Latest news with #securitybreakdown
The Independent
29-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Gangs and merchants sell food aid in Gaza, where Israel's offensive has shattered security
Since Israel's offensive led to a security breakdown in Gaza that has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving Palestinians, much of the limited aid entering is being hoarded by gangs and merchants and sold at exorbitant prices. A kilogram (2.2 pounds) of flour has run as high as $60 in recent days, a kilogram of lentils up to $35. That is beyond the means of most residents in the territory, which experts say is at risk of famine and where people are largely reliant on savings 21 months into the Israel- Hamas war. Israel 's decision this weekend to facilitate more aid deliveries — under international pressure — has lowered prices somewhat but has yet to be fully felt on the ground. Bags of flour in markets often bear U.N. logos, while other packaging has markings indicating it came from the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — all originally handed out for free. It's impossible to know how much is being diverted, but neither group is able to track who receives its aid. In the melees surrounding aid distributions in recent weeks, residents say the strong were best positioned to come away with food. Mohammed Abu Taha, who lives in a tent with his wife and child near the city of Rafah, said organized gangs of young men are always at the front of crowds when he visits GHF sites. 'It's a huge business,' he said. Every avenue for aid is beset by chaos The U.N. says up to 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, aid groups and media outlets say their own staffers are going hungry, and Gaza's Health Ministry says dozens of Palestinians have died from hunger-related causes in the last three weeks. When the U.N. gets Israeli permission to distribute aid, its convoys are nearly always attacked by armed gangs or overwhelmed by hungry crowds in the buffer zone controlled by the military. The U.N.'s World Food Program said last week it will only be able to safely deliver aid to the most vulnerable once internal security is restored — likely only under a ceasefire. 'In the meantime, given the urgent need for families to access food, WFP will accept hungry populations taking food from its trucks, as long as there is no violence,' spokesperson Abeer Etifa said. In the alternative delivery system operated by GHF, an American contractor, Palestinians often run a deadly gantlet. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops while seeking food since May, mainly near the GHF sites, according to the U.N. human rights office, witnesses and local health officials. The military says it has only fired warning shots when people approach its forces, while GHF says its security contractors have only used pepper spray or fired in the air on some occasions to prevent stampedes. 'You have to be strong and fast' A man in his 30s, who insisted on anonymity for fear of reprisal, said he had visited GHF sites about 40 times since they opened and nearly always came back with food. He sold most of it to merchants or other people in order to buy other necessities for his family. Heba Jouda, who has visited the sites many times, said armed men steal aid as people return with it and merchants also offer to buy it. 'To get food from the American organization, you have to be strong and fast," she said. Footage shot by Palestinians at GHF sites and shared broadly shows chaotic scenes, with crowds of men racing down fenced-in corridors and scrambling to grab boxes off the ground. GHF says it has installed separate lanes for women and children and is ramping up programs to deliver aid directly to communities. The U.N.'s deliveries also often devolve into deadly violence and chaos, with crowds of thousands rapidly overwhelming trucks in close proximity to Israeli troops. The U.N. does not accept protection from Israel, saying it prefers to rely on community support. The Israeli military did not respond to emails seeking comment about the reselling of aid. Israel denies allowing looters to operate in areas it controls and accuses Hamas of prolonging the war by not surrendering. 'There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. The situation changed dramatically in March For much of the war, U.N. agencies were able to safely deliver aid, despite Israeli restrictions and occasional attacks and theft. Hamas-led police guarded convoys and went after suspected looters and merchants who resold aid. During a ceasefire earlier this year, Israel allowed up to 600 aid trucks to enter daily. There were no major disruptions in deliveries, and food prices were far lower. The U.N. said it had mechanisms in place to prevent any organized diversion of aid. But Israel says Hamas was siphoning it off, though it has provided no evidence of widespread theft. That all changed in March, when Israel ended the ceasefire and halted all imports, including food. Israel seized large parts of Gaza in what it said was a tactic to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages abducted in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war. As the Hamas-run police vanished from areas under Israeli control, local tribes and gangs — some of which Israel says it supports — took over, residents say. Israel began allowing a trickle of aid to enter in May. GHF was set up that month with the stated goal of preventing Hamas from diverting aid. Since then, Israel has allowed an average of about 70 trucks a day, compared to the 500-600 the U.N. says are needed. The military said Saturday it would allow more trucks in — 180 entered Sunday — and international airdrops have resumed, which aid organizations say are largely ineffective. Meanwhile, food distribution continues to be plagued by chaos and violence, as seen near GHF sites or around U.N. trucks. Even if Israel pauses its military operations during the day, it's unclear how much the security situation will improve. With both the U.N. and GHF, it's possible Hamas members are among the crowds. In response to questions from The Associated Press, GHF acknowledged that but said its system prevents the organized diversion of aid. 'The real concern we are addressing is not whether individual actors manage to receive food, but whether Hamas is able to systematically control aid flows. At GHF sites, they cannot,' it said. Hamas has denied stealing aid. It's unclear if it's involved in the trade in aid, but its fighters would be taking a major risk by operating in a coordinated way in Israeli military zones that U.N. trucks pass through and where GHF sites are located. The UN says the only solution is a ceasefire U.N. officials have called on Israel to fully lift the blockade and flood Gaza with food. That would reduce the incentive for looting by ensuring enough for everyone and driving down prices. Another ceasefire would include a major increase in aid and the release of Israeli hostages, but talks have stalled. Hamas started the war when its fighters stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 hostages. Fifty captives are still being held in Gaza. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up more than half the dead. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and is run by medical professionals. Israel has disputed its figures without providing its own. ___ ___
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who be di Druze and why Israel dey attack Syria?
One fresh wave of deadly sectarian violence bin rock Syria, and bring into focus di kontri fragile security landscape as di new govment dey try impose dia authority on top di divided territory. On Sunday 13 July, di reported kidnap of one merchant from di Druze minority bin spark days of deadly clashes between Druze sojas and Sunni Bedouin fighters for southern Syria. Later for Tuesday 15 July, Israel intervene wit military effort, dem say dia forces wan protect di Druze and eliminate pro-government forces wey dey accused of attacking dem for Suweida. According to di Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 350 pipo don die for Suweida since Sunday, Di violence na di first for di Druze-majority province of Suweida since fighting for April and May between Druze fighters and Syria new security forces kill dozens of pipo. Bifor dis one, authorities say clashes for Syria coastal provinces for March bin lead to di death of hundreds of members of di Alawite minority, group wey former ruler Bashar al-Assad belong to. Di deadly unrest, plus di violent Israeli strikes, don bring back fears of a security breakdown for Syria, as di kontri dey struggle wit di fallout from ova a decade of civil war, and di recent Islamist-led rebel takeover of Damascus for December 2024. Syria current leader, former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa, don vow to protect Syria minorities. Who be di Druze? Di Druze na one Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority for Syria, Lebanon, Israel plus di occupied Golan Heights. Di Druze faith na offshoot of Shia Islam wit im own unique identity and beliefs. Half of dia roughly one million followers dey live for Syria, wia dem make up about 3% of di population. Di Druze community for Israel dey largely considered say dem dey loyal to di Israeli state, sake of dia members participation for military service. About 152,000 Druze pipo dey live for Israel and di Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, according to di Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics. Dem