Iran's Khamenei calls Israel's Gaza aid policy ‘a cheap form of genocide, calculated with Western precision.'
Israel had presented Palestinians in Gaza with a grim choice - "either perish under the rubble of hunger, or get shot trying to obtain a food package," Khamenei said in a post on X.
'This is a cheap form of genocide, calculated with Western precision. A nation that once died under bombs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars now dies in food lines from bullets that cost mere dollars,' he said.
A second Palestinian source accused the Israeli delegation of lacking authority and deliberately delaying the agreement to prolong what they called a 'war of extermination.'
The Gaza conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing at least 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli data. Out of 251 hostages taken, 49 remain captive, with the Israeli military reporting that 27 of them have died.
Facing mounting pressure both at home and abroad to end the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that any meaningful ceasefire talks would only be possible once Hamas is neutralised as a security threat.
He emphasised that this would require the group to disarm, warning that if Hamas does not lay down its weapons voluntarily, Israel will be forced to disarm them by military means, AFP reported.
Since the war started, at least 57,882 Palestinians, also primarily civilians, have been killed, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is run by Hamas.
The U.N. human rights office reported on Friday that at least 798 people have been killed over the past six weeks at aid distribution points in Gaza operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), as well as near convoys run by other humanitarian organisations, Reuters reported.
The GHF relies on private U.S. security and logistics firms to deliver aid into Gaza, largely circumventing the U.N.-coordinated system that Israel claims has been exploited by Hamas-led militants to steal supplies meant for civilians, an allegation Hamas denies, Reuters reported.
(With inputs from agencies)
Key Takeaways Khamenei's remarks highlight the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza amidst ongoing conflict.
The complexity of aid distribution raises questions about the effectiveness of international humanitarian efforts.
The ongoing violence continues to escalate, with significant casualties reported on both sides.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pak Foreign Minister Dar meets Chinese President Xi Jinping; reaffirms commitment to strengthen bilateral ties
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to deepening its "enduring friendship" with China and advancing shared regional goals as he called on Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other Foreign Ministers of the SCO member states in Beijing. Dar, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, was among the foreign ministers and heads of standing bodies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) whom Xi met ahead of their meeting in the Chinese city of Tianjin. In a post on X, Dar said he was "delighted" to meet President Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and "conveyed the warm greetings of the leadership, government, and people of Pakistan". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Senior Living Homes in Hathazari May Surprise You Senior Living | Search Ads Undo "As iron-clad brothers and All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, we remain committed to deepening Pak-China enduring friendship and advancing shared regional goals," Dar said. Dar also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov amid efforts by Pakistan to warm up to Moscow. Live Events Both sides expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to further enhance cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and defence, he said and reiterated the invitation for Lavrov to visit Pakistan. He also met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the SCO meeting . Both leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across diverse areas and discussed the evolving regional situation following the recent Israeli aggression against Iran, he said in a post X. He reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the people and Government of Iran, reiterating Islamabad's commitment to regional peace and stability, emphasising that dialogue & diplomacy remain the only viable path to de-escalation and lasting peace. He said he also met his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu. "We reaffirmed our resolve to deepen Pak-Kazakh bilateral ties and to expand collaboration across regional and multilateral fora," he said. The SCO comprises 10 member states namely China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. China currently holds the rotating presidency of the SCO. The Chinese president welcomed the heads of delegations and underlined the "salience of regional cooperation" under the ambit of the SCO, Pakistan's Foreign Office said in a post on X. Dar arrived in Tianjin along with other foreign ministers to lead Pakistan's delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting. Dar also held separate meetings with his counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, focusing on enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest. "Always good to exchange views for strengthening regional understanding and cooperation in such a challenging time," he posted on X.
