Israel had started to allow into Gaza was not nearly enough for the population of 2.4 million, describing it as "a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over". "The Israeli authorities' decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving," said MSF's emergency coordinator in the south Gaza city of Khan Yunis, Pascale Coissard. A statement released Wednesday on Emirati state media said the United Arab Emirates had reached an agreement with Israel to allow the delivery of "urgent humanitarian aid" to Gaza. "The aid will address the food needs of approximately 15,000 civilians in the Gaza Strip in the initial phase," it said. It was not immediately clear when the UAE's aid would be sent to Gaza. AFP has asked Israeli authorities for comment. - 'Untenable' - The Israeli army stepped up its offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. AFPTV footage of southern Gaza from the Israeli side showed multiple strikes throughout Wednesday morning. In Khan Yunis, distraught relatives cried as their family members were brought to the city's Nasser Hospital following a strike. The charred legs of the dead, including a young child, were visible from under blankets laid on the floor. Israel has faced massive pressure, including from traditional allies, to halt its intensified offensive and allow aid into Gaza. European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday that "a strong majority" of foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc backed the move to review its trade cooperation with Israel. "The countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable... and what we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid," she said. Sweden said it would press the EU to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers. Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador and said it was imposing sanctions on settlers in the occupied West Bank in its toughest actions so far against Israel's conduct of the war. Pope Leo XIV described the situation in Gaza as "worrying and painful" and called for "the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid". Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas welcomed the international rejection of Israel's "blockade" and "starvation" of the territory. Israel's foreign ministry has said the EU action "reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing". - 'Take control' - Israel said "93 UN trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including flour for bakeries, food for babies, medical equipment and pharmaceutical drugs were transferred" to Gaza on Tuesday, but the UN reported difficulties in receiving deliveries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that Israel would "take control of all the territory of the Strip" with its new campaign. Israel resumed operations across Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire. Negotiators from Israel and Hamas began new indirect talks in Doha at the weekend. Late Wednesday, Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of refusing to accept a deal, saying Israel was recalling its senior negotiators but leaving some of its team in Doha. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza's health ministry said Tuesday at least 3,427 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,573. bur-az-acc/kir
France 24
21-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Gazans wait for aid as Israel faces mounting pressure
Rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory told AFP that overnight Israeli strikes killed at least 19 people, including a week-old baby. Israel said 93 trucks had entered Gaza on Tuesday but faced accusations the amount fell far short of what was required. The United Nations said the aid had been held up. The world body had announced on Monday that it had been cleared to send in aid for the first time since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2, sparking critical shortages of food and medicine. Umm Talal Al-Masri, 53, a displaced Palestinian living in an area of Gaza City, described the situation as "unbearable". "No one is distributing anything to us. Everyone is waiting for aid, but we haven't received anything," she told AFP. "We're grinding lentils and pasta to make some loaves of bread, and we barely manage to prepare one meal a day." Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the volume of aid Israel had started to allow into Gaza was not nearly enough for the population of 2.4 million, describing it as "a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over". "The Israeli authorities' decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving," said MSF's emergency coordinator in the south Gaza city of Khan Yunis, Pascale Coissard. A statement released Wednesday on Emirati state media said the United Arab Emirates had reached an agreement with Israel to allow the delivery of "urgent humanitarian aid" to Gaza. "The aid will address the food needs of approximately 15,000 civilians in the Gaza Strip in the initial phase," it said. It was not immediately clear when the UAE's aid would be sent to Gaza. AFP has asked Israeli authorities for comment. 'Untenable' The Israeli army stepped up its offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. AFPTV footage of southern Gaza from the Israeli side showed multiple strikes throughout Wednesday morning. In Khan Yunis, distraught relatives cried as their family members were brought to the city's Nasser Hospital following a strike. The charred legs of the dead, including a young child, were visible from under blankets laid on the floor. Israel has faced massive pressure, including from traditional allies, to halt its intensified offensive and allow aid into Gaza. European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday that "a strong majority" of foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc backed the move to review its trade cooperation with Israel. "The countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable... and what we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid," she said. Sweden said it would press the EU to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers. Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador and said it was imposing sanctions on settlers in the occupied West Bank in its toughest actions so far against Israel's conduct of the war. Pope Leo XIV described the situation in Gaza as "worrying and painful" and called for "the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid". Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas welcomed the international rejection of Israel's "blockade" and "starvation" of the territory. Israel's foreign ministry has said the EU action "reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing". 'Take control' Israel said "93 UN trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including flour for bakeries, food for babies, medical equipment and pharmaceutical drugs were transferred" to Gaza on Tuesday, but the UN reported difficulties in receiving deliveries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that Israel would "take control of all the territory of the Strip" with its new campaign. Israel resumed operations across Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire. Negotiators from Israel and Hamas began new indirect talks in Doha at the weekend. Late Wednesday, Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of refusing to accept a deal, saying Israel was recalling its senior negotiators but leaving some of its team in Doha. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza's health ministry said Tuesday at least 3,427 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,573.
Int'l Business Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Gazans Wait For Aid As Israel Faces Mounting Pressure
Gazans waited desperately for vital supplies on Wednesday after Israel said it let in dozens of UN trucks but faced mounting international pressure to increase the aid flow and abandon its intensified military campaign. Rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory told AFP that overnight Israeli strikes killed at least 19 people, including a week-old baby. Israel said 93 trucks had entered Gaza on Tuesday but faced accusations the amount fell far short of what was required. The United Nations said the aid had been held up. The world body had announced on Monday that it had been cleared to send in aid for the first time since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2, sparking critical shortages of food and medicine. Umm Talal Al-Masri, 53, a displaced Palestinian living in an area of Gaza City, described the situation as "unbearable". "No one is distributing anything to us. Everyone is waiting for aid, but we haven't received anything," she told AFP. "We're grinding lentils and pasta to make some loaves of bread, and we barely manage to prepare one meal a day." Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the volume of aid Israel had started to allow into Gaza was not nearly enough for the population of 2.4 million, describing it as "a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over". "The Israeli authorities' decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving," said MSF's emergency coordinator in the south Gaza city of Khan Yunis, Pascale Coissard. A statement released Wednesday on Emirati state media said the United Arab Emirates had reached an agreement with Israel to allow the delivery of "urgent humanitarian aid" to Gaza. "The aid will address the food needs of approximately 15,000 civilians in the Gaza Strip in the initial phase," it said. It was not immediately clear when the UAE's aid would be sent to Gaza. AFP has asked Israeli authorities for comment. The Israeli army stepped up its offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. AFPTV footage of southern Gaza from the Israeli side showed multiple strikes throughout Wednesday morning. In Khan Yunis, distraught relatives cried as their family members were brought to the city's Nasser Hospital following a strike. The charred legs of the dead, including a young child, were visible from under blankets laid on the floor. Israel has faced massive pressure, including from traditional allies, to halt its intensified offensive and allow aid into Gaza. European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday that "a strong majority" of foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc backed the move to review its trade cooperation with Israel. "The countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable... and what we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid," she said. Sweden said it would press the EU to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers. Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador and said it was imposing sanctions on settlers in the occupied West Bank in its toughest actions so far against Israel's conduct of the war. Pope Leo XIV described the situation in Gaza as "worrying and painful" and called for "the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid". Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas welcomed the international rejection of Israel's "blockade" and "starvation" of the territory. Israel's foreign ministry has said the EU action "reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing". Israel said "93 UN trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including flour for bakeries, food for babies, medical equipment and pharmaceutical drugs were transferred" to Gaza on Tuesday, but the UN reported difficulties in receiving deliveries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that Israel would "take control of all the territory of the Strip" with its new campaign. Israel resumed operations across Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire. Negotiators from Israel and Hamas began new indirect talks in Doha at the weekend. Late Wednesday, Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of refusing to accept a deal, saying Israel was recalling its senior negotiators but leaving some of its team in Doha. Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza's health ministry said Tuesday at least 3,427 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,573. This picture taken from a position in southern Israel shows destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip AFP A Palestinian man sits amid tents at a camp for displaced people in Gaza City AFP Israeli soldiers gesture atop a military vehicle at Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip AFP
Jordan Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Jordan Times
MSF says Israel allowing 'ridiculously inadequate' amount of aid into Gaza
A Palestinian man sits amid tents at a camp for displaced people in Gaza City, on May 20, 2025 (AFP photo) GENEVA — The amount of aid Israel has started to allow into war-ravaged Gaza is not nearly enough and is "a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over," the MSF aid group said on Wednesday. Israel has come under massive international pressure to abandon its intensified military campaign in Gaza and to allow aid into the territory, where humanitarian agencies say a total blockade has sparked critical food and medicine shortages. "The Israeli authorities' decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving," said Pascale Coissard, Medecins Sans Frontieres ( Doctors Without Borders) emergency coordinator in Gaza's Khan Yunis. "The current authorisation for 100 per day, when the situation is so dire, is woefully inadequate," MSF said in the statement. "Meanwhile, evacuation orders are continuing to uproot the population, while Israeli forces are still subjecting health facilities to intensive attacks." The UN announced Monday that it had been cleared to send in aid for the first time since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2, sparking severe shortages of food and medicine. Israel said 93 trucks had entered Gaza from Israel on Tuesday but the United Nations said the aid had been held up.
