Latest news with #GazaStarvation
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Midweek - starvation in Gaza, announcements, polling on a whim
Pressure goes on The Platform over a tweet from its founder, gaza starvation hits home for media, announcements of an announcement and a polling company chief puts out a question on a whim - with interesting results. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
NSW Police deny pro-Palestinian protesters permission to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge
NSW Police has blocked a request by pro-Palestinian protesters to close the Sydney Harbour Bridge to traffic for a demonstration this weekend. The Palestine Action Group informed police of its intention to hold a March for Humanity on Sunday and said using the landmark would send a "powerful message" over concerns about mass starvation in Gaza. Humanitarian groups say far more is needed to feed the roughly 2 million people inside the Gaza Strip, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said "there is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza". NSW Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said organisers wanted to close the bridge to allow up to 10,000 to cross, but there was not enough time to do it safely. "The main rationale behind that, it's quite clearly public safety," he said. "It would have a major disruption and effect on thousands of motorists … [it] would be a public safety risk that we cannot manage at this point in time." He said authorities were open to an alternative location. Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees told ABC Radio Sydney ahead of the decision that the bridge had been closed previously for events like a World Pride march, the Sydney Marathon and a Hollywood movie, and hinted at a court challenge. "The process now is if the police or the government want to stop us from doing it, they have to take us to the Supreme Court and if they do that, we'll fight that in court," he said. Acting Deputy Commissioner McKenna said police would take the matter to the courts if organisers insisted on trying to go ahead with the march across the bridge. He said protesters who attempted to cross the bridge on the weekend risked prosecution. "If people do attend on Sunday they do not have the protections they would normally have on public assemblies," he said. "I do not have the protections under the Summary Offences Act and they may face themselves being caught up in a situation where they are lawfully moved on and if offences are committed, arrested and charged. "We don't want that." Premier Chris Minns earlier acknowledged "widespread community concern about the humanitarian aid and war situation in Gaza", but said Sydney protesters will have to find somewhere else to make their point. "I want the killing to stop as well, and I'm particularly concerned, like a lot of people, about the number of innocent children that have been killed," he said on Tuesday morning. "I accept that this is a protest that many people want to have. "My argument here is I can't close down the central artery for a city as big as Sydney, even on a short term basis, but even if we had a massive heads-up to do it." Mr Minns asked organisers to work with authorities to settle on an alternative route for the protest. Acting Deputy Commissioner McKenna said police were open to working with the Palestine Action Group on another location for the demonstration, as it had more than 100 times for pro-Palestinian rallies in recent years. He denied the premier's comments influenced the police decision. "The premier has come out and stated he didn't support it. On this occasion, after our deliberations, after we looked at the public safety, it turns out we're in complete agreeance," Acting Deputy Commissioner McKenna said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kemi Badenoch clashes with Bob Geldof after Live Aid organiser accuses Israel of ‘lying' over Gaza aid
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has clashed with Live Aid organiser Sir Bob Geldof over the Middle East crisis as she doubled down on her support for Israel. The pair were the top guests on Sky News' Sunday morning show with Sir Trevor Philips and were both asked about the current crisis in Gaza where thousands are facing starvation, with Geldof accusing the Israeli government of 'lying' over the aid situation. On Sunday, Israel announced a 'pause in fighting' to enable aid to get into Gaza while the UK is set to take up the opportunity to airdrop food into the embattled warzone. But when asked about Israeli government claims that there are hundreds of trucks full of aid waiting to get into Gaza being held up by United Nations incompetence and Hamas, he hit out at Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. 'The Israeli authorities are lying,' he claimed. 'They're lying. Netanyahu is a liar. The IDF are lying." The Israeli government has denied being at fault after reports more than 110 people have died of hunger during the conflict, blaming Hamas for 'stealing aid and prolonging the war'. Sir Bob, who is marking 40 years since his Live Aid concerts to raise money for mass starvation in Ethiopia, said that he felt given his history and ongoing work on helping to tackle poverty he had a right to speak out now on the unfolding crisis. Asked about Israelis protesting against the Netanyahu government, he suggested: 'If Israelis want to protest: get in your cars, stuff your cars full of food, drive through that border and let your own army stop you.' Sir Bob branded Hamas 'disgusting' but claimed that 'we are well beyond' the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023. He also branded calls for the UK to recognise Palestine as a state 'a distraction that is not going to make any material difference'. The interviews took place after new polling by More in Common for the Sunday Times shows UK voters are more likely to sympathise with Palestine than Israel by 29 per cent to 15 per cent. When Sir Bob's remarks were put to her by Sir Trevor, Ms Badenoch said he was wrong. She said: 'I disagree with that. What I'm seeing is Israel allowing humanitarian aid to go in. This has been an unbelievably difficult situation. It's been heartbreaking, seeing some of the pictures, hearing those stories, and what we all want to see is this awful coming to an end, and that will happen when those hostages are released. We need a ceasefire.' It was pointed out that Ms Badenoch is one of the few political leaders to have grown up in a country at war referencing her childhood in Nigeria. Ms Badenoch also dismissed the More in Common polling and how her support for Israel appeared to be against the prevailing public view. She said: 'I'm somebody who believes in looking at what's actually happening. What are the facts and how do we make sure we're always doing the right thing? The right thing is for there to be a ceasefire. 'A lot of people are suffering on both sides, but we must forget how this started. October 7, a massacre occurred. It was an act of war. There are still people who are being held hostage, and they need to be brought home. 'All of this could be brought to an end, except that those territories are being by a terrorist organisation [Hamas].' Israel has denied that it is causing famine in Gaza and insisted instead there is a 'a man-made shortage engineered by Hamas'. An Israeli security official told Sky News that "despite the false claims that are being spread, the State of Israel does not limit the number of humanitarian aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip". A spokesman for the IDF added: 'The IDF allows the American civilian organisation (GHF) to distribute aid to Gaza residents independently, and operates in proximity to the new distribution zones to enable the distribution alongside the continuation of IDF operational activities in the Gaza Strip. "Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned. The aforementioned incidents are under review by the competent authorities in the IDF." Keir Starmer is set to make the Gaza crisis one of the top priorities with his discussions with Donald Trump on Monday at the US president's Turnberry golf course.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Kemi Badenoch clashes with Bob Geldof after Live Aid organiser accuses Israel of ‘lying' over Gaza aid
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has clashed with Live Aid organiser Sir Bob Geldof over the Middle East crisis as she doubled down on her support for Israel. The pair were the top guests on Sky News ' Sunday morning show with Sir Trevor Philips and were both asked about the current crisis in Gaza where thousands are facing starvation, with Geldof accusing the Israeli government of 'lying' over the aid situation. On Sunday, Israel announced a 'pause in fighting' to enable aid to get into Gaza while the UK is set to take up the opportunity to airdrop food into the embattled warzone. But when asked about Israeli government claims that there are hundreds of trucks full of aid waiting to get into Gaza being held up by United Nations incompetence and Hamas, he hit out at Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. 'The Israeli authorities are lying,' he claimed. 'They're lying. Netanyahu is a liar. The IDF are lying." The Israeli government has denied being at fault after reports more than 110 people have died of hunger during the conflict, blaming Hamas for 'stealing aid and prolonging the war'. Sir Bob, who is marking 40 years since his Live Aid concerts to raise money for mass starvation in Ethiopia, said that he felt given his history and ongoing work on helping to tackle poverty he had a right to speak out now on the unfolding crisis. Asked about Israelis protesting against the Netanyahu government, he suggested: 'If Israelis want to protest: get in your cars, stuff your cars full of food, drive through that border and let your own army stop you.' Sir Bob branded Hamas 'disgusting' but claimed that 'we are well beyond' the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023. He also branded calls for the UK to recognise Palestine as a state 'a distraction that is not going to make any material difference'. The interviews took place after new polling by More in Common for the Sunday Times shows UK voters are more likely to sympathise with Palestine than Israel by 29 per cent to 15 per cent. When Sir Bob's remarks were put to her by Sir Trevor, Ms Badenoch said he was wrong. She said: 'I disagree with that. What I'm seeing is Israel allowing humanitarian aid to go in. This has been an unbelievably difficult situation. It's been heartbreaking, seeing some of the pictures, hearing those stories, and what we all want to see is this awful coming to an end, and that will happen when those hostages are released. We need a ceasefire.' It was pointed out that Ms Badenoch is one of the few political leaders to have grown up in a country at war referencing her childhood in Nigeria. Ms Badenoch also dismissed the More in Common polling and how her support for Israel appeared to be against the prevailing public view. She said: 'I'm somebody who believes in looking at what's actually happening. What are the facts and how do we make sure we're always doing the right thing? The right thing is for there to be a ceasefire. 'A lot of people are suffering on both sides, but we must forget how this started. October 7, a massacre occurred. It was an act of war. There are still people who are being held hostage, and they need to be brought home. 'All of this could be brought to an end, except that those territories are being by a terrorist organisation [Hamas].' Israel has denied that it is causing famine in Gaza and insisted instead there is a 'a man-made shortage engineered by Hamas'. An Israeli security official told Sky News that "despite the false claims that are being spread, the State of Israel does not limit the number of humanitarian aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip". A spokesman for the IDF added: 'The IDF allows the American civilian organisation (GHF) to distribute aid to Gaza residents independently, and operates in proximity to the new distribution zones to enable the distribution alongside the continuation of IDF operational activities in the Gaza Strip. "Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned. The aforementioned incidents are under review by the competent authorities in the IDF." Keir Starmer is set to make the Gaza crisis one of the top priorities with his discussions with Donald Trump on Monday at the US president's Turnberry golf course.
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
France, Germany and UK call on Israel to lift aid restrictions on Gaza
Rubio condemns French decision to recognise Palestinian state Qatar and Egypt say Gaza ceasefire efforts continue France says Palestine recognition 'goes against' Hamas stance Gaza starvation a 'moral failure' by global powers, UN chief says USAID analysis found no evidence of massive Hamas theft of Gaza aid At least 59,587 Palestinians killed and 143,498 wounded since Gaza war began
