Latest news with #DannyDanon
Edmonton Journal
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
UN 'mafia-like' shakedown against independent aid delivery in Gaza, Israeli envoy says
Article content As the Jewish state facilitates aid entry via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation into the Strip, the United Nations is running a 'mafia-like' shakedown and is spreading 'panic' and making 'declarations detached from reality,' Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. 'This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles,' he said. 'It is the extortion of any well-meaning NGO that refuses to kiss the ring. A shakedown with U.N.-branding.'
National Post
12 hours ago
- General
- National Post
UN 'mafia-like' shakedown against independent aid delivery in Gaza, Israeli envoy says
As the Jewish state facilitates aid entry via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation into the Strip, the United Nations is running a 'mafia-like' shakedown and is spreading 'panic' and making 'declarations detached from reality,' Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. Article content Article content 'This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles,' he said. 'It is the extortion of any well-meaning NGO that refuses to kiss the ring. A shakedown with U.N.-branding.' Article content Hamas knows that if it loses control over aid in Gaza, it will also lose its hold over Gazans, according to the Israeli envoy. Article content Article content Danon told the Security Council that the global body removed non-governmental organizations, which are part of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, from its central system for tracking aid delivery in the Strip. Article content 'The United Nations is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism,' Danon said. 'A number of major international NGOs made the decision to take part in the new aid initiative. They ignored the U.N.'s calls for a boycott. They chose to act because they truly care.' Article content The United Nations removed those organizations 'in retaliation and without any discussion or due process,' according to the Israeli mission to the United Nations. 'They were frozen out,' it said. Article content Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for António Guterres, the U.N. secretary-general, told JNS that 'there are no differences between the current list and the one from before the launch of the GHF.' (JNS sought comment from the Israeli mission to the United Nations.) Article content Article content Danon also slammed the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday and charged that its activities led up to the gunman killing two Israeli embassy staffers at point-blank range outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington the week before. Article content Article content 'The animal who pulled the trigger was just the final link in a chain of incitement that stretches across social media, across university campuses, across rallies in Times Square and, yes, across the floor of this very council,' Danon said at the monthly council meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian file. Article content The shooter isn't the only one with the blood of the victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, on his hands, according to Danon.
Vancouver Sun
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
UN 'mafia-like' shakedown against independent aid delivery in Gaza, Israeli envoy says
As the Jewish state facilitates aid entry via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation into the Strip, the United Nations is running a 'mafia-like' shakedown and is spreading 'panic' and making 'declarations detached from reality,' Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. 'This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles,' he said. 'It is the extortion of any well-meaning NGO that refuses to kiss the ring. A shakedown with U.N.-branding.' Hamas knows that if it loses control over aid in Gaza, it will also lose its hold over Gazans, according to the Israeli envoy. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Danon told the Security Council that the global body removed non-governmental organizations, which are part of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, from its central system for tracking aid delivery in the Strip. 'The United Nations is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism,' Danon said. 'A number of major international NGOs made the decision to take part in the new aid initiative. They ignored the U.N.'s calls for a boycott. They chose to act because they truly care.' The United Nations removed those organizations 'in retaliation and without any discussion or due process,' according to the Israeli mission to the United Nations. 'They were frozen out,' it said. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for António Guterres, the U.N. secretary-general, told JNS that 'there are no differences between the current list and the one from before the launch of the GHF.' (JNS sought comment from the Israeli mission to the United Nations.) Danon also slammed the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday and charged that its activities led up to the gunman killing two Israeli embassy staffers at point-blank range outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington the week before. 'The animal who pulled the trigger was just the final link in a chain of incitement that stretches across social media, across university campuses, across rallies in Times Square and, yes, across the floor of this very council,' Danon said at the monthly council meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian file. The shooter isn't the only one with the blood of the victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, on his hands, according to Danon. 'It is on every official, every influencer, every academic, every antisemite, every so-called expert who has spent the last 19 months portraying Israel as a genocidal regime and terrorists as freedom fighters,' he told the council. Much of the council session on Wednesday focused on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. 'Every day, Hamas demonstrates its lack of regard for the Palestinians it claims to represent,' John Kelley, a U.S. mission political coordinator to the United Nations, told the council. 'All while it violently suppresses protests against its barbaric rule and diverts aid meant for civilians.' He blamed Hamas for continuing to reject ceasefire and hostage release proposals, as Washington works to end the war 'that Hamas brutally started.' James Kariuki, London's deputy ambassador to the global body, told the council that the U.K. 'always supported' Israel's right to defend itself but deemed Jerusalem's military operation in Gaza 'wholly disproportionate.' (London has adopted an increasingly harsh posture toward the Jewish state of late.) The British envoy told the council that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is independent of the United Nations, 'lost control of its distribution centre, with multiple casualties reported and great distress for those desperately seeking aid.' Five Gazans were fired upon and killed while seeing aid being distributed, per media reports on Tuesday. But the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation stated that no shots were fired, nor was anyone killed, at its distribution sites. The United Nations has criticized the foundation's efforts, though the foundation says it has distributed more than 1.8 million meals to Gazans to date and that it aims to avoid Hamas looting supplies intended for civilian relief. (JNS sought comment from several U.N. officials about the foundation.) Gazans reportedly stormed a U.N. warehouse, which Hamas allegedly controlled, this week. Some analysts said this shows that the terror group's reign is not ironclad. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Ottawa Citizen