historically occupy uncertain position for Syria political order. During Syria almost 14-year civil war, di Druze operate dia own militias for southern Syria. Since di fall of Assad for December, di Druze don resist state attempts to impose authority ova southern Syria. While di Druze factions for Syria dey divided for dia approach to di new authorities, wey range from caution to outright rejection, many object to official Syrian security presence for Suweida and don resist integration into di Syrian army – dem rely instead on local militias. Despite say di Syrian govment condemn di recent attacks on Druze pipo and vow to restore order for southern Syria, dia forces don also chop accuse of attacking di minority – as di UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) war monitor wey dey document "summary executions" of Druze pipo by government forces. Dat kain report don fuel mistrust among some members of di Druze community towards di authorities for Damascus. Afta Assad sudden fall, Israel don reach out to di Druze community near dia northern border in a bid to forge alliances wit di Syria minorities. Dem don increasingly position diasef as regional protector of minorities, wey include di Kurds, Druze and Alawites for Syria, while attacking military sites for Syria and government forces. During di sectarian clashes for May, Israel bin carry out strikes near di presidential palace for Damascus, dem say na warning against attacks on di Druze. However, some Druze figures for Syria and Lebanon don accuse Israel of fanning sectarian divisions to advance dia own expansionist aspirations for di region. Why Israel dey attack Syria now? Di most recent strikes don primarily act as warning to di Syrian army dem deploy to southern Syria, as Israel dey try to create a demilitarised zone for di area. In particular, Israel dey fear di presence of Islamist fighters near dia northern border, along di Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. While di Israeli air strikes on 15 July bin only target di security forces and vehicles for Suweida, di Israeli military expand di scope of dia attacks on 16 July, wen dem strike di Ministry of Defence plus di Syrian army headquarters for Damascus. Syria don condemn di attacks. Di strikes represent di most serious Israeli escalation for Syria since December 2024, wen dem destroy hundreds of military sites across di kontri and seize one UN-patrolled buffer zone for di Syrian Golan Heights. Israel don strike Syria multiple times, wit di intention of stopping di new authorities from building dia military capacities – wey dem view as potential threat to Israeli security. "Di warnings for Damascus don end - now painful blows go come," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz write on social media on 16 July, shortly afta Israeli strikes on Damascus start. Leading Syria TV Channel bin broadcast di targeting of di Syrian military headquarters live, from dia studios located across from di building – dem capture as di presenter run comot di studio as e still dey tok on air. How di rest of di world take react? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tok say US dey "very concerned" about di violence and announce on 16 July say: "We don agree on specific steps wey go end dis troubling and horrifying situation dis tonight." Several Arab states, including Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait, don condemn di Israeli strikes wey target Syrian government and security forces. Saudi Arabia foreign ministry condemn wetin demm describe as "Israel blatant attacks" on Syria, while Iran describe di attacks as "all too predictable". Turkey, one key stakeholder in post-Assad Syria, describe di strikes as " act of sabotage against Syria efforts to secure peace, stability and security". UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemn Israel "escalatory" strikes for Suweida and Damascus. Wetin fit happun next? Di violence don expose di fragility of Syria post-war security and political landscape, wit di most recent spate of violence fuelling fears of renewed sectarian attacks across Syria. As Sharaa attempt to establish control ova Syria and to unite dia various groups, e neva clear weda im Islamist-dominated government go fit reconcile Syria deep-rooted sectarian divisions, stoked by years of civil war. Di sectarian clashes, along wit di Israeli strikes, threaten to derail attempts at state-building and post-war recovery. Israel, for dia part, dey likely to continue to perceive di new authorities, and dia affiliated Islamist fighters for di south, as a significant security threat - pushing it to pursue alliances wit groups wey fit feel alienated by di new authorities.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria?
A fresh wave of deadly sectarian violence has rocked Syria, putting into focus the country's fragile security landscape as the new government attempts to impose its authority over the fractured Sunday 13 July, the reported abduction of a merchant from the Druze minority sparked days of deadly clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin fighters in southern on Tuesday 15 July, Israel intervened militarily, saying its forces were seeking to protect the Druze and to eliminate pro-government forces accused of attacking them in Suweida. At least 300 people are reported to have been killed in Suweida since Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human violence is the first in the Druze-majority province of Suweida since fighting in April and May between Druze fighters and Syria's new security forces killed dozens of people. Prior to this, clashes in Syria's coastal provinces in March were said to have killed hundreds of members of the Alawite minority, to which former ruler Bashar al-Assad deadly unrest, along with the violent Israeli strikes, have re-ignited fears of a security breakdown in Syria, as the country grapples with the fallout from over a decade of civil war, and the recent Islamist-led rebel takeover of Damascus in December 2024. Syria's current leader, former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa, has vowed to protect Syria's minorities. Who are the Druze? The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. The Druze faith is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and of its roughly one million followers live in Syria, where they make up about 3% of the population. The Druze community in Israel is largely considered to be loyal to the Israeli state, owing to its members' participation in military service. There are some 152,000 Druze people living in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, according to the Israeli Central Bureau of have historically occupied a precarious position in Syria's political order. During Syria's almost 14-year civil war, the Druze operated their own militias in southern the fall of Assad in December, the Druze have resisted state attempts to impose authority over southern Syria. While the Druze factions in Syria are divided in their approach to the new authorities, ranging from caution to outright rejection, many object to official Syrian security presence in Suweida and have resisted integration into the Syrian army - relying instead on local militias. Despite the Syrian government condemning the recent attacks on Druze people and vowing to restore order in southern Syria, its forces have also been accused of attacking the minority - with the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) war monitor documenting "summary executions" of Druze people by government forces. Such reports have fuelled mistrust among some members of the Druze community towards the authorities in Assad's sudden fall, Israel has been reaching out to the Druze community near its northern border in a bid to forge alliances with Syria's minorities. It has increasingly positioned itself as a regional protector of minorities, including the Kurds, Druze and Alawites in Syria, while attacking military sites in Syria and government the sectarian clashes in May, Israel carried out strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus, saying it was a warning against attacks on the Druze. However, some Druze figures in Syria and Lebanon have accused Israel of stoking sectarian divisions to advance its own expansionist aspirations in the region. Why is Israel attacking Syria now? The most recent strikes have primarily acted as a warning and a deterrent against the Syrian army deploying to southern Syria, with Israel seeking to create a demilitarised zone in the area. In particular, Israel fears the presence of Islamist fighters near its northern border, along the Israeli-occupied Golan the Israeli air strikes on 15 July were limited to targeting security forces and vehicles in Suweida, the Israeli military expanded the scope of its attacks on 16 July, striking the Ministry of Defence and the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus. Syria has condemned the strikes represented the most serious Israeli escalation in Syria since December 2024, when it obliterated hundreds of military sites across the country and seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights. Israel has struck Syria multiple times, with the intention of preventing the new authorities from building its military capacities - viewed as a potential threat to Israeli security."The warnings in Damascus have ended - now painful blows will come," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on social media on 16 July, shortly after Israeli strikes on Damascus targeting of the Syrian military headquarters was broadcast live by the leading Syria TV channel, from its studios located across from the building - with the presenter captured on air fleeing the studio. How has the rest of the world reacted? The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US was "very concerned" about the violence and announced on 16 July: "We have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight."Several Arab states, including Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait, have condemned the Israeli strikes targeting Syrian government and security forces. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry denounced what it described as "Israel's blatant attacks" on Syria, while Iran described the attacks as "all too predictable".Turkey, a key stakeholder in post-Assad Syria, described the strikes as "an act of sabotage against Syria's efforts to secure peace, stability and security".UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned Israel's "escalatory" strikes in Suweida and Damascus. What could happen next? The violence has underlined the fragility of Syria's post-war security and political landscape, with the most recent spate of violence fuelling fears of renewed sectarian attacks across Sharaa attempts to establish control over Syria and to unite its various groups, it remains to be seen whether his Islamist-dominated government will be able to reconcile Syria's deep-rooted sectarian divisions, stoked by years of civil war. The sectarian clashes, along with the Israeli strikes, threaten to derail attempts at state-building and post-war for its part, is likely to continue to perceive the new authorities, and its affiliated Islamist fighters in the south, as a significant security threat - pushing it to pursue alliances with groups that may feel alienated by the new authorities.
