Latest news with #WorldFoodProgram
Mada
19 hours ago
- Mada
Around 100 WFP flour trucks looted in Gaza as malnutrition deepens under Israeli aid restrictions
Around 100 aid trucks carrying flour meant to be delivered to families were looted on Friday shortly after crossing into southern Gaza. Eighty truck drivers were injured to varying degrees, Nahed Shehaiber, head of the Private Transport Association in Gaza, told Mada Masr, warning that continued looting of aid convoys could halt all deliveries from the border. The incident disrupted a new flour distribution operation managed by the World Food Program, which was meant to represent a major step in combatting starvation and ensuring that the scarce humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most after nearly three months of Israel's total siege on the coastal enclave. The only alternative source of supplies at present is the dangerous aid collection sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a United States-based company designated by Israel to distribute aid in areas adjacent to zones under Israeli military control across the strip. Shehaiber said the Friday looting incidents took place in several different sites after the convoy crossed out of Israeli-controlled areas into southern Gaza. Some trucks were intercepted in the Nuseirat area and others near the court complex in Netsarim, central Gaza. The convoy was ambushed upon reaching northern Khan Younis, eyewitness Ahmed al-Najjar told Mada Masr. Armed gangs opened heavy fire on the trucks leading the way, forcing them to stop and bringing the entire convoy to a standstill. Once the trucks stopped, Najjar said, gang members climbed onto the vehicles and offloaded flour sacks into personal cars parked along the roadside. At first, they blocked residents from approaching, but once their vehicles were full, they left, allowing others to gather what remained. Another eyewitness from southern Khan Younis, near the 'red zone' under Israeli military control in Rafah, told Mada Masr that some aid trucks were already empty upon leaving the area, suggesting they may have been looted within Israeli-controlled areas. The flour was set to be delivered to the WFP, which requested last week that the Israeli military grant it permission to distribute the flour sacks to families who need humanitarian support following the months of siege, calling it 'the most effective way to prevent widespread starvation.' Cases of malnutrition have surged amid the total blockade, with the Gaza Government Media Office reporting that it played a part in the deaths of over 300 people since March. The siege was partially lifted two weeks ago, when Israel allowed the WFP to deliver very limited amounts of flour to designated bakeries within the strip, which were then tasked with handing out the loaves. However, overcrowding made access difficult, and many bakeries and storehouses were looted and have since shut down. The only other alternative for people is to travel to a few designated collection sites, all of which are located near Israeli military zones, where they must undergo security checks before being allowed to take rationed goods. Forty-nine people have already been killed at these sites, Gaza Government Office head Ismail al-Thawabta said on Sunday. The amount of aid currently being delivered to the strip 'makes a mockery of the mass tragedy unfolding under our watch,' United Nation Relief and Works Agency Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated on Saturday. He called for the UN, including UNRWA, to be granted access to deliver aid and uphold human dignity. UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the situation in Gaza as 'catastrophic' and 'the worst it has been' since the war began. 'Humanitarian needs have exploded in Gaza following nearly 80 days of a total blockade of all supplies,' he said.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Israel and Hamas ceasefire held back by amendments as Gazans on the brink of famine
Hamas is seeking amendments to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but President Donald Trump's envoy rejected the group's response as 'totally unacceptable'. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, said proposed amendments focused on 'the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces'. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released 'in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners'. Fifty-eight hostages remain, and Israel believes 35 are dead. Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was unimpressed with Hamas' response. 'It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward,' he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.' As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. 'We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming,' it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. A witness in the southern city of Khan Younis told The Associated Press the UN convoy was stopped at a makeshift roadblock and offloaded by desperate civilians in their thousands. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Israel and Hamas ceasefire held back by amendments as Gazans on the brink of famine
Hamas is seeking amendments to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but President Donald Trump's envoy rejected the group's response as 'totally unacceptable'. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, said proposed amendments focused on 'the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces'. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released 'in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners'. Fifty-eight hostages remain, and Israel believes 35 are dead. Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was unimpressed with Hamas' response. 'It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward,' he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.' As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. 'We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming,' it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. A witness in the southern city of Khan Younis told The Associated Press the UN convoy was stopped at a makeshift roadblock and offloaded by desperate civilians in their thousands. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours.
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Israel and Hamas ceasefire held back by amendments as Gazans on the brink of famine
Hamas is seeking amendments to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but President Donald Trump's envoy rejected the group's response as 'totally unacceptable'. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, said proposed amendments focused on 'the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces'. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released 'in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners'. Fifty-eight hostages remain, and Israel believes 35 are dead. Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was unimpressed with Hamas' response. 'It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward,' he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.' As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. 'We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming,' it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. A witness in the southern city of Khan Younis told The Associated Press the UN convoy was stopped at a makeshift roadblock and offloaded by desperate civilians in their thousands. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Hamas seeks amendments to US ceasefire proposal
Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Hamas has responded to the latest US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, and a senior official with the group says they are seeking some changes, as desperation rises inside Gaza from the aid blockade. Israeli officials have approved the US proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the nearly 20-month war. US President Donald Trump has said negotiators were nearing a deal. "There are some notes and amendments to some points, especially on the US guarantees, the timing of hostage release, the delivery of aid and the withdrawal of Israeli forces," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an ensured flow of aid. It said 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others would be released " in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners". A ceasefire would pause the fighting for 60 days, release some of the 58 hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed food aid and other assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. As hopes for a ceasefire ramp up, desperation rises inside Gaza. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Program says, as desperation mounts following Israel's months-long aid blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward. The World Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination. The nearly three-month Israeli aid blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. The World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high despite the aid that's entering now. "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties and rebuild the trust with communities that more food is coming," it said in a statement, adding that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food, enough to feed Gazans for two months, ready to be brought in. Most people carried bags of flour. He said at one point a forklift was used to offload pallets. The UN says it has been unable to get enough aid in because of fighting. A new US and Israeli-backed foundation started operations in Gaza this week, distributing food at several sites in a chaotic rollout. Israel says the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation eventually will replace the aid operation that the UN and others have carried out during nearly 20 months of war. It says the new mechanism is necessary, accusing Hamas of siphoning off large amounts of aid. The UN denies that a significant diversion takes place. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation works with armed contractors, which it says are needed to distribute food safely. Aid groups have accused the foundation of militarising aid. Israel continued its military campaign across Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets over the past day. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours. The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dead and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are doubts about the fate of several others. Israeli strikes have killed more than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally.
