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Kuwait Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Zionist strike targets aid trucks
Aid entering Gaza 'far too little, too late and too slow' CAIRO/JERUSALEM: Zionist airstrikes killed at least six Palestinians guarding aid trucks against looters, Hamas officials said on Friday, as the head of the United Nations warned that only a 'teaspoon' of aid was getting in following the Zionit entity's 11-week-long blockade. The Zionist entity's military said 107 trucks carrying flour and other foodstuffs as well as medical supplies entered the Gaza Strip from the Karam Abu Salem crossing point on Thursday, for a total of 305 since Monday when the blockade was relaxed. But getting the supplies to people sheltering in tents and other makeshift accommodation has been fitful and UN officials say at least 500 to 600 trucks of aid are needed every day. So far, an umbrella network of Palestinian aid groups said, 119 aid trucks have got past the Karam Abu Salem crossing point and into Gaza since the Zionist entity eased its blockade on Monday in the face of an international outcry. Despite the relaxation of the blockade, distribution has been hampered by looting by groups of men, some of them armed, near the city of Khan Younis, an umbrella network representing Palestinian aid groups said. 'They stole food meant for children and families suffering from severe hunger,' the network said in a statement, which also condemned the entity's airstrikes on security teams protecting the trucks. Employees of a bakery in Deir El-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, stack freshly-baked bread after the Zionist entity allowed limited humanitarian aid to enter the Palestinian territory on May 22, 2025. — AFP photos The UN World Food Program said 15 trucks carrying flour to WFP-supported bakeries had been looted, which it said reflected the dire conditions facing Gazans. 'Hunger, desperation and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming is contributing to rising insecurity,' it said in a statement. A Hamas official said six members of a security team tasked with guarding the shipments were killed. 'Desperation' With most of Gaza's 2 million population squeezed into an ever narrowing zone on the coast and in the area around the southern city of Khan Younis by the Zionist entity's military operation, international pressure to get aid in quickly has ratcheted up. 'Without rapid, reliable, safe and sustained aid access, more people will die – and the long-term consequences on the entire population will be profound,' said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. A German government spokesperson said the aid was 'far too little, too late and too slow,' adding that delivery of supplies had to be increased significantly. The Zionist entity has announced that a new system, sponsored by the United States and run by private contractors, will soon begin operations from four distribution centers in the south of Gaza, but many details of how the system will work remain unclear. The UN has already said it will not work with the new system, which it says will leave aid distribution conditional on the Zionist entity's political and military aims. The entity says its forces will only provide security for the centers and will not distribute aid themselves. As the aid has begun to trickle in, the Zionist entity's military has continued the intensified ground and air operation launched last week, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would end with the Zionist entity taking full control of the Gaza Strip. The military said it had conducted more strikes in Gaza overnight, hitting 75 'targets'. Palestinian medical services said at least 25 people had been killed in the strikes. — Reuters
Scoop
26-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Aid Teams Highlight Growing Anxiety In Gaza After Food Is Looted
23 May 2025 'Fifteen World Food Programme trucks were looted late last night in southern Gaza, while en route to WFP-supported bakeries,' the UN agency said. 'These trucks were transporting critical food supplies for hungry populations waiting anxiously for assistance.' The development is a blow to continuing efforts to help Gaza's most vulnerable people after Israel allowed a limited number of aid trucks into Gaza earlier this week, following an 11-week total blockade. Today, Gazans face 'hunger, desperation and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming', WFP said, noting that the uncertainty 'is contributing to rising insecurity'. 'We need support from the Israeli authorities to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster, more consistently and transported along safer routes, as was done during the ceasefire,' it insisted. Critical first step The incident comes a day after about 90 trucks loaded with food, nutrition supplies, medicines and other critical stocks finally started to move from Kerem Shalom crossing point in southern Gaza deeper into the enclave. Footage released by WFP showed workers carrying sacks of flour into an empty warehouse and making dough ready for baking. In subsequent online posts, the UN agency said that a handful of bakeries were once again baking bread after receiving 'limited supplies' overnight. But the UN agency insisted: 'Bread alone is not enough for people to survive.' 'This is a critical first step - but assistance must be scaled up,' said WFP Deputy Country Director Vladimir Jovcev. 'More essential food is needed to push back the risk of famine.' More aid needed In an appeal for far more aid, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA said that what had been allowed in was 'nowhere near sufficient' to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.1 million people. 