Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill 30
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the strikes were carried out overnight and into the morning and "targeted a number of citizens' homes" in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
The local Al-Awda hospital said it had received 30 bodies, including 14 women and 12 children.
At the weekend, under pressure from international opinion to head off the territory's slide into famine, Israel declared a series of "tactical pauses" which began on Sunday to allow aid deliveries.
According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the pause in military operations covers "key populated areas" between 10am and 8pm local time every day.
Designated aid convoy routes will be secure from 6am to 11pm, Mr Netanyahu's office said.
Overnight, however, strikes continue.
COGAT, an Israeli defence ministry body in charge of civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that more than 200 truckloads of aid were distributed by the UN and aid agencies yesterday.
Another 260 trucks were permitted to cross into Gaza to deposit aid at collection points, four UN tankers brought in fuel and 20 pallets of aid were airdropped from Jordanian and Emirati planes, COGAT said.
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RTÉ News
2 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Strings attached to UK recognising Palestine 'disappointing'
SDLP leader and MP for Belfast South and Mid Down Claire Hanna has said that the decision by the UK to recognise the state of Palestine if Israel does not meet specific conditions is "disappointing" as it is diluted by the strings around it. Yesterday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions. The UK will make an assessment ahead of the UN General Assembly in September as to whether Israel has met these steps. Mr Starmer took the decision after recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays to discuss a new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders and how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza. Responding, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Mr Starmer has rewarded "Hamas monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims". Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Hanna said that recognising the state of Palestine has long been a stated policy of the UK's Labour Party and the British government. She said that the UK government has spoken about recognition of Palestinian "at an opportune time for the last two governments, if that opportune time isn't now, I just don't see that logic, certainly for the SDLP, it's a long-held position". She said that a bill in Westminster in 2021 did not pass, and unfortunately, it is yet another example where people feel that the UK government have been "just lacking". "A day late and a dollar short in terms of their response on Gaza, and I suppose taking something that people see as a right for Palestine and essentially making it sound like a bargaining chip or conditions on it. "It's frustrating. Certainly, it would be a positive move, but to put so many strings attached to it is disappointing many people." Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. With warnings that people in Gaza are facing starvation, a growing numbers of MPs in Mr Starmer's Labour Party have asking him to recognise a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel. Asked why the recognition was conditional and how confident he was that a ceasefire could be reached by September, Mr Starmer said the primary aim is to "change the situation on the ground for people who desperately need change". Israel said it rejected the decision by the UK prime minister. Ms Hanna said that "putting conditions that the Palestinian people can't meet" and that they have no control over is adding to that further sense of frustration. "But of course, it would be powerful. It's something, as they say, that we wish to see and have advocated for, but wish to see it done in a fulsome manner, like, for example, France have done, and certainly the way Ireland did some time ago and spoken about its use in keeping hope alive. "I suppose it is diluted by the sense of strings around it. But yes, it would be very meaningful. "And I know to many people a two-state solution feels almost Pollyannaish at this point, but it is the only logical way that you can see that those two peoples can live in peace and getting that back on track is more urgent than ever."
