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Euronews
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
E3 leaders make renewed call for ceasefire in Gaza amid hunger deaths
The leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, known as the E3, on Saturday issued a new call for an end to the Gaza war, describing the situation in the besieged enclave as appalling. According to a UK government statement, the three leaders, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President of France Emmanuel Macron, and Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, spoke Saturday morning by phone. They emphasised the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid, and for those suffering in Gaza to receive food they so desperately need, the statement said. They discussed their "intention to work closely together on a plan, building on their collaboration to date, which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region," the statement added. Saturday's call follows that of Friday, where the European allies called for an immediate ceasefire, saying that "withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable." What could the E3 nations' action be? The leaders stated that they "stand ready to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political process that leads to lasting security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region," but did not specify what that action may be. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to recognise a Palestinian state, drawing a backlash from the US and Israel. It is unclear what the action will be from the other nations in the E3, but what is known is that the UK has historically been hesitant to recognise a Palestinian state for fear of upsetting its allies, the US and Israel, while Germany, due to its past, mostly finds it inappropriate to strongly criticise Israel. In Friday's joint statement, the leaders urged all parties to bring an end to the conflict and also called for an unconditional release of all hostages who have been held captive by Hamas since 7 October 2023. While their call comes amid a breakdown of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, which hit a standstill after the US and Israel recalled their negotiating teams on Thursday, Starmer, Macron, and Merz stressed that the disarmament of Hamas remains imperative. "Hamas must have no role in the future of Gaza. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt," Friday's joint statement said. Gaza hunger deaths rising This week, the world has woken up to grim images of children suffering malnutrition and dying from starvation in Gaza. The images come after experts have long warned that Gaza is being pushed closer to famine after months of Israel entirely blocking food or letting in only limited amounts. Israel says it has allowed around 4,500 aid trucks into Gaza since lifting its total blockade in May. But the UN World Food Programme (WFP) says nearly one in three people in Gaza has not been eating for days at a time, warning that malnutrition is rising, with around 90,000 children and women now in need of urgent treatment. In the past three weeks, at least 50 people have died of causes related to malnutrition, including 28 adults and 22 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. That's up from 12 children who died in the five previous months of 2025, according to the ministry. UK to airdrop aid in Gaza In its defence, Israel argues that it allows enough aid to enter and blames UN agencies for not doing more to retrieve and deliver it to those in need. As the country faces mounting international outcry and backlash over the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza, media reports claimed that Israel will permit foreign nations to airdrop aid into Gaza beginning Friday. On Saturday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK will be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to air-drop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance. In its statement on the call with Macron and Merz, Starmer said they all agreed it would be "vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace." Once this plan was worked up, they would seek to bring in other key partners, including those in the region, to advance it, the UK statement stated.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
E3 leaders make new renewed call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
The leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, known as the E3, on Saturday issued a new call for an end to the Gaza war, describing the situation in the besieged enclave as appalling. According to a UK government statement, the three leaders, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President of France Emmanuel Macron, and Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, spoke Saturday morning by phone. They emphasised the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid and urgently provide those suffering in Gaza with the food they so desperately need, the statement said. "They discussed their intention to work closely together on a plan, building on their collaboration to date, which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region," the statement added. Saturday's call follows that of Friday, where the European allies called for an immediate ceasefire, saying that "withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable." What could the E3 nations' action be? The leaders stated that they "stand ready to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political process that leads to lasting security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region," but did not specify what that action may be. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to recognise a Palestinian state, drawing a backlash from the US and Israel. In Friday's joint statement, the leaders urged all parties to bring an end to the conflict and also called for an unconditional release of all hostages who have been held captive by Hamas since 7 October 2023. While their call comes amid a breakdown of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, which hit a standstill after the US and Israel recalled their negotiating teams on Thursday, Starmer, Macron, and Merz stressed that the disarmament of Hamas remains imperative. "Hamas must have no role in the future of Gaza. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt," Friday's joint statement said. Gaza Starvation deaths rising This week, the world has woken up to grim images of children suffering malnutrition and dying from starvation in Gaza. Experts have warned that Gaza is being pushed closer to famine after months of Israel entirely blocking food or letting in only limited amounts. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says nearly one in three people in Gaza has not been eating for days at a time, warning that malnutrition is rising, with around 90,000 children and women now in need of urgent treatment. In the past three weeks, at least 50 people died of causes related to malnutrition, including 28 adults and 22 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. That's up from 12 children who died in the five previous months of 2025, according to the ministry. UK to airdrop aid in Gaza On Saturday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to air-drop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance. In its statement on the call with Macron and Merz, the British prime minister said they all agreed it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace. They agreed that once this plan was worked up, they would seek to bring in other key partners, including in the region, to advance it.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
At least 25 people killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, hospitals say
Israeli airstrikes and gunshots killed at least 25 people overnight in northern Gaza as thousands of Palestinians made their way to the Zikim crossing with Israel in search for food, local hospitals said on Saturday. According to staff at the Shifa hospital, most of the victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel. Israel's army did not respond to a request for comments about the latest shootings. Those killed in strikes include four people in an apartment building in Gaza City, among others, hospital staff, and the ambulance service said. The strikes come as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have hit a standstill after the US and Israel recalled their negotiating teams on Thursday, throwing the future of the negotiations into further uncertainty. Palestinians in desperate search for food On Saturday, thousands of Palestinians made their way to the Zikim crossing in the Gaza Strip, risking their lives in search of food. Hospital officials reported that some Palestinians were killed in recent weeks in the area near the crossing, in the north of the Palestinian territory. Some reports claim that when aid is given, criminal gangs and sizable groups of desperate people frequently overrun trucks as they enter and take the supplies. Earlier this week, Israel's military reported that it was aware of some casualties when soldiers opened fire on a group of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who were posing a threat. Displaced mother Smoud Wahdan, cradling her infant son, made the journey to the crossing from a school in Gaza City where they are sheltering. She acknowledged the journey carried a lot of risk, but said that she had to face this danger in order to feed her children. 'I have come all this way, risking my life for my children. My children have not eaten for a week,' she explained. Experts have warned that Gaza is being pushed closer to famine, after months of Israel entirely blocking food or letting in only limited amounts. The number of people dying from causes related to malnutrition has accelerated this month. International outrage grows over starvation deaths According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), nearly one in three people in Gaza has not been eating for days at a time, warning that malnutrition is rising with around 90,000 children and women now in need of urgent treatment. The warning comes just as over 100 human rights and charitable organisations, as well as more than two dozen Western-aligned nations, have called for the Gaza war to be brought to an end. Their severe criticism has been directed at Israel's new aid delivery mechanism and blockade. Israel says it has allowed in around 4,500 aid trucks since lifting a total blockade in May, and that it permits around 70 truckloads a day, one of the lowest rates during the Israel-Hamas war and far less than the several hundred the United Nations says are needed each day. Despite the growing international outrage, Israel maintains it lets in enough aid and faults UN agencies for not doing enough to retrieve and get it to those in need. The UN says its delivery of aid is being hampered by Israeli military restrictions on its movements and incidents of criminal looting. In an update on Friday, the UN's OCHA said that the starvation crisis is deepening across Gaza, with the local health authorities announcing that two more people had died from starvation the previous day.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Heartbreaking images as Gaza families mourn people killed queuing for aid
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Dozens of Palestinians have been killed this week while trying to reach food in Gaza with a major loss of life at the Zikim crossing in the territory when they were opened fire upon A distraught woman is pictured hugging a dead body while other images vividly show the pain and grief on the faces of children after Israeli attacks on people in Gaza seeking aid. Gaza saw its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war as at least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food last Sunday, the territory's Health Ministry said. The largest death toll was in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire. There were 79 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department. And stark images now show relatives with the grief written across their faces after the bodies of people killed in the Zikim area have been brought to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city today. A crying woman lying down had her arms around a body that had been laid out on the floor. She pressed her head against theirs with the victim wrapped up in cloth. Another photo showed a boy in tears while he crushed down amidst rubble and had his hand to his head. A woman sitting next to him had an expression of simple disbelief as she held her hands out. And a woman in a crowd was being held back as she cried and tried to reach forward, while the looks of helplessness and suffering was summed up by a sobbing child holding onto a railing and being held by a woman. The UN World Food Programme said 25 trucks with aid had entered for 'starving communities' when it encountered massive crowds last Sunday in Zikim. A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to comment on the incident to the media, said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds who tried to take food from the convoy and people were seen running as automatic gunfire was heard. 'Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours,' said Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and said he hadn't eaten bread in 15 days. He spoke over the din of people carrying the dead and wounded. 