Latest news with #war crimes
Al Mayadeen
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
UN sounds alarm over Gaza humanitarian collapse amid Israeli blockade
The United Nations confirmed that its Charter and international law are being repeatedly violated by some member states, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and other crises. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told the Jordanian news agency Petra that states must believe in and implement the commitments they themselves have signed. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, condemning recent attacks that have struck areas sheltering displaced Palestinians and those seeking food. In a statement conveyed by Dujarric, Guterres highlighted that in a single day this week, Israeli relocation orders forced nearly 30,000 Palestinians to flee with no safe refuge and critical shortages of shelter, food, medicine, and water. "International humanitarian law is unambiguous: civilians must be respected and protected, and the needs of the population need to be met," he stressed. Read more: US contractors confirm; Gazans are being targeted at aid sites: AP With fuel barred from entering Gaza for over 17 weeks, Guterres said he is "gravely concerned that the last lifelines for survival are being cut off." He explained that without immediate fuel access, hospitals will lose incubators, ambulances won't function, and water cannot be purified, adding that the limited humanitarian aid still being delivered by the UN and partners risks grinding to a complete halt. The UN chief reiterated his call for full, safe, and sustained humanitarian access, emphasizing that the UN has a comprehensive, proven plan rooted in humanitarian principles to deliver aid safely and effectively to all civilians in need. The Secretary-General renewed his call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of all captives held in Gaza. Read more: UN: Gaza health system facing systematic, deliberate destruction In a related context, Dujarric noted that the area available for civilians in Gaza continues to shrink daily. He recalled that on Thursday, Israeli authorities issued a new displacement order targeting parts of Gaza City, where an estimated 40,000 people lived, including one displacement center, one medical point, and a neighborhood previously untouched by evacuation orders. About 900 families have reportedly fled since the order. The UN spokesperson cited an OCHA report, which noted that since the end of the ceasefire in mid-March, over 50 such orders have been issued, covering approximately 78% of Gaza. He added that when Israeli-militarized zones are factored in, this figure rises to 85%, leaving only 15% of the territory theoretically habitable for civilians. Dujarric noted that these areas are dangerously overcrowded and lack basic infrastructure, likening Gaza's condition to housing over 2 million people in a space the size of Manhattan, reduced to rubble and devoid of support systems, while remaining zones are fragmented and unsafe. The UN official also cited a UN Population Fund (UNFPA) report, which emphasized that menstruation has become a 'nightmare' for an estimated 700,000 women and girls in Gaza due to the absence of water, soap, menstrual pads, and privacy. While nearly 170 truckloads of supplies are ready, they remain barred from entering the Strip, he mentioned. Meanwhile, OCHA confirmed that nine more aid workers from five different organizations were killed since last Thursday, bringing the 2025 total to 107 and the overall toll since October 2023 to 479, including 326 UN personnel, Dujarric said. Touching on humanitarian aid, Dujarric said that in June, out of nearly 400 coordination attempts to deliver aid or carry out critical operations, 44% were outright denied by Israeli authorities, 10% were obstructed, 33% were facilitated, and 12% were canceled due to operational challenges. He pointed out that just yesterday, four out of 16 coordination attempts were denied, hindering medical supply relocation and debris removal.