'Other supplies as basic as fresh food, hygiene items, water purification agents, and fuel to power hospitals have not been let in for over 80 days,' OCHA noted. More than 500 pallets loaded with nutrition supplies – nearly 20 truckloads – reached UNICEF's warehouse in Deir al Balah on Thursday, according to OCHA. These supplies included ready-to-use therapeutic food and lipid-based nutritional supplements which were then repackaged into smaller loads for delivery to people via dozens of distribution points. On Thursday, humanitarian teams moved another batch of about 100 truckloads of aid to the Kerem Shalom border crossing and picked up about 35 inside Gaza. The deliveries included more flour, nutrition items, and medical supplies. OCHA said supplies that are collected usually reached Kerem Shalom a day or two earlier because of the long procedures at the crossing. As truckload sizes do not exactly match, teams inside Gaza stack an extra layer of pallets on each truck to make the most of the space. West Bank settler violence OCHA also updated on the situation in the West Bank where continued high levels of settler violence are having an alarming impact on the Palestinian population. On Thursday, an entire Bedouin community in Maghayer ad Deir, located near Ramallah, began dismantling their homes to move somewhere safer after Israeli settlers set up an outpost less than 50 metres away on Sunday. Altogether, more than 20 households are affected – roughly 60 adults and as many children. OCHA said attacks have escalated as settlers have stormed the community, threatened residents, broken into animal shelters and set fires. Also on Thursday, nearly 150 masked settlers torched Palestinian vehicles in the town of Bruqin, located in the Salfit area. Eight people were injured, with most sustaining burns while trying to put out the fires. The incident comes in the wake of the killing last week of a pregnant Israeli woman nearby, touching off a week-long Israeli operation that locked down about 11,000 Palestinians. Settler attacks also escalated during this time.
Eyewitness News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
UN chief says Gaza war in 'cruellest phase' as aid trucks looted
GAZA CITY - The United Nations chief said Friday that Palestinians were enduring "the cruellest phase" of the war in Gaza, where more than a dozen food trucks were looted following the partial easing of a lengthy Israeli blockade. Aid was just beginning to trickle back into the war-torn territory after Israel announced it would allow limited shipments to resume as it pressed a newly expanded offensive aimed at destroying Hamas. Gaza's civil defence agency reported at least 16 people killed in "Israeli strikes in various areas across" the territory on Friday. Agency official Mohammed al-Mughayyir told AFP the attacks had also wounded dozens of people. UN chief Antonio Guterres said, "Palestinians in Gaza are enduring what may be the cruellest phase of this cruel conflict", adding that Israel "must agree to allow and facilitate" humanitarian deliveries. He pointed to snags, however, noting that of the nearly 400 trucks cleared to enter Gaza in recent days, only 115 were able to be collected. "In any case, all the aid authorised until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required," he added in a statement. "Meanwhile, the Israeli military offensive is intensifying with atrocious levels of death and destruction," he said. In a statement, the World Food Programme said Friday that 15 of its "trucks were looted late last night in southern Gaza, while en route to WFP-supported bakeries". "Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming, is contributing to rising insecurity," the UN body said, calling on Israeli authorities "to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster". Aid shipments to the Gaza Strip restarted on Monday for the first time since March 2, amid mounting condemnation of the Israeli blockade, which has sparked severe shortages of food and medicine. 'NO ONE SHOULD BE SURPRISED' COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that 107 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza on Thursday. But Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Friday that the UN had brought in 500 to 600 per day on average during a six-week ceasefire that broke down in March. "No one should be surprised let alone shocked at scenes of precious aid looted, stolen or 'lost'," he said on X, adding that "the people of Gaza have been starved" for more than 11 weeks. The Israeli military said that over the past day, its forces had attacked "military compounds, weapons storage facilities and sniper posts" in Gaza. "In addition, the [air force] struck over 75 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip," it added. The military said on Friday afternoon that air raid sirens were activated in communities near Gaza, later reporting that "a projectile that crossed into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip was intercepted" by the air force. In Gaza's north, Al-Awda hospital reported Friday that three of its staff were injured "after Israeli quadcopter drones dropped bombs" on the facility. An AFP journalist saw large plumes of smoke billowing above destroyed buildings in southern Gaza after Israeli bombardments. Israel resumed operations in Gaza on 18 March, ending the ceasefire that began on 19 January. On Friday, Gaza's health ministry said at least 3,673 people had been killed in the territory since then, taking the war's overall toll to 53,822, mostly civilians. Hamas's October 2023 attack that triggered the war 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 Israeli military says are dead.
