Latest news with #Turk
The Hindu
an hour ago
- General
- The Hindu
UN says 'deadly attacks' around Gaza aid sites 'a war crime'
UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that "deadly attacks" on civilians around aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip constituted "a war crime". Rescuers in the Palestinian territory said Israeli fire targeting civilians near an aid distribution centre in the southern city of Rafah killed 27 people on Tuesday, raising an earlier toll. It came after a similar incident on Sunday when rescuers said 31 people were killed at the same location, witnesses saying they had been on their way to collect aid. "Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable," Mr. Turk said in a statement. "For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured." The U.S.-backed GHF is a recently formed group that Israel has cooperated with to implement a new aid distribution mechanism in Gaza. The United Nations does not work with the foundation because of concerns that it does not meet core humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Turk called for a prompt and impartial investigation into each attack, and for those responsible to be held to account. "Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime," he said. "Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism. "This militarised system endangers lives and violates international standards on aid distribution, as the United Nations has repeatedly warned."
Observer
4 hours ago
- General
- Observer
Attacks on Gaza aid sites ‘a war crime', says UN
GENEVA: UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that "deadly attacks" on civilians around aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip constituted "a war crime". Rescuers in the Palestinian territory said Israeli fire targeting civilians near an aid distribution centre in the southern city of Rafah killed 27 people on Tuesday, raising an earlier toll. It came after a similar incident on Sunday when rescuers said 31 people were killed at the same location, witnesses saying they had been on their way to collect aid. "Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable," Turk said in a statement. "For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured." The US-backed GHF is a recently formed group that Israel has cooperated with to implement a new aid distribution mechanism in Gaza. The United Nations does not work with the foundation because of concerns that it does not meet core humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Turk called for a prompt and impartial investigation into each attack, and for those responsible to be held to account. "Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime," he said. "Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism. "This militarised system endangers lives and violates international standards on aid distribution, as the United Nations has repeatedly warned." Tuesday's shooting in the southern city of Rafah came as the agency reported 19 people killed in other Israeli attacks in the territory, and as the Israeli army announced three soldiers had been killed in northern Gaza. "Twenty-seven people were killed and more than 90 injured in the massacre targeting civilians who were waiting for American aid in the Al-Alam area of Rafah," said civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal, who earlier said that the deaths occurred "when Israeli forces opened fire with tanks and drones". The Al Alam roundabout is about a kilometre (a little over half a mile) from a centre run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Rania al Astal, 30, said she had gone to the area with her husband to try to get food. "The shooting began intermittently around 5:00 am. Every time people approached Al Alam roundabout, they were fired upon," she said. "But people didn't care and rushed forward all at once — that's when the army began firing heavily." UN chief Antonio Guterres urged an independent investigation into that shooting, calling it "unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food". Israel has come under mounting pressure to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where people are facing severe shortages after Israel imposed a more than two-month blockade on supplies. The blockade was recently eased, but the aid community has urged Israel to allow in more food, faster. The US-backed GHF has opened a handful of aid distribution centres in southern and central Gaza, and says it has distributed more than seven million meals' worth of food. Israel has stepped up its offensive in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the war. The Israeli army said three of its soldiers had been killed in combat in northern Gaza, bringing the number of Israeli troops killed in the territory since the start of the conflict to 424. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 4,240 people have been killed in the territory since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 54,510,mostly civilians. — AFP
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Israel kills 27 Palestinians at Gaza aid site; UN calls it 'a war crime'
