Latest news with #SteveCutts
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Gaza airdrops a 'distraction' from Israel's aid blockade, charity boss says
We've been reporting Saturday on the UK's vow to support aid airdrop efforts in Gaza. Israel's decision to let foreign countries drop supplies into the besieged Palestinian territory is also facing mounting criticism – the process has previously been seen as costly and unsafe. These airdrops are expected to take place 'in the coming days' according to an Israeli security official. 'Airdrops are not a solution to starvation in Gaza; they're a distraction,' Steve Cutts, interim CEO of UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians said in a statement Friday. 'Palestinians in Gaza are starving not because of a lack of available food, but because Israel is deliberately blocking it,' Cutts said. 'Dropping aid from the sky cannot meet the colossal needs of 2.3 million people or replace the safe, coordinated aid delivery that only open land crossings can provide.' Juliette Touma, the director of communications for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), says airdropping aid into Gaza is both costly and dangerous. Israel has banned UNRWA from operating in Gaza after accusing it of having staff involved in the October 7 attack. 'In general, in humanitarian settings, airdrops are used as a last resort. They are very, very expensive and can be quite dangerous,' Touma previously told CNN, adding that 'in the context of Gaza, we know that airdrops were not very helpful and in some cases there were fatalities.' The last airdrops into Gaza took place in October 2024 and were condemned at the time for being dangerous and not meeting Gazans' needs. In March 2024, CNN reported at least five people were killed when airdropped aid packages fell on them.
ITV News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
UK joins call for 'immediate' end to war in Gaza, as IDF launches offensive on Deir al-Balah
The UK government and 25 others have called for an "immediate" end to the war in Gaza, as the IDF has launched an assault on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. The joint statement, released by the Foreign Office, condemns the "horrifying" killing of Palestinians seeking aid, and brands Israeli government's aid strategy in Gaza as "dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity." It comes as the IDF ordered the evacuation of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, with charities in the city reporting Israeli military vehicles on the ground. The statement was signed by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy and foreign ministers of other 24 nations including Canada, Australia and France, and the EU Commissioner for Equality. They condemn the "drip feeding of aid" and the "inhumane" killing of civilians, including children, while searching for water and food. It continues: "It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. "The Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. "The hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since 7 October 2023 continue to suffer terribly. We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release. A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families. "We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life-saving work safely and effectively." Meanwhile, the IDF has ordered Palestinians to evacuate Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and move south towards Al-Mawasi. Deir al-Balah had previously been considered one of the less hard-hit parts of the territory, and had been a key hub for humanitarian efforts. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), a spokesman for the IDF said the army continued to operate with "great force" and was expanding its operations into "an area it has not operated in before." A spokesperson for charity Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP) has described the situation in Deir al-Balah as "extremely critical." They added: "Shelling is taking place all around our office, and military vehicles are just 400 metres away from our colleagues and their families, who endured a harrowing night after relocating there. "Everyone is now evacuating, with most unsure where to go next. One colleague shared that the area is filled with shelling and quadcopter strikes, and there's growing fear about both staying and attempting to leave.' Smoke was seen rising over the Gaza Strip on Monday as Israel widened evacuation orders. On Sunday, Medical Aid for Palestinians confirmed the IDF's evacuation order area included humanitarian and primary healthcare sites it operated. It said the forced displacement orders do not allow for the transport medial equipment or supplies. Steve Cutts, MAP's Interim CEO, said: 'This latest forced displacement order is yet another attack on humanitarian operations and a deliberate attempt to sever the last remaining threads of Gaza's health and aid system. 'MAP now has to suspend critical services we have been providing to the Palestinian population, including a primary health clinic that serves hundreds of civilians every day. "With Israel's systematic targeting of health and aid workers, no one is safe. Not only are we prevented from carrying out our lifesaving work to support Palestinians, we are also unable to protect our own teams." As talks for a ceasefire continue, the death toll in Gaza has reached more than 59,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Sky News
21-07-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Israel launches ground assault on central Gazan city, says charity
Medical aid has been suspended to a city in central Gaza due to an Israeli ground assault there, a charity has said. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) said in a statement the Israeli military had launched a ground invasion of the city of Deir al-Balah this morning. It said that thousands of displaced people are living in this area, including MAP staff, and the latest orders by Israel "directly endanger vital humanitarian and primary healthcare sites". It said the "forced displacement orders do not allow for the transport of lifesaving medical equipment or supplies" and this was "further obstructing efforts to provide emergency assistance". Steve Cutts, MAP's interim CEO, said: "This latest forced displacement order is yet another attack on humanitarian operations and a deliberate attempt to sever the last remaining threads of Gaza's health and aid system. "MAP now has to suspend critical services we have been providing to the Palestinian population, including a primary health clinic that serves hundreds of civilians every day. With Israel's systematic targeting of health and aid workers, no one is safe. "Not only are we prevented from carrying out our lifesaving work to support Palestinians, we are also unable to protect our own teams." Please refresh the page for the latest version.