Al Mayadeen
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives
A mercenary company accused of serious war crimes in Gaza has enlisted a public relations firm led by prominent former Democratic operatives, including a former spokesperson for the Pentagon during Biden's term. At the same time, a former State Department spokesperson, who previously defended "Israel's" actions, is now serving as vice president at a Democratic-aligned PR firm that counts "Israel's" Foreign Ministry among its clients. After The Grayzone published a report featuring newly surfaced footage of UG Solutions mercenaries firing on crowds of desperate aid seekers in southern Gaza, the company abruptly deleted its entire press page, even though it had inexplicably distributed the footage to media outlets itself. Just two days later, investigative journalist Jack Poulson uncovered that UG Solutions' new press page was being managed by Seven Letter, a PR firm staffed by former Obama and Biden communications officials. Among those brought on by the firm is Sabrina Singh, the former Pentagon spokesperson known for routinely downplaying or denying Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Seven Letter's involvement follows another high-profile contract: "Israel's" Foreign Ministry recently hired SKDK, a leading PR firm led by Biden administration alumni. One of SKDK's prominent new hires is Vedant Patel, the former State Department spokesperson, widely criticized for dismissing well-documented Israeli human rights violations. In addition to working for "Israel's" Foreign Ministry, SKDK also represents the 10/7 Project; a coalition of organizations that targets journalists seen as critical of "Israel's" actions in Gaza. In his original article in All-Source Intelligence, Poulson detailed how, ostensibly a humanitarian mission, GHF evolved from a vehicle inspection checkpoint in Gaza's Netzarim corridor and is now operated by two American security firms led by former CIA officers and Green Berets. The operation claims to prevent aid looting by Hamas, yet human rights monitors report devastating civilian casualties, with no proof of the looting ever submitted. As of Friday, the UN Human Rights Office documented at least 615 deaths, mostly caused by Israeli military fire near GHF aid distribution sites. Poulson exposes how the on-the-ground implementation has primarily involved UG Solutions, a North Carolina-based private military contractor led by ex-Green Beret Jameson Govoni. Acting as a subcontractor to Safe Reach Solutions, a Virginia firm run by former CIA operative Philip Francis Reilly, UG Solutions has played a key role since January. Amid mounting criticism, both companies faded into the background in May, replaced by public spokesmen John Acree, a former USAID official, and Johnnie Moore, an evangelical PR executive. Their elevation followed the resignation of GHF's original executive director over ethical concerns. The backlash intensified after an Associated Press investigation revealed whistleblower footage showing UG Solutions personnel opening fire on desperate aid seekers. In response, UG Solutions quietly hired Seven Letter, a crisis PR firm composed of former Obama and Biden administration officials. The firm's involvement was exposed when UG Solutions launched a new press page on Medium listing Seven Letter as a key editor. Andrew O'Brien, a partner at Seven Letter and former special envoy under John Kerry, confirmed the partnership. He described Seven Letter as more than a crisis firm, calling it a 'full-service strategic communications' agency. Between July 3 and July 9, UG Solutions briefly hosted a press site ( that included videos meant to justify its actions. These videos, initially uploaded by UG Solution, were later removed. The updated press release now carries a backdated June 3 timestamp and omits the controversial footage. Seven Letter claimed a technical issue caused the content removal, but failed to restore the videos. Public interest remained high, with users asking for access to the full clips. Adding to concerns over the firm's political ties, Seven Letter recently announced the hiring of Sabrina Singh, formerly Biden's deputy Pentagon spokesperson and currently an advisor at WestExec Advisors, a consulting firm linked to the Biden administration. Singh has been a prominent media voice defending military aid to both Ukraine and "Israel" post-October 7. Another partner at Seven Letter, Adam Abrams, served as regional communications director during President Obama's first term. Meanwhile, UG Solutions came under fresh scrutiny after advertising a three-month unpaid internship promising experience with 'AI-based intelligence fusion tools' developed by 'former Special Operations Forces and CIA contractors." When asked about the internship, Seven Letter's O'Brien declined to comment, citing HR confidentiality.