'I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it's better.' Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly' and he saw his cousin and others shot dead. Israel's military said soldiers shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who posed a threat, and it was aware of some casualties. But it said the numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than its initial investigation found. It accused Hamas militants of creating chaos. More than 150 people were wounded, some in critical condition, hospitals said. Meanwhile, Al-Waheidi said Israeli gunfire killed another six Palestinians in the Shakoush area, hundreds of yards north of a hub of the recently created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US- and Israel-backed group, in the southern city of Rafah. The GHF said it was not aware of any incident near its site. Witnesses and health workers say several hundred people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access the group's aid distribution sites. The UN and experts say that Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine, with reports of increasing numbers of people dying from causes related to malnutrition as the conflict in Gaza continues. It began when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages. A further 25 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and gunshots overnight, according to health officials and the ambulance service on Saturday, as ceasefire talks appear to have stalled and Palestinians in Gaza face famine. The majority of victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel, said staff at Shifa hospital, where the bodies were brought. Israel's army didn't respond to request for comments about the latest shootings. Those killed in strikes include four people in an apartment building in Gaza City among others, hospital staff and the ambulance service said. On Thursday Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said at least 59,586 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Tropical storm adds to Philippines' weather toll with 25 dead and 278,000 evacuated this week
MANILA, Philippines — A tropical storm was blowing across the Philippines' mountainous north Friday, worsening more than a week of bad weather that has caused at least 25 deaths and prompted evacuations in villages hit by flooding and landslides. The storm was Typhoon Co-may when it blew Thursday night into the town of Agno in Pangasinan province with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres (74 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 165 km/h (102 mph). It was weakening as it advanced northeastward and had sustained winds of 85 km/h (53 mph) Friday afternoon. Co-may was intensifying seasonal monsoon rains that had swamped a large swath of the country for more than a week. Disaster-response officials have received reports of at least 25 deaths since last weekend, mostly due to flash floods, toppled trees, landslides and electrocution. Eight other people were reported missing, they said. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries directly caused by Co-may, locally called Emong, the fifth weather disturbance to hit the Philippines since the rainy season started in last month. More than a dozen more tropical storms were expected to batter the Southeast Asian country the rest of the year, forecasters said. The government shut down schools in metropolitan Manila for the third day Friday and suspended classes in 35 provinces in the main northern region of Luzon. More than 80 towns and cities, mostly in Luzon, have declared a state of calamity, a designation that speeds emergency funds and freezes the prices of commodities, including rice. The days of stormy weather have forced 278,000 people to leave their homes for safety in emergency shelters or relatives' homes. Nearly 3,000 houses have been damaged, the government's disaster response agency said. Travel by sea and air has been restricted in northern provinces being pounded or in the typhoon's path. Thousands of army forces, police, coast guard personnel. firefighters and civilian volunteers have been deployed to help rescue people in villages swamped in floodwaters or isolated due to roads blocked by landslides, fallen trees and boulders. The United States said it will provide US$250,000 in funding to the UN World Food Programme to help the Philippine government's response. 'We are tracking the devastation caused by the storms and floods and are deeply concerned for all those affected,' U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said. After returning from his White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited emergency shelters Thursday in Rizal province to help distribute food packs to displaced residents. He later convened an emergency meeting with disaster-response officials, where he underscored the need for the government and the people to adapt to and brace for climate change and the larger number of and more unpredictable natural calamities it's setting off. 'Everything has changed,' Marcos said. 'Let's not say, `The storm may come, what will happen?' because the storm will really come.' The United States, Manila's longtime treaty ally, has pledged to provide military aircraft to airlift food and other aid to remote island provinces and the countryside if the calamity worsens, the Philippines military said. The Philippines, which lies between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Seas, is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. It's often hit by earthquakes and has about two dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. Jim Gomez, The Associated Press
