Latest news with #aid restrictions
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Group of 25 countries tell Israel to end the war ‘now'
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and 24 other foreign ministers, along with the EU's Commissioner for Equality, have condemned Israel for depriving Gazans of "human dignity". They urged the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on aid flow and called for the war to "end now", describing the suffering of civilians as having reached "new depths". The ministers stated that proposals to move 600,000 Palestinians to a "humanitarian city" in Rafah are "completely unacceptable" and constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. They condemned the "drip feeding of aid" and the killing of hundreds of Palestinians while seeking assistance, calling Israel's denial of essential humanitarian aid unacceptable. Mr Lammy later told the Commons that ignoring calls from the UK and other nations for the war in Gaza to end is "tarnishing greatly the reputation of Israel".
Sky News
15 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
Gaza food situation 'worst it's ever been', charity says - as tank attack reportedly kills 12 at camp
An aid worker in Gaza has told Sky News the food situation in the enclave is "absolutely desperate" and "the worst it's ever been". Her comments to chief presenter Mark Austin come amid fresh outcry over aid restrictions, with the UK joining 24 other countries to urge an immediate end to the war. It also comes as at least 12 more Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded when tanks shelled a tent encampment in western Gaza City, according to health authorities. Medics, speaking early on Tuesday, said two shells were fired at tents housing displaced people from tanks positioned north of the Shati camp. Israel hasn't yet commented on the reports. She said: "One of my colleagues said to me yesterday, 'We are all walking together towards death'. And this is the situation now for people in Gaza. "There is no food for their children, it's absolutely desperate here." "The markets are empty," she said. "People may even have cash in their pockets yet they cannot buy bread [or] vegetables. "My team have said to me, 'There's nothing in my house to feed my children, my children are crying all day, every day." Israel launched a ground assault on southern and eastern Deir al Balah for the first time on Monday after having issued an evacuation order. Local medics said at least three people were killed when houses and mosques were hit by tank shelling. Sources told Reuters news agency that Israel believes some of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas in October 2023 could be in the area. Ms Cummings's remarks came as the UK and 24 other nations issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire. The statement criticised aid distribution in Gaza, which is being managed by a US and Israel-backed organisation, Gaza Health Foundation (GHF). Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed while trying to get food in recent weeks, both from GHF and UN convoys. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the joint statement said. The 25 countries also called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of hostages captured by Hamas during the 7 October 2023 attacks. Lammy promises £40m for Gaza Foreign Secretary David Lammy has promised £40m for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. He told MPs: "We are leading diplomatic efforts to show that there must be a viable pathway to a Palestinian state involving the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, in the security and governance of the area. "Hamas can have no role in the governance of Gaza, nor use it as a launchpad for terrorism." 2:53 Addressing the foreign secretaries' joint written statement, charity worker Liz Allcock - who works for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) in Gaza - told Sky News: "While we welcome this, there have been statements in the past 21 months and nothing has changed. "In fact, things have only got worse. And every time we think it can't get worse, it does." "Without a reversal of the siege, the lack of supplies, the constant bombardment, the forced displacement, the killing, the militarisation of aid, we are going to collapse as a humanitarian response," she said. "And this would do a grave injustice to the 2.2 million people we're trying to serve. "An immediate and permanent ceasefire, and avenues for accountability in line with international law, is the minimum people here deserve." The war in Gaza started in response to Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and saw about 250 taken hostage. More than 59,000 Palestinians have since been killed, with more than half being women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. In recent weeks while waiting for food and aid.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Israel depriving Gazans of ‘human dignity', say UK and 24 other countries in call to end war now
Foreign secretary David Lammy has joined other foreign ministers in condemning the Israeli government for depriving Gazans 'of human dignity'. Mr Lammy and his counterparts from 24 other countries, including France, Australia and Canada, along with the European Union's commissioner for equality, urged the Israeli government to ' immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid'. They called for the war to 'end now' and described proposals to move 600,000 Palestinians to a so-called 'humanitarian city' in Rafah as 'completely unacceptable'. In a statement shared on Monday afternoon, the politicians said: 'The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. 'The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity. 'We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.' They said it is 'horrifying' that hundreds of Palestinians 'have been killed while seeking aid' and that the 'Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable'. The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. In the statement, the countries say they 'strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the occupied Palestinian territories'. The foreign ministers reiterated calls for the remaining people being held hostage by Hamas to be released and asked for 'all parties to protect civilians and uphold the obligations of international humanitarian law'. They urged the international community to 'unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire'. Earlier in July, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz laid out plans for the 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, Gaza's most southern city, which has been heavily damaged during the war. He reportedly said that the military would initially move 600,000 Palestinians there, with the aim of eventually transferring the whole population to Rafah. 'Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a 'humanitarian city' are completely unacceptable,' the foreign ministers said on Monday. 'Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.' The signatories also pledged that they would be 'prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire'.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Gaza war ‘must end now', say Lammy and 24 other foreign ministers
Foreign Secretary David Lammy and foreign ministers from 24 other nations have condemned the Israeli government for depriving Gazans of "human dignity" and urged an immediate lifting of aid restrictions. The group, including representatives from France, Australia, and Canada, described proposals to move 600,000 Palestinians to a "humanitarian city" in Rafah as "completely unacceptable" and a violation of international law. They criticised the "drip feeding of aid" and the "inhumane killing of civilians" seeking basic necessities, saying that hundreds have died while trying to access assistance. The ministers said "the war in Gaza must end now" with an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire". They also reiterated demands for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Israel depriving Gazans of ‘human dignity', says UK and 25 other countries in call to end war now
David Lammy has joined other foreign ministers in condemning the Israeli government for depriving Gazans "of human dignity" as they called for the war to "end now". The foreign secretary and counterparts from 24 other nations including Australia, Canada and France, plus the EU commissioner for equality, urged the Israeli government to "immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid". They also described proposals to move 600,000 Palestinians to a so-called "humanitarian city" in Rafah as "completely unacceptable".