Al Mayadeen
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Iran condemns ongoing massacres in Gaza, warns of Israeli expansionism
The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the "ongoing genocide" perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and considered that the recent attacks on defenseless civilians amount to "unprecedented war crimes." Esmaeil Baghaei, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the brutal massacres carried out over the past week in various areas of the Gaza Strip, which targeted residential neighborhoods, shelters, and tents for displaced people, constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, calling for urgent action to halt the aggression. Baghaei added that the repeated Israeli bombing of displacement centers and the recent attack on the Mustafa Hafez School in Gaza City reflect the systematic nature of the aggression, holding the United States, Germany, and whoever supports the occupation responsible for the continued "crimes against humanity" in the Strip. Just yesterday, the Health Ministry in Gaza reported that hospitals received 118 martyrs and 581 injuries due to ongoing Israeli aggression, as emergency and civil defense teams face difficulties in reaching countless victims still trapped beneath the rubble or lying in the streets due to relentless bombardment. Twelve Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid were gunned down, while 49 others sustained injuries at the so-called aid distribution sites, the Ministry further revealed, raising the cumulative death toll from aid massacres to 652 martyrs and over 4,537 injured. This, according to the Ministry, brings the total number of Palestinians martyred since the start of the aggression on October 7, 2023, to 57,130, with 135,173 people injured. Since March 18, 2025, alone, Gaza has recorded 6,572 martyrs and 23,132 injuries, reflecting the intensification of Israeli attacks in recent months. Read more: Study reveals over 84,000 deaths in Gaza, far exceeding ministry toll The Iranian Foreign Ministry considered the repeated statements by Israeli officials regarding the 'annexation' of the entire West Bank to be a "dangerous indication of the expansionist ambitions" of the occupation entity and indicative of the advancement of a colonial project aimed at erasing Palestine "as a nation and a deeply rooted historical identity." Tehran also called on the international community and Islamic countries to take "urgent and serious" action in support of the Palestinian cause and to prevent Judaization and uprooting schemes. Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank have resulted in the demolition of more than 1,000 Palestinian homes and the killing of at least 55 people since January, Anadolu reported, citing two Palestinian media committees, as of June 29. The destruction has concentrated on three northern West Bank refugee camps: Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams, with operations intensifying since January 21. These raids are part of a protracted military campaign characterized by home demolitions, infrastructure destruction, and the occupation of residential buildings. In a related context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry commended the efforts of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, in exposing what it described as "the brutal crimes of the Israeli entity," denouncing what it called "increasing pressure" exerted by the United States and other supporters of "Israel" to silence her. Read more: 'Israel' traps Palestinians seeking help in deadly snare: Amnesty Intl
Al Mayadeen
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Exclusive: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Geneva reported that all members of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories have submitted their resignations. The decision reportedly comes after months of sustained pressure and obstruction by Israeli authorities, raising serious concerns over the integrity of international accountability mechanisms. Our correspondent reported that the resignations followed a period of intensified Israeli campaigns aimed at undermining the commission's work, which ultimately rendered their continued role untenable. The UN is yet to confirm the resignations. The commissioners had been appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021 to investigate human rights violations in occupied Palestine and 'Israel.' Israeli officials accused the commission of antisemitism, refusal to cooperate, and mounted diplomatic efforts to delegitimize the body's work. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously dismissed the inquiry as 'anti-Israel.' In its reports, the commission found 'reasonable grounds' to conclude that Israeli forces committed war crimes in Gaza, including: The findings also noted patterns of settler violence, demolition of infrastructure, and suppression of civil society in the West Bank. Chris Sidoti, member of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, provided #AlMayadeen with insight into the report issued by the committee, which faced strong criticism from the occupation authorities. The report… spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric had recently admitted that 'the United Nations has failed to protect the Palestinian people.' Speaking from New York, Dujarric added: 'The Secretary-General and all remaining UN humanitarian staff in Gaza are doing everything they can to help civilians survive, at the very least, by providing them with what limited resources we have.'
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Sudan paramilitary forces kill almost 300 in village raids, say lawyers
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed nearly 300 people in attacks in North Kordofan state that began on Saturday, according to Sudanese activists. The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese army in that area, one of the key frontlines of a civil war in Sudan that has raged since April 2023. The Emergency Lawyers human rights group said on Monday that the RSF had attacked several villages on Saturday around the city of Bara, which the paramilitary controls. In one village, Shag Alnom, more than 200 people were killed via arson or gunshot. Looting raids of the other villages killed 38 civilians, it said, while dozens of others had gone missing. The next day, the group said in its statement, the RSF attacked the village of Hilat Hamid, killing 46 people, including pregnant women and children. More than 3,400 people were forced to flee, according to the UN. 'It has been proven that these targeted villages were completely empty of any military objectives, which makes clear the criminal nature of these crimes carried out in complete disregard of international humanitarian law,' Emergency Lawyers said, placing the responsibility with RSF leadership. The army has taken firm control of the centre and east of Sudan while the RSF is working to consolidate its control of western regions, including North Kordofan. The US and human rights groups have accused the RSF of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Its soldiers have carried out a series of violent looting raids in territory it has taken control of across the country. The RSF leadership says it will bring those found responsible for such acts to justice. Sudan's civil war has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis, driving more than half the population into hunger and spreading diseases including cholera across the country. A global reduction in aid spending has stretched the humanitarian response.