Israeli soldiers on Tuesday opened fire morning near a group of Palestinians making their way to a new food distribution site in southern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 27 people were killed, with dozens more wounded in the incident, news agency Reuters reported. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that the "deadly attacks" targeting civilians near aid distribution centres in Gaza amount to "a war crime". In a statement, Turk said, "Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable." He further added, "For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured." The Israeli military claimed that soldiers fired at 'a few' individuals who had left the designated route and failed to heed warning shots. The military described them as 'suspects' who allegedly posed a threat to the troops. This latest episode of violence unfolded roughly 550 yards from the food distribution site and follows another deadly shooting on June 1, when troops opened fire on Palestinians approaching the same location. Palestinian officials said that the attack killed at least 23 people. These incidents add to the growing tensions surrounding the newly implemented Israeli-backed food aid system in Gaza. Contentious new food aid system The new aid distribution programme is run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American-funded private aid group that replaced the United Nations-led system that had operated across 400 sites throughout Gaza. The new system distributes food from a handful of locations in Israeli-controlled southern Gaza, the New York Times reported. Aid agencies have warned that Gaza is facing severe food shortages after an 80-day blockade on food deliveries between March and May. Israel argues that the new system is essential to prevent Hamas from seizing and reselling aid at inflated prices to finance its war efforts. 'Today's events have shown once again that this new system of aid delivery is dehumanising, dangerous and severely ineffective,' said Claire Manera, an emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, as quoted by the New York Times report. 'It has resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians that could have been prevented," Marena added. UN chief calls for independent investigation UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced deep concern, expressing that he was 'appalled' by reports of Palestinians being killed and wounded while seeking aid. He emphasised the urgent need for an independent investigation into the incident, Reuters reported. Late Monday, the Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders targeting several districts in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The army warned residents that it would take decisive action against militants allegedly operating in these areas. Civilians were directed to move west toward the Mawasi humanitarian zone. Palestinian and United Nations officials contend that there are no truly safe areas within the enclave. They note that most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have already been internally displaced during the months of conflict. The Gaza Health Ministry warned on Tuesday that the latest evacuation orders could jeopardise the functioning of Nasser Hospital, the largest still-operational medical centre in southern Gaza. The ministry stressed that these orders risk the lives of those currently receiving critical treatment. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas-led gunmen, who killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, according to local health authorities, Reuters reported. (With agency inputs)
The Sun
11 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
UN says ‘deadly attacks' around Gaza aid sites ‘a war crime'
GENEVA: UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that 'deadly attacks' on civilians around aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip constituted 'a war crime'. Rescuers in the Palestinian territory said Israeli fire targeting civilians near an aid distribution centre in the southern city of Rafah killed 27 people on Tuesday, raising an earlier toll. It came after a similar incident on Sunday when rescuers said 31 people were killed at the same location, witnesses saying they had been on their way to collect aid. 'Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable,' Turk said in a statement. 'For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured.' The US-backed GHF is a recently formed group that Israel has cooperated with to implement a new aid distribution mechanism in Gaza. The United Nations does not work with the foundation because of concerns that it does not meet core humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Turk called for a prompt and impartial investigation into each attack, and for those responsible to be held to account. 'Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime,' he said. 'Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism. 'This militarised system endangers lives and violates international standards on aid distribution, as the United Nations has repeatedly warned.'
Eyewitness News
11 hours ago
- General
- Eyewitness News
UN says 'deadly attacks' around Gaza aid sites 'a war crime'
GENEVA - United Nations (UN) human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that "deadly attacks" on civilians around aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip constituted "a war crime". Rescuers in the Palestinian territory said Israeli fire targeting civilians near an aid distribution centre in the southern city of Rafah killed 27 people on Tuesday, raising an earlier toll. It came after a similar incident on Sunday when rescuers said 31 people were killed at the same location, witnesses saying they had been on their way to collect aid. "Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable," Turk said in a statement. "For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured." The US-backed GHF is a recently formed group that Israel has cooperated with to implement a new aid distribution mechanism in Gaza. The United Nations does not work with the foundation because of concerns that it does not meet core humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. Turk called for a prompt and impartial investigation into each attack, and for those responsible to be held to account. "Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime," he said. "Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism. "This militarised system endangers lives and violates international standards on aid distribution, as the United Nations has repeatedly warned."
