Hundreds of killings near Gaza aid sites, convoys: UN
Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the rights office was not able to attribute responsibility for the killings.
But she said "it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points" operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
She said it was not immediately clear how many of those killings had taken place at GHF sites, and how many occurred near convoys.
Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing, Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 to June 27, and "there have been further incidents" since then.
She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and "we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access" for UN teams to the areas.
"Information keeps coming in," she said. "This is ongoing and it is unacceptable."
The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel's military.
More deaths reported near aid distribution sites occurred overnight on Friday, according to officials in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
At least three Palestinians were killed near aid sites in Rafah, which is close to two operated by GHF.
Another 17 were killed waiting for trucks to pass by in eastern Khan Younis in the Tahliya area.
The UN human rights office has recorded 613 killings near humanitarian convoys and at aid distribution points in Gaza run by an Israeli-backed American organisation since it began operations in late May.
Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the rights office was not able to attribute responsibility for the killings.
But she said "it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points" operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
She said it was not immediately clear how many of those killings had taken place at GHF sites, and how many occurred near convoys.
Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing, Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 to June 27, and "there have been further incidents" since then.
She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and "we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access" for UN teams to the areas.
"Information keeps coming in," she said. "This is ongoing and it is unacceptable."
The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel's military.
More deaths reported near aid distribution sites occurred overnight on Friday, according to officials in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
At least three Palestinians were killed near aid sites in Rafah, which is close to two operated by GHF.
Another 17 were killed waiting for trucks to pass by in eastern Khan Younis in the Tahliya area.
The UN human rights office has recorded 613 killings near humanitarian convoys and at aid distribution points in Gaza run by an Israeli-backed American organisation since it began operations in late May.
Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the rights office was not able to attribute responsibility for the killings.
But she said "it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points" operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
She said it was not immediately clear how many of those killings had taken place at GHF sites, and how many occurred near convoys.
Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing, Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 to June 27, and "there have been further incidents" since then.
She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and "we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access" for UN teams to the areas.
"Information keeps coming in," she said. "This is ongoing and it is unacceptable."
The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel's military.
More deaths reported near aid distribution sites occurred overnight on Friday, according to officials in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
At least three Palestinians were killed near aid sites in Rafah, which is close to two operated by GHF.
Another 17 were killed waiting for trucks to pass by in eastern Khan Younis in the Tahliya area.
The UN human rights office has recorded 613 killings near humanitarian convoys and at aid distribution points in Gaza run by an Israeli-backed American organisation since it began operations in late May.
Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the rights office was not able to attribute responsibility for the killings.
But she said "it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points" operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
She said it was not immediately clear how many of those killings had taken place at GHF sites, and how many occurred near convoys.
Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing, Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 to June 27, and "there have been further incidents" since then.
She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and "we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access" for UN teams to the areas.
"Information keeps coming in," she said. "This is ongoing and it is unacceptable."
The GHF has denied any serious injuries or deaths on its sites and says shootings outside their immediate vicinity are under the purview of Israel's military.
More deaths reported near aid distribution sites occurred overnight on Friday, according to officials in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
At least three Palestinians were killed near aid sites in Rafah, which is close to two operated by GHF.
Another 17 were killed waiting for trucks to pass by in eastern Khan Younis in the Tahliya area.
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Thugs who perform violence over distant atrocities have no place here
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7 hours ago
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Man urged to come forward over synagogue fire attack
Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. 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"We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on Friday and was pressed on previous statements labelling weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister". Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating". Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. "They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," she said. A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane. Jewish leaders say they chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces. Chairs were thrown, tables overturned and a window smashed as police tried to move them on, with one person arrested for hindering officers. The third incident happened outside a business in Greensborough in the city's northeast, where three cars were set alight and spray painted about 4.30am on Saturday. Few details have been made public but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said the business was "subject to pro-Palestinian activity in the past" which is why it was included in the probe. None of the incidents were declared terrorism but local police are working with counterterrorism officers to examine links. Commander Dunstan characterised the events as serious criminal incidents. "We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on Friday and was pressed on previous statements labelling weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister". Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating". Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. "They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," she said. A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane. Jewish leaders say they chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces. Chairs were thrown, tables overturned and a window smashed as police tried to move them on, with one person arrested for hindering officers. The third incident happened outside a business in Greensborough in the city's northeast, where three cars were set alight and spray painted about 4.30am on Saturday. Few details have been made public but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said the business was "subject to pro-Palestinian activity in the past" which is why it was included in the probe. None of the incidents were declared terrorism but local police are working with counterterrorism officers to examine links. Commander Dunstan characterised the events as serious criminal incidents. "We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on Friday and was pressed on previous statements labelling weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister". Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating". Detectives have released images of a man they wish to speak to over a targeted fire attack at a synagogue that forced children and families to flee. It happened the same night as an angry protest outside an Israeli restaurant and car fires outside a business previously targeted by demonstrators, prompting Jewish leaders to express deep safety concerns. The violence started when a man doused the front of East Melbourne Synagogue in flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, police said. The temple's president Danny Segal, his wife Jenny and families including children were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner. "Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters. Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Ms Segal said she was worried about what might have happened if the attacker got inside and children were frightened. "They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," she said. A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane. Jewish leaders say they chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces. Chairs were thrown, tables overturned and a window smashed as police tried to move them on, with one person arrested for hindering officers. The third incident happened outside a business in Greensborough in the city's northeast, where three cars were set alight and spray painted about 4.30am on Saturday. Few details have been made public but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said the business was "subject to pro-Palestinian activity in the past" which is why it was included in the probe. None of the incidents were declared terrorism but local police are working with counterterrorism officers to examine links. Commander Dunstan characterised the events as serious criminal incidents. "We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism." Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned. "The anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," he said. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night. The synagogue attack happened on Shabbat, a period of rest, which Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said made it even more abhorrent. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said. Opposition frontbencher David Southwick, who is Jewish, called the events in the city "domestic terrorism" and accused the state government of sitting on its hands "Do we have to wait until actually somebody's killed before the government says, right, now we're going to act? I would hope not." Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue on Saturday morning and described the city as being one of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events. It comes seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south forced people inside to flee. Two of the synagogue's buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze and no charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation. The attacks follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres. 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7NEWS
10 hours ago
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‘Thorough review' underway after charging elephant in Zambia kills New Zealand tourist and British tourist
A 'thorough review' is underway after two female tourists on a walking safari in Zambia were killed by a charging elephant trying to protect her calf. Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims — 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the United Kingdom and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand — were attacked by the female elephant about 6am on Thursday, local time. A full investigation into their death at the South Luangwa National Park is now underway, Zambia's Ministry of Tourism confirmed. 'Zambia's national parks are globally renowned for offering exceptional and authentic wildlife experiences. 'However, we wish to remind all visitors that these experiences take place in wilderness settings where wildlife behaves unpredictably. 'Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time.' The two women were staying at Big Lagoon Bush Camp in the Zambian national park, about 600km from the nation's capital Lusaka, and were on a safari walk to another part of the camp when the incident occurred. Safari guides, who were with the group, tried to stop the elephant and fired their guns at her, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant's attack and both women died at the scene, police said. The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots. A spokesperson for New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed the New Zealand High Commission in Pretoria was providing consular assistance to the family. Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats. Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were also elderly women and were on a safari vehicle when they were attacked. Stream free on