The Hindu
43 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Chinese President Xi Jinping vows greater support for Russia
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia's top diplomat on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) that their countries should "strengthen mutual support", state media said, as Foreign Ministers gathered in Beijing for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation talks. Beijing has long sought to present the SCO as a counterweight to Western-led power blocs such as NATO and has pushed for greater collaboration between its 10 members. Top diplomats from the grouping have arrived in Beijing for a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, including Russia's Sergei Lavrov, India's Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Iran's Abbas Araghchi. Meeting Mr. Lavrov in the Chinese capital, Mr. Xi said the two countries should "strengthen mutual support on multilateral forums", according to state news agency Xinhua. Beijing and Moscow should work to "unite countries of the global South and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction", Mr. Xi said, according to Xinhua. Russia's Foreign Ministry said in an earlier statement that "a number of issues of bilateral political contacts at the highest and high levels were discussed". They included preparations for President Vladimir Putin's visit to China to join a SCO summit and World War II anniversary celebrations. Russia's TASS news agency reported that Xi met Lavrov after the Chinese president held a "general meeting" with SCO foreign ministers. Trump's tariff threat The meeting and pledges of support came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Russia that he will impose "very severe" tariffs against Moscow's remaining trade partners if it doesn't resolve its war in Ukraine within 50 days. China, a diplomatic and economic ally of Moscow, in response said "coercion" by the United States would not resolve the conflict. "China firmly opposes all illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. There are no winners in a tariff war, and coercion and pressure will not solve problems," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. Lavrov met Sunday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss Ukraine and relations with the United States. The Russian foreign minister arrived in China following a visit to North Korea, where he received assurances of support in its conflict with Ukraine. Beijing claims to be neutral in the war but it has never denounced Russia's more than three-year military campaign, nor called for it to withdraw its troops. Many of Ukraine's allies believe that Beijing has provided support to Moscow. China regularly calls for an end to the fighting, while also accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine. Xi noted Tuesday that "political mutual trust among member states has deepened", according to state broadcaster CCTV. The SCO "has successfully explored a path of regional cooperation that aligns with the trends of the times and meets the needs of all parties, setting a model for a new type of international relations," Xi said.
News18
44 minutes ago
- News18
Italian PM Urges EU To Avoid Trade War With US 'At All Costs' Amid Trump Tariff Talk
Last Updated: Her remarks came in response to Trump's announcement that goods imported into US from EU and Mexico would face 30% tariffs from Aug 1 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday said European nations must do everything possible to avoid a trade war with the United States 'at all cost" ahead of looming US tariffs. Speaking at a joint press briefing with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in Rome, Meloni said she and Nehammer had discussed ongoing trade talks between the European Union and the US. 'We agree that we must, at all costs, avoid a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic," Italian PM said. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni calls for a trade deal between the EU and the US before August to prevent a transatlantic 'trade war." #Meloni #US — Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 15, 2025 Meloni further stated that Italy and Austria would stay in close contact with the European Commission and continue working towards a 'mutually beneficial" agreement that should ideally be finalised before 1 August. 'We will continue together and in constant contact with the Commission, to work towards an agreement that can be mutually beneficial and must be concluded before next August 1," she added. A day earlier, Meloni had issued a statement warning that a trade conflict between Western allies would only weaken them in the face of shared global challenges. She said Europe had the economic and financial strength to assert its position and secure a fair deal. 'Italy will do its part, as always," she added. Her remarks came in response to US President Donald Trump's announcement on Saturday that goods imported into the US from the EU and Mexico would face 30% tariffs from 1 August. The move has sparked concern across European capitals and fuelled calls for a coordinated EU response. Meloni has come under fire at home from opposition parties. Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement and a former prime minister, accused her of 'bowing her head" to pressure from the US. Critics say her government is not doing enough to defend Italy's interests as trade tensions escalate. In Brussels today, EU trade ministers met to discuss the issue and described Trump's tariff plan as 'absolutely unacceptable". The bloc is now considering countermeasures, though officials say they remain hopeful of reaching an agreement with Washington. (With inputs from agencies) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
