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Days of Palestine
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Haaretz: Israeli Army Commanders Gave Direct Orders to Shoot Palestinians Near Aid Centers in Gaza
DaysofPal- In a shocking report that has sparked widespread controversy, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that senior commanders in the Israeli army issued direct orders to their soldiers to open fire on Palestinian civilians approaching humanitarian aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip, effectively turning relief points into sites of mass killings. According to testimonies from soldiers currently serving in Gaza, the orders were explicit: fire on anyone approaching aid areas, regardless of whether they posed a threat or were unarmed. The soldiers stressed that this was implemented as a field policy, not as isolated or exceptional behavior. Haaretz reported that Israeli forces used medium and heavy weaponry, including machine guns, armored vehicles, and drones, in operations where the gunfire resembled a military response to an armed attack, even though the targets were starving civilians. One soldier was quoted saying, 'We were shooting at hungry people as if we were repelling an armed assault, while they were merely trying to get food.' The report added that many of the shootings were conducted at very close range, targeting unarmed individuals, including women and the elderly. According to the newspaper, aid distribution sites have become 'death traps,' as over 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza struggle under catastrophic humanitarian conditions, where the pursuit of food may cost one's life. This revelation comes amid mounting international pressure on the Israeli occupation over its ongoing violations in Gaza, particularly the alleged use of starvation as a weapon of war—a practice the United Nations has described as possibly rising to the level of crimes against humanity. While the Israeli occupation has previously justified some incidents as 'warning shots at suspected threats,' the Haaretz report undermines that narrative and points instead to a systematic policy of violent deterrence rather than civilian protection. The report is expected to provoke strong reactions from human rights organizations and international courts, which have renewed calls for transparent and independent investigations to hold accountable those responsible for these violations, and to prevent the militarization of humanitarian aid and its transformation into a tool of repression and mass killing. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- General
- Days of Palestine
WFP: Gaza food deliveries insufficient for one day's needs
DaysofPal – The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has sounded a dire warning about the escalating food crisis in the Gaza Strip, revealing that it has only been able to deliver 9,000 metric tons of food aid to the besieged territory since May 19, an amount it says is less than a single day's worth of food for the entire population. In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, the WFP wrote that the amount delivered so far 'represents less than one day's worth of food needs for every individual in the besieged territory.' The agency reiterated that it is ready to expand its operations but stressed that this can only happen with 'guarantees for safe access and improved field conditions.' The agency has previously warned that the probability of famine in Gaza is rapidly increasing, driven by the ongoing Israeli military offensive, which continues to obstruct humanitarian operations. A recent WFP report noted that 'high food prices, the collapse of livelihoods, and the trade blockade will accelerate economic collapse' in the Strip. 'The situation can only be stabilized through a significant expansion of food distribution, to calm fears and rebuild confidence within communities that more food is coming,' the WFP said. It called for immediate steps to ease the flow of aid: 'There is now an urgent need to find safer routes for convoys, speed up approvals for permits, provide reliable communications services, and open more border crossings.' The consequences of Gaza's humanitarian collapse are staggering. The WFP projects that by September 2025, all 2.1 million people in Gaza will face food insecurity classified as crisis level or worse (IPC Phase 3 and above), with nearly half a million expected to reach catastrophic levels (IPC Phase 5), the highest level of food insecurity classification. The desperation is also turning deadly. 'The fear of starvation and the desperate need for food are driving large crowds to gather along known transport routes, hoping to intercept humanitarian supplies as they pass through,' the agency noted. Recent weeks have seen multiple Israeli massacres of Palestinians waiting for food. The Gaza Government Media Office reported on Wednesday that the number of Palestinians killed at aid distribution sites has risen to 549, with more than 4,000 others wounded in just one month. Medical sources counted 78 Palestinians killed in Israeli raids across the Strip since dawn on Wednesday alone, including 14 people who were reportedly waiting for aid. Press sources suggested the true toll may be closer to 100. Many of these attacks occurred near distribution points set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has overseen food aid since May under a U.S.-Israeli arrangement. Witnesses and human rights groups have increasingly reported Israeli forces firing on hungry civilians approaching these aid locations. With needs soaring and access shrinking, humanitarian agencies continue to plead for meaningful access and protection. But without urgent change, the Strip risks plunging further into an unprecedented man-made famine. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Ben-Gvir calls humanitarian aid to Gaza a 'disgrace' and demands total cutoff
