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Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Daily Limited Military Pause Begins in Gaza Amid Starvation Concerns
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Israeli military began limited 10-hour pauses in fighting across three areas of Gaza on Sunday to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. "Let me be clear: Israel supports aid for civilians, not for Hamas. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] will continue to support the flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," IDF spokesperson BG Effie Defrin told Newsweek in an email Sunday. Why It Matters Mounting international pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza follows a surge in reports and images showing widespread starvation among Palestinians. Humanitarian aid groups have warned for months that Gaza is nearing famine. Israel, which controls the entry of aid into the enclave, has severely restricted access—tightening constraints even further since the collapse of the last ceasefire in March. From March to mid-May, no aid was allowed into Gaza. The limited pauses come just days after Israeli forces killed around 100 Palestinians in multiple incidents near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza as they sought food aid. Israel's military has said it fired warning shots to distance a crowd "in response to an immediate threat." What To Know The Israeli military announced a "tactical pause" in three regions of Gaza "where the IDF is not operating": Deir al-Balah, Gaza City, and Muwasi. The cessation of fighting between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. is to allow humanitarian aid to reach the three areas. The Israeli military says there will be "designated secure routes" in place permanently from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to "enable the safe passage of UN and humanitarian aid organization convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine to the population across Gaza." In accordance with directives from the political echelon, and as part of the IDF's ongoing effort, led by COGAT, to increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, a local tactical pause in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10:00 to 20:00,... — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 27, 2025 Food airdrops commenced Saturday night, with nearly 25 tons of food and supplies dropped. The IDF said in a Saturday update that aerial airdrops resumed with "7 pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food." Defrin said on Sunday: "We are facilitating its [food aid] entry every single day. Over 250 trucks were transferred this week alone, coordinated and approved by Israel." The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said in a Sunday statement that it "welcomes" the development and "has enough food in- or on its way to - the region to feed the entire population of 2.1 million people for almost three months." Since May, the U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) has been responsible for aid delivery, with the distribution sites turning into deadly encounters. The United Nations estimates that Israel has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food since May. "Severe acute malnutrition is surging and almost a third of families miss meals for days at a time," the WFP warned. One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), noted. Israel has repeatedly rejected claims of forced starvation in Gaza. In May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied people are starving in Gaza, saying that Israel takes "thousands of prisoners" from Gaza and photograph them, and you "don't see one, not one, emaciated." The IDF said in a Saturday X post that "there is no starvation in Gaza; this is a false campaign promoted by Hamas." Fighting in Gaza continues as Israel and Hamas have been unable to come to a ceasefire agreement. The Trump administration cut short ceasefire negotiations on Thursday, stating Hamas "shows a lack of desire" to reach a truce with Israel. Hamas is believed to have around 50 hostages from its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians over Gaza City, Gaza Strip on July 27. Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians over Gaza City, Gaza Strip on July 27. AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi What People Are Saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, per the Associated Press: "Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies." The WFP said in an X post on Sunday: "Food aid is the only real way for most people inside Gaza to eat. A third of the population is not eating for days. Some 470,000 people are enduring famine-like conditions. 90,000 women and children need urgent nutrition treatment. People are dying due to a lack of humanitarian assistance." David Lammy, secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, said in a Sunday statement: "The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached new depths. The Prime Minister has already announced plans to work with Jordan to get aid into Gaza and to evacuate children who need critical medical assistance to the UK for treatment. Today's announcement of a temporary pause by the IDF to allow humanitarian corridors to open and aid drops to resume is essential but long overdue." Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam's regional policy lead, said in a Sunday statement: "Deadly airdrops and a trickle of trucks won't undo months of engineered starvation in Gaza. What's needed is the immediate opening of all crossings for full, unhindered, safe aid delivery across all of Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. Anything less risks being little more than a tactical gesture." Save the Children International said in an X post: "Israel's "tactical pause" may help children in #Gaza, but a day or two of food is not enough. 133 people, 87 of them children, have already died of malnutrition and starvation. We need a ceasefire and safe, sustained aid. Our supplies are ready." What Happens Next? The military said the pause is in effect until further notice. Peace talks between Hamas and Israel remain stalled.
United News of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Israel struck 1,480 targets in Iran during 12-day war, dropped 3,500 munitions
Tel Aviv, June 25 (UNI) During its 12-day wide-scale military campaign in Iran, Israel struck over 1,480 targets and launched around 1,500 air sorties that dropped 3,500 munitions, Israeli media and defense sources reported. Iran International, quoting data from the Israeli military and national rescue services (MDA), said 29 Israelis were killed during the conflict -- 28 by Iranian missile fire and one woman who died of cardiac arrest during air raid sirens. The Israeli Air Force conducted 600 mid-air refueling operations during the offensive, which also targeted 80 Iranian air defense systems and 250 missile launch platforms. Eight nuclear sites across Iran were bombed, with severe damage reported at two key facilities. The initial waves of airstrikes targeted Natanz and Isfahan, while subsequent attacks hit Arak, Parchin, Karaj, Bonab, and Tehran. It quoted the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) as saying that the strikes significantly degraded Iran's nuclear infrastructure and eliminated much of the country's strategic launch capability. In retaliation to the air strikes, Iran fired approximately 600 missiles at Israel. Fatalities were recorded in multiple cities, including Rishon LeZion, Haifa, Petah Tikva, Kiryat Ata, and Beersheba. More than 30,000 buildings across Israel were damaged during the hostilities. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Effi Defrin said today that the recent war with Iran has set the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme back by years. 'We met all the objectives of the operation as defined for us, and even did so better than we had optimally expected,' Defrin said, but he cautioned: 'I say this with humility, because it's still too early to determine.' 'We are investigating and reviewing the results of our strikes on every part of this puzzle, as I've previously called it, the various components of the nuclear program and more,' he said, the Times of Israel reported. 'I can say here that the assessment is that we significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can also say that we set it back by years, I repeat, years,' he said. Defrin's comments echoed those of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir last night that, 'We have set Iran's nuclear project back by years, and the same goes for its missile program.' UNI ANV RN
Egypt Independent
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Israel carried out its most 'extensive' wave of strikes in Tehran, military says
Israel carried out its most 'extensive' wave of strikes in Tehran to date, Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said Monday. Fifty Israeli aircraft and 100 munitions hit Iranian military positions and Iran's internal security infrastructure, the spokesperson said. Defrin — who was speaking before Iran launched an attack on a US base in Qatar — also said the Israeli military is intensifying its strikes against Iran's surface-to-surface missile launchers and deepening their strikes. 'The more we deepen the strikes, the more we reduce this capability. Their ability to launch missiles at us is steadily decreasing,' he said. Defrin said Israel is ready to deepen strikes in Tehran and 'elsewhere' and that Israel still has an 'extensive target bank.' When asked if Israel would help the Gulf states should Iran respond to the US attacks over the weekend, Defrin said Israel was in contact with partners across the Middle East and beyond.
