Latest news with #Whittall
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Aid Teams Plead For Access Amid Reports Gazans Shot Collecting Food
Unverified footage from Rafah where the privately-run but Israeli military-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is based showed scenes of panic with crowds of people rushing in different directions, while others carried away boxes of supplies. The UN human rights office, OHCHR, said that it had received information that at least 47 people had been hurt on Tuesday trying to collect aid. Those numbers could increase as information on the incident is still being gathered, said Ajith Sunghay, Head of OHCHR in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, speaking to journalists in Geneva on Wednesday. ' From January to March 2024, our office has documented 26 incidents where the Israel Defense Forces fired shots while people were collecting humanitarian aid, causing casualties at Al Kuwaiti roundabout and Al Naburasi roundabout,' Mr. Sunghay told UN News. Gaza 'crime scene' grows daily The situation in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels of devastation, with widespread displacement, starvation and destruction, said Jonathan Whittall on Wednesday, who's heads up UN aid coordination office, OCHA, for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. ' With each day that passes, Gaza is becoming a bigger and bigger crime scene,' Mr. Whittall warned, citing starvation, attacks on hospitals, aid worker deaths and entire communities displaced. 'Nowhere is safe. People are being starved and then drip-fed in the most undignified way possible.' He added the trickle of aid entering Gaza is 'far from enough' to meet basic needs, highlighting severe restrictions on aid delivery, with UN teams only allowed to distribute flour to bakeries and not to families directly. 'There must be accountability,' he stressed, urging political and economic pressure to end what he described as ongoing atrocities in Gaza. New aid model 'a grotesque symbol' He said the US-Israeli distribution scheme was "engineered scarcity: four distribution hubs located in central and southern Gaza, secured by private US security contractors, where those Palestinians who can reach them will receive rations." Mr. Whittall added that it could not possibly meet Gaza's needs. " Knowingly designing a plan that falls short of minimum obligations under international law, is essentially an admission of guilt." Locating the new aid model close to where Israeli forces killed and buried 15 mass responders earlier in the year is a "grotesque symbol of how life in Gaza, and that which sustains it, is being erased and controlled,' he said. No evidence of Hamas aid diversion Israel's claim that UN and partners' aid is being diverted by Hamas 'doesn't hold up to scrutiny,' he added. 'Aid coordinated through the UN system made up for 35 per cent of what entered during the ceasefire. We have no oversight on those supplies which were facilitated to enter by Israel through other channels. " The real theft of aid since the beginning of the war has been carried out by criminal gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces, and they were allowed to operate in proximity to the Kerem Shalom crossing point into Gaza' Renewed appeal for aid access Meanwhile, UN aid teams have continued to appeal to Israel for access to Gaza to deliver and distribute thousands of tonnes of food, medicine and other basic items waiting just outside Gaza. Jens Laerke from the UN agency OCHA insisted that the its staff have 'everything needed to get aid to civilians safely: the people, the networks and the trust' of Gazans. ' Right now, nearly 180,000 pallets of food and other life-saving aid stand ready to enter Gaza, the hungriest place on earth,' he told UN News. 'The supplies have already been paid for by the world's donors. It is cleared for customs, approved and ready to move. We can get the aid in – immediately, at scale and for as long as necessary.' 50,000 kids killed or injured In a related development, UNICEF announced that the war in Gaza has killed or injured more than 50,000 children in less than 600 days. UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram said that since the ceasefire ended on 18 March, approximately 1,300 children have been killed and 3,700 injured alone. That number is enough children to fill more than 1,600 classrooms, Ms. Ingram told UN News: 'Every one of these children is in life. A child with a family, with hopes for the future," she said. "And yet we continue to count their deaths and live stream their suffering to the world. This must end immediately. She added: " The children of Gaza desperately need protection from these ongoing bombardments, as well as food, water, medicine and other basic supplies that they need to survive. The blockade must end. Aid must flow freely and at scale, and more than anything else, we need a ceasefire we need collective action to stop these atrocities and to protect children.' The UNICEF official's comments follow an attack on a home last weekend that reportedly killed nine out of 10 siblings of one family, the Al-Najars; all the victims were 12 years old or younger.
Scoop
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Gaza: UN Official Warns Of ‘Assault On Dignity' As Blockade Cripples Humanitarian Response
The coming days in Gaza are set to be critical, the UN warned on Saturday, as humanitarian operations are severely curtailed amid an intensifying blockade, escalating violence, and soaring humanitarian needs. Speaking to journalists in Gaza City, Jonathan Whittall, local Head of Office for the UN aid coordination wing, OCHA, painted a dire picture of life under what he called a 'total and complete blockade' now approaching its third month. 'The coming days in Gaza are going to be critical. Today people are not surviving in Gaza, those that aren't being killed with bombs and bullets are slowly dying,' he said. Whittall stressed that humanitarian agencies are unable to meet the soaring needs of civilians due to the collapse of supply lines. Hospitals are overwhelmed, but medicines and equipment are running out. People are going hungry, but food warehouses are empty and bakeries are closing. Clean water is desperately needed, but water wells are inaccessible. He noted that solid waste is piling up in the streets with no equipment to remove it, and that rescue efforts after airstrikes are impossible without fuel and machinery. Displaced families are forced to live in rubble without shelter materials, and fishermen are being shot at sea, while humanitarian organisations lack the resources to assist them. 'Nowhere in Gaza today is safe', he said. He added that children need to learn, but schools have been destroyed or are inaccessible, and that education supplies are not available. Prices of the remaining goods in Gaza continue to rise, but there is no cash available. There is no cooking gas or fuel, forcing families to burn trash to generate some energy. A war 'without any limits' 'This is not only about humanitarian needs, but it's about dignity. There is an assault on people's dignity in Gaza today,' he warned. 'We also know that humanitarian workers, first responders, you as journalists, should be protected, like all civilians, but we're being killed in a war that appears to be fought without any limits,' he added. Whittall emphasised that the situation in Gaza does not even resemble a war. 'People in Gaza are telling me that they feel like it's the deliberate dismantling of Palestinian life in plain sight, for all to see, documented every day by you as journalists,' he said. He described the devastation witnessed daily — including children's bodies thrown by explosions, families burnt alive, and colleagues killed — as part of what he termed 'everyday atrocities.' 'As humanitarians we can see that aid is being weaponised through its denial,' he warned. 'There's no justification for the denial of humanitarian assistance. And humanitarian aid should never be weaponised.' Despite the catastrophic conditions, he stressed that humanitarian organisations are continuing to operate where possible, but 'we have less and less and less supplies and less and less capacity to be able to meet the growing and growing needs that are intensifying across Gaza.' 'Lives depend on the blockade being lifted, on aid being allowed to enter into Gaza, on the ceasefire being reinstated,' he said, calling for real accountability rather than waiting for history to judge the international community's response. Hunger and malnutrition surging In a separate statement, OCHA warned of a 'severe decline' in food availability across Gaza, as malnutrition rates escalate rapidly, particularly among children. A UN partner organisation recently screened around 1,300 children in northern Gaza and identified over 80 cases of acute malnutrition, representing more than double the rate recorded in previous weeks. 'Nutrition partners report a critical shortage of supplies due to the obstruction of aid entry and challenges in transporting essential materials within Gaza,' OCHA said. Access to key facilities, including UNICEF 's main warehouse in Rafah, remains heavily restricted. Journalists who visited the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) main warehouses this week found them largely empty of food supplies, including flour. Call for accountability and action 'Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,' UNRWA said in a separate statement, stressing that international law prohibits indiscriminate attacks, the obstruction of humanitarian assistance, and the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure. The agency reiterated its call for a renewed ceasefire, the dignified release of all hostages, and the immediate, unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza.
Scoop
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Gaza: UN Official Warns Of 'Assault On Dignity' As Blockade Cripples Humanitarian Response
Speaking to journalists in Gaza City, Jonathan Whittall, local Head of Office for the UN aid coordination wing, OCHA, painted a dire picture of life under what he called a "total and complete blockade" now approaching its third month. "The coming days in Gaza are going to be critical. Today people are not surviving in Gaza, those that aren't being killed with bombs and bullets are slowly dying," he said. Whittall stressed that humanitarian agencies are unable to meet the soaring needs of civilians due to the collapse of supply lines. Hospitals are overwhelmed, but medicines and equipment are running out. People are going hungry, but food warehouses are empty and bakeries are closing. Clean water is desperately needed, but water wells are inaccessible. He noted that solid waste is piling up in the streets with no equipment to remove it, and that rescue efforts after airstrikes are impossible without fuel and machinery. Displaced families are forced to live in rubble without shelter materials, and fishermen are being shot at sea, while humanitarian organisations lack the resources to assist them. "Nowhere in Gaza today is safe", he said. He added that children need to learn, but schools have been destroyed or are inaccessible, and that education supplies are not available. Prices of the remaining goods in Gaza continue to rise, but there is no cash available. There is no cooking gas or fuel, forcing families to burn trash to generate some energy. A war 'without any limits' "This is not only about humanitarian needs, but it's about dignity. There is an assault on people's dignity in Gaza today," he warned. "We also know that humanitarian workers, first responders, you as journalists, should be protected, like all civilians, but we're being killed in a war that appears to be fought without any limits," he added. Whittall emphasised that the situation in Gaza does not even resemble a war. "People in Gaza are telling me that they feel like it's the deliberate dismantling of Palestinian life in plain sight, for all to see, documented every day by you as journalists," he said. He described the devastation witnessed daily — including children's bodies thrown by explosions, families burnt alive, and colleagues killed — as part of what he termed "everyday atrocities." "As humanitarians we can see that aid is being weaponised through its denial," he warned. "There's no justification for the denial of humanitarian assistance. And humanitarian aid should never be weaponised." Despite the catastrophic conditions, he stressed that humanitarian organisations are continuing to operate where possible, but "we have less and less and less supplies and less and less capacity to be able to meet the growing and growing needs that are intensifying across Gaza." "Lives depend on the blockade being lifted, on aid being allowed to enter into Gaza, on the ceasefire being reinstated," he said, calling for real accountability rather than waiting for history to judge the international community's response. Hunger and malnutrition surging In a separate statement, OCHA warned of a 'severe decline' in food availability across Gaza, as malnutrition rates escalate rapidly, particularly among children. A UN partner organisation recently screened around 1,300 children in northern Gaza and identified over 80 cases of acute malnutrition, representing more than double the rate recorded in previous weeks. "Nutrition partners report a critical shortage of supplies due to the obstruction of aid entry and challenges in transporting essential materials within Gaza," OCHA said. Access to key facilities, including UNICEF's main warehouse in Rafah, remains heavily restricted. Journalists who visited the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) main warehouses this week found them largely empty of food supplies, including flour. Call for accountability and action "Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," UNRWA said in a separate statement, stressing that international law prohibits indiscriminate attacks, the obstruction of humanitarian assistance, and the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure. The agency reiterated its call for a renewed ceasefire, the dignified release of all hostages, and the immediate, unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza.
Epoch Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Israeli Military Says Its Troops Opened Fire at Rescue Vehicles in March After Identifying Them as Hamas Vehicles
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that its troops opened fire on ambulances in a March 23 series of incidents in Gaza under the impression that they posed a threat to the IDF, citing the Hamas terrorist group's frequent use of such vehicles 'to transport terrorists and weapons.' The IDF In the first incident, the IDF said that its troops opened fire on a vehicle belonging to Hamas terrorists in the area, which put them on high alert for further potential threats. The probe, citing supporting surveillance, found that a fire truck and ambulances stopped near the area where the troops were operating just an hour later, with passengers quickly disembarking. The IDF said its soldiers shot the individuals under the impression that they posed 'an immediate and tangible threat' after a deputy battalion commander mistakenly recognized the ambulances as Hamas vehicles and ordered them to open fire. 'Due to poor night visibility, the deputy commander did not initially recognize the vehicles as ambulances. Only later, after approaching the vehicles and scanning them, was it discovered that these were indeed rescue teams,' it stated. Related Stories 4/16/2025 4/18/2025 The IDF said the incident occurred in a 'hostile combat and dangerous zone' and cited the complexity of 'confronting Hamas' repeated use of such infrastructure for terrorism, including using ambulances to transport terrorists and weapons.' However, it found that there were 'several professional failures' and 'breaches of orders' during the incident. It said that in the third incident, Israeli forces fired on a United Nations vehicle due to 'operational errors.' Following the investigation, the commanding officer was reprimanded and the deputy commander was dismissed for providing 'an incomplete and inaccurate report' about the incident. The IDF said it 'regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians' and assured that it will ensure the reinforcement of existing protocols in areas where rescue teams are present, 'even in high-intensity combat zones.' The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on March 30 that its rescue team has recovered the bodies of 15 Palestinians, whom it claimed were medics and rescue workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS), the Palestine Civil Defense, and the U.N. 'They were here to save lives. Instead, they ended up in a mass grave,' Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA in the region, said in a March 30 Whittall alleged that Israeli forces used a bulldozer to bury the victims' bodies along with their vehicles in a mass grave. In its It said the decision to crush the vehicles was wrong but that there was no attempt to conceal the shootings, noting that it had discussed with the U.N. about the removal of bodies. Footage of Incident Israeli veterans' group Breaking the Silence has rejected the IDF investigation, saying that it was 'riddled with contradictions, vague phrasing, and selective details.' 'We all remember when the IDF claimed that the ambulances emergency lights weren't on—and then we saw the footage proving otherwise,' it The group was referring to That footage contradicted the IDF's IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said on April 20 that initial reports were based on 'real-time updates from the forces on the ground.' He said that the IDF later conducted a debrief, separate from the chain of command involved in the incident, which found the initial report to be faulty. 'There was never any intention to mislead or deceive the public or media. We have learned from this, implemented our lessons, and held those accountable responsible—both of the incident and the faulty report,' he PRCS Gaza has been at war since Hamas launched a surprise assault on Southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 Israelis and taking about 250 captive back to Gaza. The death toll in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry, has risen to about 51,000 as of April, although the numbers do not distinguish between combatants and civilians, and they are contested. The Epoch Times is unable to verify the claim. Israel and Hamas entered into a six-week cease-fire deal on Jan. 19, during which thousands of prisoners were released by Israel in exchange for the release of hostages. The fighting resumed in March after negotiations stalled between the two sides.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- BBC News
Farm animal bans for three Shropshire men who abused calves
Three calf dealers have been banned from working with farm animals after their abuse was captured on welfare group, Animal Justice Project, produced secretly-recorded footage which it said showed the "horrific mistreatment" of unwanted male dairy Whittall, 50, John Challinor, 57, and Kevin Arden, who all worked at Oaklands Livestock Centre in Shropshire, all pleaded guilty to offences under Section Four of the Animal Welfare Act were sentenced at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday and each was disqualified from keeping or working with farmed animals for life and ordered to pay costs of £500, plus a £95 victim surcharge. Whittall, of Oaklands Farm, Weston-Under-Redcastle, Challinor, of Offa Street, Wrexham and Arden, of Chester Road, Nomans Health, were also ordered to complete 160 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 were told they would have to wait five years before they could apply to have their bans campaign group said the case had been a "groundbreaking legal victory".It said the footage showed calves being thrown down trailer and truck ramps, lifted by their tails, kicked in the head, thrown across pens, punched, slapped, dragged by their ears, and hit with said the recordings were gathered over a five-month period from November 2020 to March 2021 at Oaklands Livestock Centre, in animals were all male calves which it said the dairy industry viewed as being surplus to Palmer, director of Animal Justice Project, said: "The cruelty we exposed is not an isolated incident but part of a broken system that treats animals as disposable commodities."The group has said it is committed to exposing and dismantling the dairy industry and advocating for veganism. In 2023, 59-year-old livestock dealer Derek Whittle from Oaklands Livestock Centre, was banned from keeping cattle for five years after he admitted offences including causing calves unnecessary of Oaklands, Prees, Shropshire, had pleaded guilty to seven charges at Telford Magistrates' Court as a result of the same Animal Justice Project investigation. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