DaysofPal – Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has renewed his call for an end to humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, describing current relief efforts as 'an absolute disgrace' and insisting that halting all assistance is the only path to 'victory.' In a statement posted on X, Ben-Gvir said, 'What is needed in Gaza is not a temporary halt to 'humanitarian' aid, but a complete stop.' He added, 'When I warned repeatedly and was unfortunately the only one who voted a month and a half ago against bringing aid, I was certain it would grant Hamas a lifeline.' The minister, known for his incendiary rhetoric, continued, 'Back then, some mocked me and claimed that 'the aid will only enter the northern sector for 10 days,' and today it is clear what was already known: Hamas controls the quantities of food and goods, which contributes to its survival.' Ben-Gvir concluded by vowing to bring the issue to another cabinet vote, stating, 'Halting aid will expedite reaching victory. I will demand that the prime minister bring the issue of introducing aid to the sector to a vote again in the next cabinet session.' The devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than eight months of Israeli bombardment and blockade have left a large portion of the population in dire need of food, water, and medicine, has drawn increasing international attention. On Wednesday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and the army to draw up a plan within 48 hours to counter what he claimed was Hamas' control over aid entering the besieged territory. However, these claims have been firmly rejected by Palestinian tribal leaders. On Thursday, the Supreme Council for Tribal Affairs in Gaza issued a statement condemning what it called Tel Aviv's 'malicious allegations.' 'The clans of Gaza strongly refute the occupation's malicious allegations aimed at distorting the facts and spreading chaos in the Strip,' the statement read. The council emphasized that all humanitarian aid is 'fully secured and under its direct supervision and is distributed exclusively through international bodies.' It further called on the UN Security Council to 'send an immediate and urgent delegation to inspect the distribution of aid on the ground and verify its proper and transparent conduct.' 'The aid that has entered the Gaza Strip is a drop in the ocean of the needs of the afflicted children, women, elderly, sick, and all our people,' the council added. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
GMO: Israeli Occupation Spreads Lies on Aid to Justify Starvation
DaysofPal- The Government Media Office (GMO) stated that the Israeli occupation is promoting false claims made by the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Army Minister Katz regarding alleged control by Hamas Movement over aid in northern Gaza. In a press statement issued today, Thursday, the GMO affirmed that these fabricated allegations aim to legitimize the ongoing siege, starvation, and prevention of humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for the 118th consecutive day. It clarified to the public that Palestinian families and clans themselves secured the aid convoys to northern Gaza, without any involvement from the Palestinian government or factions, in a grassroots initiative to provide scraps of food to hundreds of thousands of starving civilians. The office stressed that these cheap lies reveal the occupation's ongoing effort to 'engineer chaos' and spread misinformation to fabricate flimsy justifications for continuing to close crossings and block aid, constituting a full-fledged crime against more than 2.4 million starving Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
3 days ago
- Health
- Days of Palestine
Gaza Health Ministry Warns of 'Unprecedented Catastrophe'
DaysofPal — The Ministry of Health in Gaza has issued a grave warning about the imminent collapse of the territory's health care system, as Israel continues to block the entry of urgent medical supplies amid ongoing bombardment. The ministry described the current health and humanitarian situation as 'unprecedented' and 'catastrophic.' In a statement, the ministry said that the remaining hospitals operating in Gaza are on the brink of shutting down entirely, unable to withstand mounting pressure amid acute shortages and overcrowding. According to the ministry, hospitals are overwhelmed far beyond capacity, especially in inpatient wards and intensive care units. Emergency departments, surgery rooms, and ICUs are struggling to cope with the rising number of critical injuries. Only 45 of Gaza's 312 operating rooms are functional, and even those are working with limited capabilities, delaying urgent and complex surgical procedures. The report revealed a devastating collapse in drug stocks and medical supplies. Nearly half of all essential medications (47%) are entirely depleted, while 65% of medical consumables are also unavailable—crippling care for cancer and heart patients in particular. The oxygen supply has also nearly run dry. Just 9 of Gaza's 34 oxygen stations remain partially operational. In addition, 49 power generators are running on severely limited fuel reserves, insufficient to meet the needs of critical hospital departments. Diagnostic and imaging equipment is in short supply, making it nearly impossible for physicians to perform lifesaving interventions. The patient death toll continues to climb. The ministry confirmed that 338 cancer patients have died while waiting for permits to leave Gaza for treatment A total of 11,000 cancer patients have been left without access to medication due to the destruction of treatment centers, lack of drugs, and travel restrictions. At least 513 patients have died as a direct result of being denied medical evacuation. Patients with kidney failure are also in grave danger. The ministry reported that 41% of these patients have died due to the collapse in treatment services. In northern Gaza, hospitals have been wiped out completely through siege and destruction, cutting off thousands of wounded and sick Palestinians from care. This has placed unbearable strain on the few exhausted facilities still functioning in Gaza City. Blood donation campaigns can no longer meet the urgent demand, as malnutrition and anemia worsen across the population. Blood banks are running dangerously low on units and components. The situation for children is especially dire. The ministry voiced alarm over a sharp rise in acute malnutrition among children, particularly infants, due to the absence of therapeutic milk. Health conditions in displacement shelters are 'the worst imaginable,' with widespread hunger, lack of clean water, and the rapid spread of infectious diseases. Since the start of the year, Gaza's health authorities have documented 59,000 cases of bloody diarrhea, 254,000 respiratory infections, and 337 meningitis cases—259 of them viral. Chronic patients are left without medications or medical follow-up, placing them at severe risk of deterioration. Meanwhile, high temperatures, water shortages, and poor sanitation are accelerating the spread of disease. Vaccination rates have dropped to 80% due to Israel's continued blockade of vaccine shipments, including the polio vaccine. The Health Ministry concluded its statement with a stark warning: the continued Israeli offensive and the paralysis of international humanitarian efforts could lead to the total collapse of Gaza's health sector. It called on all relevant actors to intervene immediately to prevent an impending medical and humanitarian disaster. Shortlink for this post:
