logo
Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes

Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes

Straits Times14 hours ago
Find out what's new on ST website and app.
Humanitarian aid being airdropped by the Royal Jordanian Army over the northern Gaza Strip on July 27.
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories - Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on July 27, as Israel began a limited 'tactical pause' in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis.
The Israeli military said it had also begun airdropping food into the Palestinian territory – making one drop of seven palettes – while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he characterised as UN 'lies' that his government was to blame for the dire humanitarian situation.
The army also dismissed allegations that it had been using starvation as a weapon, saying it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip'.
UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the tactical pauses, saying he was in 'contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window'.
But the UN's World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 people were 'enduring famine-like conditions' that were already leading to deaths.
The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Mr Netanyahu's government to head off the risk of mass starvation in the territory.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on July 27, urging Mr Netanyahu 'to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now'.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts
Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole
Singapore Car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road South sinkhole removed; road remains closed for repairs
Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt
Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close
Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE
Singapore Younger generation must inherit and strengthen Singapore's multiculturalism: David Neo
Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021
Accusing the UN of fabricating 'pretexts and lies about Israel' blocking aid, Mr Netanyahu said in remarks at an airbase that 'there are secure routes' for aid.
'There have always been, but today it's official. There will be no more excuses,' he added.
Since Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza on March 2, the situation inside the territory has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of 'mass starvation'.
Though aid has trickled back in since late May, the UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled.
The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on July 27. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists.
The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called Israel's latest moves a 'welcome first step' but warned they could prove insufficient.
'Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops,' she said. 'What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza.
'We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege.'
In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants.
In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her 'life's wish' was to simply feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily.
Chaotic scenes broke out at the site where Israel conducted its first food drop, witnesses told AFP.
Mr Samih Humeid, a 23-year-old from the Al-Karama neighbourhood of Gaza City, said dozens of people had gathered to rush towards the palettes of supplies parachuted onto the area.
'It felt like a war, everyone trying to grab whatever they could. Hunger is merciless. The quantities were extremely limited, not enough even for a few people, because hunger is everywhere. I only managed to get three cans of fava beans,' he said.
In a social media post, the Israeli military announced it had 'carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip'.
AFP journalists saw Egyptian trucks crossing from Rafah, with cargo routed through Israel's Kerem Shalom checkpoint for inspection before entering Gaza.
The Israeli army's daily pause from 10am to 8pm will be limited to areas where its troops are not currently operating – Al-Mawasi in the south, central Deir el-Balah and Gaza City in the north.
Israel said 'designated secure routes' would also open across Gaza for aid convoys carrying food and medicine.
The military said the measures should disprove 'the false claim of deliberate starvation'.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing 'reasonable grounds' to suspect war crimes including starvation – charges Israel vehemently denies.
On July 27, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties.
Separately, the Israeli navy brought an activist boat, the Handala operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, into the part of Ashdod, after intercepting and boarding it late on July 26 to prevent it attempting to breach a maritime blockade of Gaza.
The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had met 19 of the 21 detained activists and journalists from 10 countries. The other two detainees, dual US-Israeli nationals, had been transferred to Israeli police custody, the group said.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after
Hamas's Oct 7, 2023, attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Abbot of China's iconic Shaolin temple under probe for corruption, sexual misconduct
Abbot of China's iconic Shaolin temple under probe for corruption, sexual misconduct

Straits Times

time4 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Abbot of China's iconic Shaolin temple under probe for corruption, sexual misconduct

Find out what's new on ST website and app. Venerable Shi Yongxin took office in 1999 as abbot of the famous temple, and had faced similar allegations in 2015. BEIJING - Chinese authorities are investigating the head of the temple where gongfu was born over alleged embezzlement and other misconduct, the monastery said. Abbot Shi Yongxin, known as the 'CEO monk' for establishing dozens of companies abroad, is suspected of embezzling project funds and temple assets, the Shaolin Temple said in a statement on WeChat on July 27 . It said Abbot Shi had seriously violated Buddhist precepts, including by allegedly engaging in 'improper relationships with multiple women. Multiple departments were conducting a joint investigation, the temple said. Abbot Shi has previously been accused by former monks of embezzling money from a temple-run company, maintaining a fleet of luxury cars and fathering children with multiple women. China's government exercises authority over the appointment of religious leaders, and improper conduct is often grounds for removal from office. A hashtag related to the temple scandal had been viewed over 560 million times on social media platform Weibo, as at the morning of July 28 . Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Authorities say access to Changi intertidal areas unaffected by reclamation, in response to petition Singapore SIA flights between S'pore and Cambodia, S'pore and Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15 Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng Singapore With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng The last post to the abbot's personal account on Weibo declared: 'when one's own nature is pure, the pure land is here in the present'. Abbot Shi faced similar allegations in 2015 which the temple called vicious libel. The 59-year-old took office as abbot in 1999 and in the following decades expanded Shaolin studies and cultural knowledge overseas. He helped the temple in China's Henan province to establish dozens of companies – but received backlash for commercialising Buddhism. The temple, established in AD495 , is known as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Chinese gongfu . Abbot Shi was first elected vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China in 2002 and has served as a representative to the National People's Congress, the country's top lawmaking body. AFP

Ministers gather at UN for delayed meeting on Israel, Palestinians
Ministers gather at UN for delayed meeting on Israel, Palestinians

Straits Times

time34 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Ministers gather at UN for delayed meeting on Israel, Palestinians

FILE PHOTO: People rally in front of the United Nations headquarters during a \"Stop Starving Gaza Now\" protest amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in New York City, U.S., July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Monterrosa/File Photo UNITED NATIONS - Dozens of ministers will gather at the United Nations on Monday for a delayed conference to work toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, but the U.S. and Israel are boycotting the event. The 193-member U.N. General Assembly decided in September last year that such a conference would be held in 2025. Hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, the conference was postponed in June after Israel attacked Iran. The conference aims to lay out the parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told newspaper La Tribune Dimanche in an interview published on Sunday that he will also use the conference this week to push other countries to join France in recognizing a Palestinian state. France intends to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said last week. "We will launch an appeal in New York so that other countries join us to initiate an even more ambitious and demanding dynamic that will culminate on September 21," Barrot said, adding that he expected Arab countries by then to condemn Palestinian militants Hamas and call for their disarmament. The conference comes as a 22-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza still rages. The war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's military campaign has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Authorities say access to Changi intertidal areas unaffected by reclamation, in response to petition Singapore SIA flights between S'pore and Cambodia, S'pore and Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute Singapore Police statements by Jipson Quah in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15 Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng Singapore With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng The U.S. will not attend the conference at the United Nations, said a State Department spokesperson, describing it as "a gift to Hamas, which continues to reject ceasefire proposals accepted by Israel that would lead to the release of hostages and bring calm in Gaza." The State Department spokesperson added that Washington voted against the General Assembly last year calling for the conference and would "not support actions that jeopardize the prospect for a long-term, peaceful resolution to the conflict." Israel is also not taking part in the conference, "which doesn't first urgently address the issue of condemning Hamas and returning all of the remaining hostages," said Jonathan Harounoff, international spokesperson at Israel's U.N. mission. The U.N. has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war with neighboring Arab states. The U.N. General Assembly in May last year overwhelmingly backed a Palestinian bid to become a full U.N. member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommending the U.N. Security Council "reconsider the matter favorably." The resolution garnered 143 votes in favor and nine against. The General Assembly vote was a global survey of support for the Palestinian bid to become a full U.N. member - a move that would effectively recognize a Palestinian state - after the U.S. vetoed it in the U.N. Security Council several weeks earlier. REUTERS

SIA flights between S'pore and Cambodia, S'pore and Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute
SIA flights between S'pore and Cambodia, S'pore and Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute

Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • Straits Times

SIA flights between S'pore and Cambodia, S'pore and Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute

Find out what's new on ST website and app. A spokesperson for the SIA Group said its top priority is the safety of customers and its employees. SINGAPORE – All Singapore Airlines (SIA) flights between Singapore and Cambodia, as well as between Singapore and Thailand, continue to operate normally despite a deadly border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. A spokesperson for the SIA Group said its top priority is the safety of customers and its employees. 'We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will adjust our flights where necessary,' the spokesperson added. A long-simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia escalated to deadly violence on July 24 as their military forces clashed at multiple spots, leaving at least 12 people dead. The flare-up is part of a broader disagreement with origins stretching back more than a century and involves parts of a region known as the Emerald Triangle, where the boundaries of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos meet. The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will attend mediation talks over their deadly border conflict in Malaysia on July 28 at 3pm local time at the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim invited representatives from both countries. Malaysia, which chairs the regional grouping Asean, has informed the Thai government that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet would also be attending the talks, the statement said. According to The Nation, flights between Thailand and Cambodia are continuing as normal, as Cambodia's declared restricted area is limited and does not significantly impact air traffic departing from Thailand. Alternative flight paths are also readily available.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store