Daily Express
25-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
UN Chief: Gaza war in ‘cruellest phase' as aid trucks looted
Published on: Sunday, May 25, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 25, 2025 Text Size: A Palestinian boy stands outside a destroyed house that was targeted in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat camp for refugees in the central Gaza Strip on May 24, 2025. GAZA CITY: The United Nations chief said that Palestinians were enduring 'the cruelest phase' of the war in Gaza, where more than a dozen food trucks were looted following the partial easing of a lengthy Israeli blockade. Aid was just beginning to trickle back into the war-torn territory after Israel announced it would allow limited shipments to resume as it pressed a newly expanded offensive aimed at destroying Hamas. Gaza civil defence agency official Mohammed al-Mughayyir told AFP at least 71 people were killed, while 'dozens of injuries, and a large number of missing persons under the rubble have been reported as a result of Israeli air strikes' on Friday. UN chief Antonio Guterres said 'Palestinians in Gaza are enduring what may be the cruellest phase of this cruel conflict', adding that Israel 'must agree to allow and facilitate' humanitarian deliveries. He pointed to snags, however, noting that of the nearly 400 trucks cleared to enter Gaza in recent days, only 115 were able to be collected. 'In any case, all the aid authorised until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required,' he added in a statement. Advertisement 'Meanwhile, the Israeli military offensive is intensifying with atrocious levels of death and destruction,' he said. The World Food Programme said Friday that 15 of its 'trucks were looted late last night in southern Gaza, while en route to WFP-supported bakeries'. 'Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming, is contributing to rising insecurity,' the UN body said in a statement, calling on Israeli authorities 'to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster'. Aid shipments to the Gaza Strip restarted on Monday for the first time since March 2, amid mounting condemnation of the Israeli blockade, which has resulted in severe shortages of food and medicine. 'I appeal to people of conscience to send us fresh water and food,' said Sobhi Ghattas, a displaced Palestinian sheltering at the port in Gaza City. 'My daughter has been asking for bread since this morning, and we have none to give her.' COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that 107 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza on Thursday. But Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Friday that the UN had brought in 500 to 600 per day on average during a six-week ceasefire that broke down in March. 'No one should be surprised let alone shocked at scenes of precious aid looted, stolen or 'lost',' he said on X, adding that 'the people of Gaza have been starved' for more than 11 weeks. The Israeli military said that over the past day, its forces had attacked 'military compounds, weapons storage facilities and sniper posts' in Gaza. 'In addition, the (air force) struck over 75 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip,' it added. The military said on Friday afternoon that air raid sirens were activated in communities near Gaza, later reporting that 'a projectile that crossed into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip was intercepted' by the air force. In Gaza's north, Al-Awda hospital reported Friday that three of its staff were injured 'after Israeli quadcopter drones dropped bombs' on the facility. The civil defence agency later said it had successfully contained a fire at the hospital. An AFP journalist saw large plumes of smoke billowing above destroyed buildings in southern Gaza after Israeli bombardments. 'Have mercy on us,' said a distraught Youssef al-Najjar, whose relatives were killed in an air strike in the main southern city of Khan Yunis. 'We are exhausted from the displacement and the hunger – enough!' Israel resumed operations in Gaza on March 18, ending the ceasefire that began on January 19. On Friday, Gaza's health ministry said at least 3,673 people had been killed in the territory since then, taking the war's overall toll to 53,822, mostly civilians. Hamas's October 2023 attack that triggered the war 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 Israeli military says are dead. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Tribune
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Gaza civil defence says 16 killed in Israel strikes
AFP | Gaza Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people yesterday across the Palestinian territory, where Israel has ramped up its military offensive in recent days. The toll from 'Israeli strikes in various areas across the Gaza Strip since midnight' totalled 16 dead, agency official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said. He said there were also dozens of people wounded in the attacks, which mainly hit the centre and south of the territory. In Gaza's north, Al-Awda hospital reported yesterday that three of its staff were injured 'after Israeli quadcopter drones dropped bombs' on the facility. The Israeli army said that over the past day, its forces had attacked 'military compounds, weapons storage facilities and sniper posts' in Gaza. 'In addition, the (air force) struck over 75 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip,' it added. Aid began trickling into the Gaza Strip on Monday for the first time in more than two months, amid mounting condemnation of an Israeli blockade that has sparked severe shortages of food and medicine. COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that on Thursday 107 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza. The UN's World Food Programme said the following day that 15 of its trucks 'were looted late last night in southern Gaza, while en route to WFP-supported bakeries'. WFP executive director Cindy McCain had previously said some aid was finally reaching Gazans, 'but it's moving far too slowly'. Israel resumed major operations in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire. Yesterday, Gaza's health ministry said at least 3,673 people had been killed in the territory since then, taking the war's overall toll to 53,822, mostly civilians.
