Distribution in Gaza ‘goes against every principle' of humanitarian aid, IRC official says
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Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'He belongs in The Hague': Keir Starmer fiercely criticised over Gaza speech
KEIR Starmer has been warned he 'belongs in The Hague' for failing to call out and act on the genocide being committed in Gaza by Israel. The Prime Minister has faced fierce criticism following a speech where he said the 'appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting' and called for the need for a regional 'lasting peace'. However, despite his comments where he claims his 'ultimate goal' is to improve the lives of Palestinian's he has been told his government are "complicit" in the suffering of tens of thousands of people in Gaza due to his inaction against Israel. Starmer is under increasing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, as 221 MPs signed a cross-party letter, organised by the Labour backbencher Sarah Champion, demanding he take the step. READ MORE: I love standing on the soil of Scotland, Donald Trump says after landing in country It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron declared France would recognise a Palestinian state in September at a UN conference earlier this week. On Friday, Starmer set out his pathway where a Palestinian state could be recognised in a speech. He said: 'The appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting. The continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel's disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible. 'Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war. 'That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace. Starmer added: 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering – which of course, will always be our ultimate goal.' Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana was one of many people who has criticised the Prime Minister for failing to call out the ongoing genocide in [[Gaza]] and highlighted the UK Government's complicity in the ongoing war on the region. She wrote on Twitter/X: 'The 'appalling scenes in [[Gaza]]' have been enabled by the arms, surveillance & diplomatic cover Keir Starmer's Labour government have provided to a genocidal apartheid state. (Image: Jeff Moore) 'He still refuses to call it a genocide because he is complicit in it. 'Keir Starmer belongs in The Hague.' Journalist Matt Kennard also shared Sultana's calls for Starmer to stand in The Hague to answer for the UK Government's complicity in Gaza as he said: 'Another British spy plane literally in the sky over Gaza collecting intelligence for Israel as he posted this statement. 'Starmer belongs in the Hague. We must make sure he ends up there.' The charity Save the Children also shared Starmer's speech, where they edited the text to remove passive language like 'unfolding' and 'situation' and replaced it with words like 'deliberate' and 'assault' as well as attributing the horrific starvation of Palestinians to Israel. Along with the graphic, the charity replied: 'Fixed it for you, Keir Starmer. 'The UK is an ally to Israel's atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank. 'Now is the time to make our voices heard: Call on the UK Government to end its complicity.' Meanwhile, sharing a picture of Starmer during his speech, prominent trade unionist Howard Beckett, said: 'A picture that will chime through history. 'Starmer's GB is damned. He should answer in The Hague.'
New York Times
15 minutes ago
- New York Times
No Proof Hamas Routinely Stole U.N. Aid, Israeli Military Officials Say
For nearly two years, Israel has accused Hamas of stealing aid provided by the United Nations and other international organizations. The government has used that claim as its main rationale for restricting food from entering Gaza. But the Israeli military never found proof that the Palestinian militant group had systematically stolen aid from the United Nations, the biggest supplier of emergency assistance to Gaza for most of the war, according to two senior Israeli military officials and two other Israelis involved in the matter. In fact, the Israeli military officials said, the U.N. aid delivery system, which Israel derided and undermined, was largely effective in providing food to Gaza's desperate and hungry population. Now, with hunger at crisis levels in the territory, Israel is coming under increased international pressure over its conduct of the war in Gaza and the humanitarian suffering it has brought. Doctors in the territory say that an increasing number of their patients are suffering from — and dying of — starvation. More than 100 aid agencies and rights groups warned this past week of 'mass starvation' and implored Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian assistance. The European Union and at least 28 governments, including Israeli allies like Britain, France and Canada, issued a joint statement condemning Israel's 'drip-feeding of aid' to Gaza's two million Palestinian residents. Israel has largely brushed off the criticism. David Mencer, a government spokesman, said this week that there was 'no famine caused by Israel.' Instead, he blamed Hamas and poor coordination by the United Nations for any food shortages. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Associated Press
15 minutes ago
- Associated Press
At least 25 people killed by Israeli gunshots and strikes in Gaza, some while seeking aid
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 25 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and gunshots overnight, according to health officials and the ambulance service on Saturday, as ceasefire talks appear to have stalled and Palestinians in Gaza face famine. The majority of victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel, said staff at Shifa hospital, where the bodies were brought. Israel's army didn't respond to request for comments about the latest shootings. Those killed in strikes include four people in an apartment building in Gaza City among others, hospital staff and the ambulance service said. The strikes come as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have hit a standstill after the U.S and Israel recalled their negotiating teams on Thursday, throwing the future of the talks into further uncertainty. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday his government was considering 'alternative options' to ceasefire talks with Hamas. His comments came as a Hamas official said negotiations were expected to resume next week and portrayed the recall of the Israeli and American delegations as a pressure tactic. Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks alongside the United States, said the pause was only temporary and that talks would resume, though they did not say when. For desperate Palestinians a ceasefire can't come soon enough. The United Nations and experts say that Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine, with reports of increasing numbers of people dying from causes related to malnutrition. While Israel's army says it's allowing aid into the enclave with no limit on the number of trucks that can enter, the U.N. says it is hampered by Israeli military restrictions on its movements and incidents of criminal looting. The Zikim crossing shootings come days after at least 79 Palestinians were killed trying to reach aid entering through the same crossing. Israel's military said at the time its soldiers shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians who posed a threat, and that it was aware of some casualties. Israel is facing increased international pressure to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More then two dozen Western-aligned countries and more than 100 charity and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, harshly criticizing Israel's blockade and a new aid delivery model it has rolled out. The charities and rights groups said even their own staff were struggling to get enough food For the first time in months Israel said it is allowing airdrops, requested by Jordan. A Jordanian official said the airdrops will mainly be food and milk formula. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in a newspaper article on Saturday that the U.K. was 'working urgently' with Jordan to get British aid into Gaza. Aid group the World Central Kitchen said on Friday that it was resuming limited cooking operations in Deir al-Balah after being forced to halt due to a lack of food supplies. It said it's trying to serve 60,000 meals daily through its field kitchen and partner community kitchens, less than half of what it's cooked over the previous month. ———————— Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt
