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Free Malaysia Today
11 hours ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Deaths from Israeli attack near Gaza aid delivery point rise to 31
The US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operates the aid distribution sites in Rafah. (AP pic) CAIRO : An Israeli attack near an aid distribution point run by a private US-based group killed at least 31 people in Gaza today, local health authorities said, as Hamas and Israel exchanged blame over a faltering effort to secure a ceasefire. The incident in Rafah in the south of the enclave was the latest in a series underscoring the volatile security situation that has complicated aid delivery to Gaza, following the easing of an almost three-month Israeli blockade last month. 'There are martyrs and injuries. Many injuries. It is a tragic situation in this place. I advise them that nobody goes to aid delivery points. Enough,' paramedic Abu Tareq said at Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis city. The Palestinian Red Crescent, affiliated with the international Red Cross, said its medical teams had recovered bodies of 23 Palestinians and treated another 23 injured near an aid collection site in Rafah. The US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) operates the aid distribution sites in Rafah. The Red Crescent also reported that 14 more Palestinians were injured near a separate site in central Gaza. GHF also operates the aid distribution site in central Gaza. Earlier, the Palestinian news agency Wafa and Hamas-affiliated media put the number of deaths at 30. Local health authorities said at least 31 bodies had so far arrived at Nasser Hospital. Israel's military said in a statement it was looking into reports that Palestinians had been shot at an aid distribution site but it was unaware of injuries caused by military fire. GHF denied anyone was killed or injured near their site in Rafah and that all of its distribution had taken place without incident. The US company accused Hamas of fabricating 'fake reports'. Residents and medics said Israeli soldiers fired from the ground at a crane nearby that overlooks the area, and a tank opened fire at thousands of people who were en route to get aid from the site in Rafah. Reuters footage showed ambulance vehicles carrying injured people to Nasser Hospital. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said Israel has turned the distribution sites into 'death traps' for people seeking aid. 'We affirm to the world that what is taking place is a deliberate and malicious use of aid as a 'weapon of war', employed to exploit starving civilians and forcibly gather them at exposed killing zones, which are managed and monitored by the Israeli military,' it said. Reda Abu Jazar said her brother was killed as he waited to collect food at an aid distribution centre in Rafah. 'Let them stop these massacres, stop this genocide. They are killing us,' she said, as Palestinian men gathered for funeral prayers. Arafat Siyam said that his brother had left at 11pm the previous evening to collect food for his wife and eight children from the same distribution site in Rafah, south Gaza. Siyam accused the Israeli military of killing his brother. 'This is unfair. What they are doing is unfair,' he said. GHF is a US-based entity backed by the US and Israeli governments that provides humanitarian aid in Gaza, bypassing traditional relief groups. It began work in Gaza last month and has three sites from where thousands have collected aid. GHF has been widely criticised by the international community, with UN officials saying its aid plans would only foment forced relocation of Palestinians and more violence. The group's executive director resigned in May, citing what he said was the entity's lack of independence and neutrality. It is not clear who is funding the company. Israeli officials have said that Palestinians collecting aid would be screened to exclude anyone linked to Hamas. Ceasefire talks falter Israel's military campaign has devastated much of Gaza and destroyed most buildings. (EPA Images pic) Today's incident happened as Israel and Hamas traded blame for the faltering of a new Arab and US mediation bid to secure a temporary ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas, in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli jails. Hamas said yesterday it was seeking amendments to a US-backed ceasefire proposal, but president Donald Trump's envoy rejected the group's response as 'totally unacceptable'. The Palestinian resistance group said it was willing to release 10 living hostages and hand over the bodies of 18 dead in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. But Hamas reiterated demands for an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, conditions Israel has rejected. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government had agreed to US envoy Steve Witkoff's outline. Israel began its offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on communities in southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken as hostages into Gaza. Israel's campaign has devastated much of Gaza, killing over 54,000 Palestinians and destroying most buildings. Much of the population now live in shelters in makeshift camps. Gaza health officials report that most of the dead are civilians, though the number of rebels killed remains unclear.
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
US proposes 60-day ceasefire for Gaza; hostage-prisoner swap, plan shows
A US plan for Gaza on Friday proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages in the first week, in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 Palestinians. The document, which says the plan is guaranteed by US President Donald Trump and mediators Egypt and Qatar, includes sending humanitarian aid to Gaza as soon as Hamas signs off on the ceasefire agreement. The aid will be delivered by the United Nations, the Red Crescent and other agreed channels. On Thursday, the White House said Israel had agreed to the US ceasefire proposal. Israeli media said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted the deal presented by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas told Reuters it was reviewing the plan and would respond on Friday or Saturday. The US plan provides for Hamas to release the last 30 of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages once a permanent ceasefire is in place. Israel will also cease all military operations in Gaza as soon as the truce takes effect, it shows. The Israeli army will also redeploy its troops in stages. Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March. Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all 58 hostages still held in Gaza before it will agree to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, and left the enclave in ruins. MOUNTING PRESSURE Israel has come under increasing international pressure, with many European countries openly demanding an end to the war and a major relief effort. Witkoff told reporters on Wednesday that Washington was close to "sending out a new term sheet" about a ceasefire by the two sides in the conflict. "I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution, of that conflict," Witkoff said at the time. The 60-day ceasefire, according to the plan, may be extended if negotiations for a permanent ceasefire are not concluded within the set period. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Thursday the terms of the proposal echoed Israel's position and did not contain commitments to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops or admit aid as Hamas has demanded. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private group backed by the US and endorsed by Israel, expanded its aid distribution to a third site in Gaza on Thursday. Heavily criticised by the UN and other aid groups as inadequate and flawed, the group began its operation this week in Gaza, where the UN has said 2 million people are at risk of famine after Israel's 11-week blockade on aid entering the enclave. The launch was marred by tumultuous scenes on Tuesday as thousands of Palestinians rushed to distribution points and forced private security contractors to retreat. The chaotic start to the operation has raised international pressure on Israel to get more food in and halt the fighting in Gaza. GHF has so far supplied about 1.8 million meals and plans to open more sites in coming weeks.