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Extra.ie
Anger as Private Seán Rooney's killer still on run after he's sentenced to death
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Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: With Trump glued to TV, a Netflix special is the only way to get through to him
After months of dismissing reports of famine in Gaza, he suddenly declared himself convinced because he saw it on television ('14 more dead of starvation in Gaza as Trump vows food aid', Irish Independent, July 29). Not from a briefing, not from a humanitarian report, but from a news clip. There is a grimly useful lesson here, particularly for Ireland. If reasoned argument and moral appeals do not penetrate, perhaps television will. Forget position papers and impassioned speeches: if we want to influence the most powerful man in the world, we may need to pitch a series to Netflix or buy air time during the golf coverage. In the age of Trump 2.0, propaganda may not be the enemy of truth, but it may be its last remaining delivery system. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Awful devastation goes on in Gaza as most powerful man plays golf in Scotland While Donald Trump opens another golf course, in the name of his emigrant mother (ah, the irony), the reality for the population in Gaza is that children and babies are starving to death while young boys are being used as target practice by US contractors and the IDF while seeking food. The deliberate whitewashing by spokespersons for the Israeli government and Benjamin Netanyahu, who blame Hamas and others for the problems that have culminated in this famine, must be laid firmly at the feet of those who govern and those who execute this war. Hamas is not a bystander in this – it is the reason that the people it was elected to protect are dying. They are dying from starvation, from preventable diseases, have no access to running water, are unable to access hospitals for emergency treatments and face the possibility of cholera and other diseases because there is no proper sanitation. While there is ample condemnation, urgent action is needed to force the Israelis and IDF and Hamas to call a ceasefire to allow the UN and other aid organisations into Gaza to help distribute food and water where it is needed. ADVERTISEMENT While we need to properly hold to account those who order, or have ordered, the killings and starvation that have been carried out against the Palestinian and Israeli people, the dying goes on. While a UN resolution was boycotted by Israel and the US with regards to a two-state solution for the Palestinians and Israelis, words of condemnation will not feed the starving, nor will the stop-start pretence of negotiations stop the killings. Starvation is real, and no one in Gaza 'is faking it', while Trump and his entourage enjoy another round of golf and a slap-up meal at Scottish taxpayers' expense. Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal All religious leaders in Ireland must join together in calling for a ceasefire The leaders of the main religious congregations on this small island should come together now as a matter of extreme urgency – including Jewish and Islamic leaders – and call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and the safe provision of emergency medical and food supplies. There are no valid reasons why a statement to this effect should not or cannot be made; there is, however, an indisputable moral argument to do such. Irish religious leaders need to lead by example. Please stand up and be counted. Chris Fitzpatrick, Terenure, Dublin 6 Will Dustin the Turkey be the next celeb to throw his hat in the ring for Áras? We now have a song and dance regarding people hoping to succeed President Michael D Higgins, as Michael Flatley throws his hat in the ring. Where is Dustin the Turkey? Go on ya good thing. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont Dublin 9 Kerry's All-Ireland stats are not accurate when it comes to famous trophy Not wishing to be too pedantic, but Kerry's great win in Sunday's All-Ireland final wasn't the Kingdom's 39th Sam Maguire success. They had already annexed seven All-Irelands by the time the celebrated trophy was first presented, the recipient being the Kildare captain, Bill 'Squires' Gannon, in 1928. Kerry followed with four in a row. Amazingly, Kerry won a hurling All-Ireland before a football one. Noel Kelly, Doonbeg, Co Clare How can watchdog say there is no price-gouging with food prices soaring According to a recent study compiled by the Central Statistics Office, Irish food prices are the second-most expensive in the eurozone. Figures show that food prices last year were 12pc higher in Ireland compared with our European counterparts. I believe that people are feeling the pinch, and this seems to be affecting how they are going about their shopping. There is no doubt that the cost-of-living crisis is being felt painfully in the weekly shop, yet the consumer protection watchdog has found no evidence of price-gouging. I have to ask, why are Ireland's grocery prices still soaring? John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Perhaps a county switch for Kerrygold butter could help it avoid the new tariff Now that the EU-US trade deal is completed, we must ensure our golden butter continues to go west. With Northern Ireland having a 10pc tariff imposed by the US as against 15pc in the Republic as part of the EU, perhaps 'Derry Gold' could become the bestseller. Many members of the older generation would have great experience regarding the movement of butter for tariff advantage. Paddy Murray, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath We must all raise a glass to the EU-US trade deal, even if it is without the alcohol I hear that in order to celebrate the wonderful 15pc trade tariff that the US will impose on European goods, the EU has commissioned the production of an exclusive alcoholic beverage for the US market. Named European Courage, the beverage will have 0pc strength.