Euronews
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
'There is no red line that they have not crossed'
The US attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran "were carried out in coordination with the IDF." according to Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin on Sunday. "These actions mark a crucial step in stopping the Iranian regime's aggression and its ability to pose a threat to the region and the world. The regime's ability to threaten Israel is being dismantled piece by piece," said Defrin. The US military targeted the Iranian sites of Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz early on Sunday. In a televised address from the White House, US President Donald Trump said the sites had been "completely and fully obliterated". Trump also launched dozens of missiles from submarines without congressional approval. Neither Iran nor the UN nuclear watchdog have reported immediate signs of radioactive contamination near to the targeted facilities. It was a risky move meant to weaken a longtime enemy, even as Tehran has warned of revenge attacks that could lead to a wider conflict in the region. Iranian FM says "There is no red line that they have not crossed." Hours after the attacks, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Turkey: 'The warmongering, a lawless administration in Washington is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression.' He added: "They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities". Araghchi condemned the attacks, saying that the time for diplomacy had passed and called on the UN Security Council for an emergency session. He also stated that under the principles of the UN Charter, Iran has the right to self-defence. Iran is a close ally to Russia The Iranian foreign minister plans to travel to Moscow on Monday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin 'We enjoy a strategic partnership and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions'. Iran and Russia are close allies, and Tehran has kept it no secret that it has been helping Russia in its war on Ukraine, notably supplying it with attack drones. Meanwhile, Israel released footage claiming their attacks struck Iranian soldiers and missile launchers. The IDF said in a statement that 'missile launchers were struck in Isfahan, Bushehr and Ahvaz". It further explained that 'Strikes were also conducted on military sites involved in the production of aerial defence batteries, the 'Third Brigade' UAV command centre, and a UAV storage facility near the command centre,'. The US' decision to join the conflict follows more than a week of Israeli strikes on Iran. Israel says its goal is to destroy the country's air defences and missile systems, while also damaging its nuclear facilities.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'We have other goals': Israeli army vows to continue Iran offensive; reviews aftermath of US strikes on nuclear sites
The Israeli military on Sunday declared it has "other goals" in Iran and will press forward with its military campaign, hours after US air strikes hit key Iranian nuclear facilities. "We have other goals and we will continue to act until we attain them," said Israeli army spokesperson Effie Defrin during a televised briefing. The statement came amid escalating regional tensions after US President Donald Trump confirmed American forces had carried out a "very successful attack" on three nuclear sites in Iran's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz, ending weeks of speculation about potential US involvement in the conflict. Israel-Iran conflict: Follow live updates Defrin said Israel was still assessing the impact of the US strike on the heavily fortified Fordo enrichment facility. 'It's too soon to determine whether Iran's enriched uranium was destroyed or removed," he said. 'We are constantly checking the situation. It is too soon to determine. I suppose we will know later on." The Israeli army launched its own fresh round of attacks on Sunday morning, including strikes on Iranian missile launchers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 40代以上でPC持ってるなら、このゲームはあなた向け！ Hero Wars ゲームをプレイ Undo 'We are continuing and are determined to achieve the objectives of the operation: eliminating the existential threat to the state of Israel, damaging Iran's nuclear programme and destroying its missile system," Defrin added. Tehran, meanwhile, has accused both the US and Israel of inflaming the crisis. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the attacks marked a serious escalation. 'The US and Israel have crossed a red line by attacking Iran's nuclear facilities,' he said at an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul. Araghchi also stated that Iran was still evaluating the extent of the damage. Despite the strikes, Iran's Red Crescent chief Pir Hossein Kolivand reported that there were no fatalities from the US raids. 'Fortunately, we did not have any martyrs in last night's events of the US aggression against Iran's nuclear facilities," he said on state TV. Israel first launched its large-scale assault on Iran on June 13, targeting what it said were nuclear and military assets. The operation has included hundreds of airstrikes, assassinations of military officials, and the killing of around ten nuclear scientists. Iran has denied ever seeking to develop nuclear weapons. As of Saturday, Iranian authorities said more than 400 people had died and over 3,000 were injured in Israeli attacks, mostly civilians. Israel, in turn, reported 25 deaths caused by Iranian missile and drone strikes.