Arab News
2 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Islamic Solidarity Fund attends Tunis committee
JEDDAH: The Islamic Solidarity Fund — a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation — took part in the 38th session of the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent, with the attendance of more than 50 participants, including the chairman and members of the committee, representatives of some national Red Crescent and Red Cross societies, regional and international humanitarian organizations, member states of the OIC, observers and official guests in the Tunisian capital, Tunis. The fund's participation in the session was part of its capacity as an observer, highlighting its more than 40-year-long relationship with the committee in supporting its activities and providing emergency humanitarian aid under the umbrella of the OIC. On the sidelines of the session, the fund's executive director, Mohammed bin Sulaiman Aba Al-Khai, met several officials to discuss topics and exchange expertise in areas of mutual interest.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Hamas reviews proposals
The plan, put forward by the US, includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 28 Israeli hostages within the first week in exchange for the 1236 Palestinian hostages and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. The deal also includes sending humanitarian aid into Gaza, to be delivered by the UN, Red Crescent and other agencies, as well as Israel ceasing all military operations in Gaza as soon as the truce takes effect. READ MORE: The National nominated for three Refugee Media Awards Israel said it has agreed to the proposal, while Hamas has said it does not satisfy the group's core demands, including guarantees that the temporary truce will lead to a permanent ceasefire. A senior official said Hamas was reviewing the plan and would be in touch with mediators in due course. It comes as Israel issued forced displacement orders for five more areas in north Gaza. The Israeli army's Arabic language spokesperson said on Twitter/X that Palestinians in the Atatra, Jabalia Al-Balad, Shujaiya, Daraj and Zeitoun areas of Gaza must leave immediately and move west. Israel has been systematically clearing out parts of the Gaza Strip with forced displacement orders, pushing the Palestinian population into smaller and smaller areas of the enclave. Earlier this month, the Israeli government approved plans to capture the entire Gaza Strip and remain in the territory for an unspecified amount of time. And on Thursday, Israel said it plans to establish 22 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel has already built well over 100 settlements across the territory that are home to some 500,000 settlers. The settlements range from small hilltop outposts to fully developed communities with blocks of flats, shopping centres, factories, and public parks. Settlements have been widely condemned by the international community as illegal, with the UK Government announcing sanctions last week on three people and four organisations in the settler movement.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Hamas will reject US Gaza ceasefire plan
Hamas will reject the latest US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, a senior official from the Palestinian terror group said. On Thursday, the US said that Israel had agreed to the plan and that it was waiting for a response from Hamas. Israeli officials said the deal would see Hamas hand over 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in two phases across 60 days. Around 1,200 Palestinian prisoners would also be released in return. A senior Hamas official told the BBC that the proposed deal did not satisfy the group's demands, which include a permanent end to the war. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, told hostages' families on Thursday evening that he had accepted the deal. The deal – which is it is guaranteed by Donald Trump, Egypt and Qatar – includes sending increased aid into Gaza. It would be delivered by groups such as the Red Crescent and UN. It is designed to facilitate further negotiations across 60 days in order to achieve a permanent end to the war. Once that is achieved, the remaining 30 of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages would be released. Israel would also end all military operations in Gaza as soon as the deal comes into effect. Basem Naim, a Hamas political bureau member, said on Thursday that the deal meant 'the continuation of killing and famine... and does not meet any of our people's demands, foremost among them halting the war and famine'. 'Nonetheless, the movement's leadership is studying the response to the proposal with full national responsibility,' he added. Negotiations have been ongoing after the previous ceasefire deal collapsed in March. Israel under pressure from international community Hamas has repeatedly rejected Israel's demand to surrender its weapons and called on Mr Netanyahu to withdraw all of his troops out of the war-torn Palestinian enclave. Steve Witkoff, the US president's envoy who has led negotiations, told reporters on Wednesday that he believed a long-term deal was close. 'I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution, of that conflict,' he said. Israel has intensified its offensive in recent weeks, sending in more troops in bid to seize the entire Strip, while also preventing aid deliveries. On Thursday, it also announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, putting further strain on relations with the international community. It has come under increasing pressure from its allies, including the UK, France and Canada, who earlier this month demanded Israel stop its offensive and increase the flow of aid into the strip.
