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UN welcomes Israel's 'humanitarian pauses' as hunger crisis in Gaza prompts new aid access
Displaced Palestinians at the Nuseirat refugee camp haul food parcels and other items they managed to get from a GHF aid distribution point at the so-called "Netzarim corridor" in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
Israel has announced daily pauses in military operations across parts of the Gaza Strip to facilitate humanitarian access, as global concern mounts over the worsening crisis in the enclave.
The United Nations' aid chief welcomed Israel's announcement Sunday of secure land routes into Gaza for humanitarian convoys, and said the UN would try to reach as many starving people as possible.
'Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through,' UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher said on X.
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The Israeli military said it would halt activity between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. (0700–1700 GMT) in designated areas: Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Secure corridors for aid convoys will also be operational from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The move comes as the United Nations and international aid agencies report severe hunger and rising malnutrition among Gaza's 2.2 million residents.
According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 127 people, including 85 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began. On Saturday, five-month-old Zainab Abu Haleeb died of severe acute malnutrition at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said conditions in Gaza were already 'catastrophic and deteriorating fast.'
OCHA said constraints imposed by the Israeli authorities had hampered humanitarians' ability to respond.
It said that on Thursday, for example, out of 15 attempts to coordinate humanitarian movements inside Gaza, four were 'outright denied', with another three impeded.
In parallel, Israel began airdropping aid packages and the Egyptian Red Crescent dispatched over 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tonnes of food via the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israel says it supports aid deliveries but must maintain oversight to prevent supplies from reaching militant groups. It also insists that sufficient food has been allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of obstructing distribution.
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The humanitarian pause follows growing international alarm, including calls for action from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has signalled intentions to recognise a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations appear to have stalled, with Israel and the United States blaming Hamas for a lack of commitment.
Within Gaza, reactions to the pause have been mixed. While some residents expressed cautious relief, many emphasised the need for a permanent end to hostilities. 'We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up,' said Tamer Al-Burai, a local business owner. Others voiced concern over the delivery methods, particularly the risks posed by aid airdrops.
The Israeli government's decision has also drawn criticism from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said he was not consulted and accused the leadership of capitulating to Hamas.
The war, which began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, has since claimed the lives of nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins.
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Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Economic Times
Israeli forces kills 27 aid-seekers in Gaza as Israeli minister prays at flashpoint holy site
Synopsis In Gaza, Israeli forces killed at least twenty-three Palestinians seeking food. Hospital officials and witnesses reported the incident. Malnutrition-related deaths are also rising in the region. Elsewhere, Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Israeli military attacked its headquarters in Khan Younis. AP Families of hostages protest, demanding the release from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, at the plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli forces killed at least 23 Palestinians seeking food on Sunday in Gaza, according to hospital officials and witnesses, who described facing gunfire as hungry crowds surged around aid sites, as the malnutrition-related death toll also rose. Desperation has gripped the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million, which experts have warned is facing famine because of Israel's blockade and nearly two-year offensive. Yousef Abed, among the crowds en route to a distribution point, described coming under what he called indiscriminate fire, seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground. "I couldn't stop and help them because of the bullets," he said. Southern Gaza's Nasser Hospital said they received bodies from routes to the sites, including eight from Teina, about three kilometers (1.8 miles) away from a distribution site in Khan Younis, which is operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the private U.S.- and Israeli-backed contractor that took over aid distribution more than two months ago. The hospital received one body from Shakoush, hundreds of meters (yards) north of a GHF site in Rafah. Another nine aid-seekers were killed by troops near the Morag corridor, it said. Three Palestinian eyewitnesses, seeking food in Teina and Morag, told The Associated Press shootings occurred on the routes to distribution points, which are in military zones secured by Israeli forces. They said they saw soldiers open fire on hungry crowds advancing toward troops. Further north in central Gaza, hospital officials described a similar episode, with Israeli troops opening fire Sunday morning toward crowds of Palestinians trying to reach GHF's fourth and northernmost distribution point. "Troops were trying to prevent people from advancing. They opened fire and we fled. Some people were shot," said Hamza Matter, one of the aid seekers. At least five people were killed and 27 wounded near GHF's site close to Netzarim corridor, Awda Hospital said. Eyewitnesses seeking food have reported similar gunfire attacks in recent days near aid distribution sites, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead. The United Nations reported 859 people were killed near GHF sites from May 27 to July 31 and that hundreds more have been slain along the routes of U.N.-led food convoys. The GHF launched in May as Israel sought an alternative to the U.N.-run system, which had safely delivered aid for much of the war but was accused by Israel of allowing Hamas, which guarded convoys early in the war, to siphon supplies. Israel has not offered evidence of widespread theft. The U.N. has denied it. GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding. Israel's military has said it only fires warning shots as well. Both claimed the death tolls have been exaggerated Israel's military did immediately responded to questions about Sunday's reported fatalities. GHF's Media Office said there was no gunfire "near or at our sites." Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry said six more Palestinian adults died of malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours. It said Sunday's casualties brought the death toll among Palestinian adults to 82 over the five weeks since the ministry started counting deaths among adults in late June. Malnutrition-related deaths are not included in the ministry's count of war casualties. Ninety-three children have also died of causes related to malnutrition since the war in Gaza started in 2023, the ministry said. Israeli minister prays at flashpoint holy site Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, a move swiftly condemned as a incitement by Palestinian leaders as well as Jordan and Saudi Arabia. At the hilltop compound in the Old City revered by Jews and Muslims, Ben Gvir called on Israel to annex the Gaza Strip and encourage Palestinians to leave. "This is the only way that we will return the hostages and win the war," he said. His visit on Sunday in honor of Tisha B'av, a day in which Jews mourn the destruction of two Jewish temples at the site, was the first in which a government minister openly prayed at the site. Under the status quo, Jews have been allowed to tour the site but are barred from praying, with Israeli police and troops providing security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said afterward that Israel would not change the norms governing the holy site. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned Ben Gvir's visit. Ambassador Sufian Qudah, a spokesperson for Jordan's Foreign Ministry, condemned what he called "provocative incursions by the extremist minister" and implored Israel to prevent escalation. Ben Gvir's visit took place on Tisha B'av, a day in which Jews mourn the destruction of their temples. He condemned a video that Hamas released of 24-year-old hostage Evyatar David showing him emaciated in a dimly lit tunnel in Gaza. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the second-largest militant group in Gaza, triggered outrage when they released separate videos of individual hostages this week. Israeli media hasn't broadcast the videos, calling them propaganda, but Netanyahu met with the hostage families on Saturday, pledging further efforts to return them to Israel. Red Crescent Facility Shelled The Palestinian Red Crescent said the Israeli military attacked its headquarters in the southern city of Khan Younis early Sunday, killing a staffer and wounding three others. The overnight strike wrecked the organization's multi-story building, leaving its offices full of broken concrete and blood, with gaping holes in the walls and floors, according to video released by the organization. Red Crescent said the military shelled its Khan Younis facility three times between around 1 a.m. local time. Elsewhere in Khan Younis, an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced people, killing at least two, Nasser hospital said. Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions about either strike. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, and abducting another 251. They are still holding 50 captives, around 20 believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, is staffed by medical professionals. The United Nations and other independent experts view its figures as the most reliable count of casualties. Israel has disputed its figures, but hasn't provided its own account of casualties.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Israeli forces kills 27 aid-seekers in Gaza as Israeli minister prays at flashpoint holy site
Israeli forces killed at least 23 Palestinians seeking food on Sunday in Gaza , according to hospital officials and witnesses, who described facing gunfire as hungry crowds surged around aid sites, as the malnutrition-related death toll also rose. Desperation has gripped the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million, which experts have warned is facing famine because of Israel 's blockade and nearly two-year offensive. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category healthcare Healthcare Others Operations Management CXO Management MBA Project Management MCA Digital Marketing Data Analytics Finance PGDM Technology Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking Leadership Public Policy Data Science others Data Science Degree Product Management Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details Yousef Abed, among the crowds en route to a distribution point, described coming under what he called indiscriminate fire, seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More Undo "I couldn't stop and help them because of the bullets," he said. Southern Gaza's Nasser Hospital said they received bodies from routes to the sites, including eight from Teina, about three kilometers (1.8 miles) away from a distribution site in Khan Younis, which is operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the private U.S.- and Israeli-backed contractor that took over aid distribution more than two months ago. Live Events The hospital received one body from Shakoush, hundreds of meters (yards) north of a GHF site in Rafah. Another nine aid-seekers were killed by troops near the Morag corridor, it said. Three Palestinian eyewitnesses, seeking food in Teina and Morag, told The Associated Press shootings occurred on the routes to distribution points, which are in military zones secured by Israeli forces. They said they saw soldiers open fire on hungry crowds advancing toward troops. Further north in central Gaza, hospital officials described a similar episode, with Israeli troops opening fire Sunday morning toward crowds of Palestinians trying to reach GHF's fourth and northernmost distribution point. "Troops were trying to prevent people from advancing. They opened fire and we fled. Some people were shot," said Hamza Matter, one of the aid seekers. At least five people were killed and 27 wounded near GHF's site close to Netzarim corridor, Awda Hospital said. Eyewitnesses seeking food have reported similar gunfire attacks in recent days near aid distribution sites, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead. The United Nations reported 859 people were killed near GHF sites from May 27 to July 31 and that hundreds more have been slain along the routes of U.N.-led food convoys. The GHF launched in May as Israel sought an alternative to the U.N.-run system, which had safely delivered aid for much of the war but was accused by Israel of allowing Hamas, which guarded convoys early in the war, to siphon supplies. Israel has not offered evidence of widespread theft. The U.N. has denied it. GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding. Israel's military has said it only fires warning shots as well. Both claimed the death tolls have been exaggerated Israel's military did immediately responded to questions about Sunday's reported fatalities. GHF's Media Office said there was no gunfire "near or at our sites." Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry said six more Palestinian adults died of malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours. It said Sunday's casualties brought the death toll among Palestinian adults to 82 over the five weeks since the ministry started counting deaths among adults in late June. Malnutrition-related deaths are not included in the ministry's count of war casualties. Ninety-three children have also died of causes related to malnutrition since the war in Gaza started in 2023, the ministry said. Israeli minister prays at flashpoint holy site Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, a move swiftly condemned as a incitement by Palestinian leaders as well as Jordan and Saudi Arabia. At the hilltop compound in the Old City revered by Jews and Muslims, Ben Gvir called on Israel to annex the Gaza Strip and encourage Palestinians to leave. "This is the only way that we will return the hostages and win the war," he said. His visit on Sunday in honor of Tisha B'av, a day in which Jews mourn the destruction of two Jewish temples at the site, was the first in which a government minister openly prayed at the site. Under the status quo, Jews have been allowed to tour the site but are barred from praying, with Israeli police and troops providing security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said afterward that Israel would not change the norms governing the holy site. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned Ben Gvir's visit. Ambassador Sufian Qudah, a spokesperson for Jordan's Foreign Ministry, condemned what he called "provocative incursions by the extremist minister" and implored Israel to prevent escalation. Ben Gvir's visit took place on Tisha B'av, a day in which Jews mourn the destruction of their temples. He condemned a video that Hamas released of 24-year-old hostage Evyatar David showing him emaciated in a dimly lit tunnel in Gaza. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the second-largest militant group in Gaza, triggered outrage when they released separate videos of individual hostages this week. Israeli media hasn't broadcast the videos, calling them propaganda, but Netanyahu met with the hostage families on Saturday, pledging further efforts to return them to Israel. Red Crescent Facility Shelled The Palestinian Red Crescent said the Israeli military attacked its headquarters in the southern city of Khan Younis early Sunday, killing a staffer and wounding three others. The overnight strike wrecked the organization's multi-story building, leaving its offices full of broken concrete and blood, with gaping holes in the walls and floors, according to video released by the organization. Red Crescent said the military shelled its Khan Younis facility three times between around 1 a.m. local time. Elsewhere in Khan Younis, an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced people, killing at least two, Nasser hospital said. Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions about either strike. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, and abducting another 251. They are still holding 50 captives, around 20 believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, is staffed by medical professionals. The United Nations and other independent experts view its figures as the most reliable count of casualties. Israel has disputed its figures, but hasn't provided its own account of casualties.
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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
Israeli forces kill over 20 people seeking food in Gaza, say witnesses
Israeli forces killed at least 23 Palestinians seeking food on Sunday in the Gaza Strip, according to hospital officials and witnesses, who described facing gunfire as hungry crowds surged around aid sites as the malnutrition-related death toll surged. Desperation has gripped the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million, which experts have warned is at risk of famine because of Israel's blockade and nearly two-year offensive. Yousef Abed, among the crowds en route to a distribution point, described coming under what he called indiscriminate fire, looking around and seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground. I couldn't stop and help them because of the bullets, he said. Southern Gaza's Nasser Hospital said they had received bodies from near multiple distribution sites, including eight from Teina, about three km away from a distribution site in Khan Younis, which is operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private US and Israeli-backed contractor that took over aid distribution more than two months ago. The hospital also received one body from Shakoush, an area hundreds of metres north of a different GHF site in Rafah. Another nine were also killed by troops near the Morag corridor, who were awaiting trucks entering Gaza through an Israeli border crossing, it said. Three Palestinian eyewitnesses, seeking food in Teina and Morag, told The Associated Press the shootings occurred on the route to the distribution points, which are in military zones secured by Israeli forces. They said they saw soldiers open fire on hungry crowds advancing toward the troops. Further north in central Gaza, hospital officials described a similar episode, with Israeli troops opening fire Sunday morning toward crowds of Palestinians trying to GHF's fourth and northernmost distribution point. Troops were trying to prevent people from advancing. They opened fire and we fled. Some people were shot, said Hamza Matter, one of the aid seekers. At least five people were killed and 27 wounded at GHF's site near Netzarim corridor, Awda Hospital said. Eyewitnesses seeking food in the strip have reported similar gunfire attacks in recent days near aid distribution sites, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead. The United Nations reported 859 people have been killed near GHF sites from May 27 to July 31 and that hundreds more have been slain along the routes of UN-led food convoys. The GHF launched in May as Israel sought an alternative to the UN-run system, which had safely delivered aid for much of the war but was accused by Israel of allowing Hamas, which guarded convoys early in the war, to siphon supplies. Israel has not offered evidence of widespread theft. The UN has denied it. GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding. Israel's military has said it only fires warning shots as well. Both claimed the death tolls have been exaggerated. Neither Israel's military nor GHF immediately responded to questions about Sunday's reported fatalities. Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry also said six more Palestinian adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours. This brings the death toll among Palestinian adults to 82 in the past five weeks since the ministry started counting deaths among adults in late June, it said. Ninety-three children have also died of causes related to malnutrition since the war in Gaza started in 2023, the ministry said. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, and abducted another 251. They are still holding 50 captives, around 20 believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, is staffed by medical professionals. The United Nations and other independent experts view its figures as the most reliable count of casualties. Israel has disputed its figures, but hasn't provided its own account of casualties.