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
UN 'mafia-like' shakedown against independent aid delivery in Gaza, Israeli envoy says
As the Jewish state facilitates aid entry via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation into the Strip, the United Nations is running a 'mafia-like' shakedown and is spreading 'panic' and making 'declarations detached from reality,' Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. Article content Article content 'This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles,' he said. 'It is the extortion of any well-meaning NGO that refuses to kiss the ring. A shakedown with U.N.-branding.' Article content Hamas knows that if it loses control over aid in Gaza, it will also lose its hold over Gazans, according to the Israeli envoy. Article content Article content Danon told the Security Council that the global body removed non-governmental organizations, which are part of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, from its central system for tracking aid delivery in the Strip. Article content 'The United Nations is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism,' Danon said. 'A number of major international NGOs made the decision to take part in the new aid initiative. They ignored the U.N.'s calls for a boycott. They chose to act because they truly care.' Article content The United Nations removed those organizations 'in retaliation and without any discussion or due process,' according to the Israeli mission to the United Nations. 'They were frozen out,' it said. Article content Article content Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for António Guterres, the U.N. secretary-general, told JNS that 'there are no differences between the current list and the one from before the launch of the GHF.' (JNS sought comment from the Israeli mission to the United Nations.) Article content Article content Danon also slammed the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday and charged that its activities led up to the gunman killing two Israeli embassy staffers at point-blank range outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington the week before. Article content 'The animal who pulled the trigger was just the final link in a chain of incitement that stretches across social media, across university campuses, across rallies in Times Square and, yes, across the floor of this very council,' Danon said at the monthly council meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian file.
Leaders
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Desperate Palestinians Storm UN Warehouse Amid Deepening Hunger Crisis
Thousands of desperate Palestinians stormed a United Nations warehouse in central Gaza on Wednesday. The World Food Programme reported two possible deaths amid the chaos. Israel and the UN traded blame over the worsening hunger crisis. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire after a two-month blockade. Food security experts now warn that starvation looms for one in five people. AFP footage captured crowds breaking into a WFP warehouse in Deir Al-Balah. Palestinians seized bags of emergency food supplies as gunshots echoed. 'Hordes of hungry people broke into WFP's Al-Ghafari warehouse,' WFP stated on X. Initial reports indicated two deaths and several injuries in the tragic incident. WFP continues to confirm the details of the event. Israel, UN Trade Accusations Over Aid Distribution Israel accused the United Nations of blocking Gaza aid distribution on Wednesday. The UN countered that it was facilitating the distribution of limited assistance. The issue of aid has gained sharp focus amid fears of starvation. Critics have targeted the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private US-backed aid group. GHF has bypassed the longstanding UN-led system in the territory. Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, addressed the Security Council. He stated that aid was entering Gaza by truck under limited authorization. Danon mentioned a new distribution mechanism developed with the US. He accused the UN of trying to block the GHF operation. Danon claimed the UN used threats and intimidation against participating NGOs. The UN reported that 47 people were injured on Tuesday. Thousands of Palestinians rushed a GHF site, and a Palestinian medical source confirmed at least one death. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reiterated the UN's stance. 'We will not participate in operations that do not meet our humanitarian principles,' Dujarric told AFP. UN Struggles to Deliver Aid Amidst Conflict The UN is doing all it can to send aid to Gaza. Since last week, Israel approved 800 truckloads, but fewer than 500 made it into Gaza. As the war entered its 600th day on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement. He claimed the offensive had changed the face of the Middle East. Netanyahu reported the killing of tens of thousands of militants. Among them was Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas's presumed Gaza leader. Israeli media reported that Sinwar was targeted by strikes in southern Gaza earlier this month. His brother, Yahya, was killed in October 2024. In Washington, US envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about a possible ceasefire. He expected to propose a plan soon. 'I have some very good feelings about getting to a temporary ceasefire,' Witkoff said. He also mentioned a long-term, peaceful resolution to the conflict. Gazans Remain Pessimistic Amidst Ongoing Conflict Gazans, however, remained pessimistic about the situation. 'Six hundred days have passed and nothing has changed,' said Bassam Daloul, 40. He noted that death and Israeli bombing continue unabated. 'Even hoping for a ceasefire feels like a dream and a nightmare,' Daloul added. Israel stepped up its military offensive earlier this month. Mediators continue to push for a still elusive ceasefire. Relatives of hostages held since the attack gathered in Tel Aviv. Arbel Yehud, freed from Gaza captivity in January, spoke out. 'When Israel blows up deals, it does so on the heads of the hostages,' Yehud said. He explained that their conditions worsen immediately after such actions. Out of 251 hostages seized during the October 7 attack, 57 remain in Gaza. The Israeli military says 34 of them are dead. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported at least 3,924 deaths since Israel ended the ceasefire on 18 March. This brings the war's overall toll to 54,084, mostly civilians. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with no immediate end in sight. The international community continues to call for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid. The hope for a peaceful resolution persists, but the path forward remains uncertain. Short link : Post Views: 28
