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Japan Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
U.N. chief slams U.S.-backed Gaza aid operation: 'It is killing people'
FILE PHOTO: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo By Michelle Nichols United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that a U.S.-backed aid operation in Gaza is 'inherently unsafe,' giving a blunt assessment: 'It is killing people.' Israel and the United States want the U.N. to work through the controversial new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the U.N. has refused, questioning its neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement. "Any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarized zones is inherently unsafe. It is killing people, Guterres told reporters. Guterres said U.N.-led humanitarian efforts are being 'strangled,' aid workers themselves are starving and Israel – as the occupying power - is required to agree to and facilitate aid deliveries into and throughout the Palestinian enclave. "People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence,' Guterres told reporters. "It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza." Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited U.N. deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid from both the U.N. and GHF operations. A senior U.N. official said on Sunday that the majority of those people were trying to reach GHF sites. Responding to Guterres on Friday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said Israel's military never targets civilians and accused the U.N. of 'doing everything it can' to oppose the GHF aid operation. 'In doing so, the UN is aligning itself with Hamas, which is also trying to sabotage the GHF's humanitarian operations,' it posted on X. A GHF spokesperson said there have been no deaths at or near any of the GHF aid distribution sites. 'It is unfortunate the U.N. continue to push false information regarding our operations,' the GHF spokesperson said. 'Bottom line, our aid is getting securely delivered. Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome the UN and other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza.' GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics firms to operate. It began operations in Gaza on May 26 and said on Friday so far it has given out more than 48 million meals. The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it had approved $30 million in funding for the GHF and called on other countries to also support the group. Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the U.N.-led operations, which the militants deny. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
UN chief slams US-backed Gaza aid operation: 'It is killing people'
FILE PHOTO: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that a U.S.-backed aid operation in Gaza is 'inherently unsafe,' giving a blunt assessment: 'It is killing people.' Israel and the United States want the U.N. to work through the controversial new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the U.N. has refused, questioning its neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement. "Any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarized zones is inherently unsafe. It is killing people, Guterres told reporters. Guterres said U.N.-led humanitarian efforts are being 'strangled,' aid workers themselves are starving and Israel – as the occupying power - is required to agree to and facilitate aid deliveries into and throughout the Palestinian enclave. "People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence,' Guterres told reporters. "It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza." Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited U.N. deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid from both the U.N. and GHF operations. A senior U.N. official said on Sunday that the majority of those people were trying to reach GHF sites. Responding to Guterres on Friday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said Israel's military never targets civilians and accused the U.N. of 'doing everything it can' to oppose the GHF aid operation. 'In doing so, the UN is aligning itself with Hamas, which is also trying to sabotage the GHF's humanitarian operations,' it posted on X. A GHF spokesperson said there have been no deaths at or near any of the GHF aid distribution sites. 'It is unfortunate the U.N. continue to push false information regarding our operations,' the GHF spokesperson said. 'Bottom line, our aid is getting securely delivered. Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome the UN and other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza.' GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics firms to operate. It began operations in Gaza on May 26 and said on Friday so far it has given out more than 48 million meals. The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it had approved $30 million in funding for the GHF and called on other countries to also support the group. Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the U.N.-led operations, which the militants deny. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
UN chief calls US-backed Gaza aid operation unsafe, is killing people
FILE PHOTO: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that a U.S.-backed aid operation in Gaza is 'inherently unsafe,' giving a blunt assessment: 'It is killing people.' Israel and the United States want the U.N. to work through the controversial new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the U.N. has refused, questioning its neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement. Guterres said U.N.-led humanitarian efforts are being 'strangled,' aid workers themselves are starving and Israel – as the occupying power - is required to agree to and facilitate aid deliveries into and throughout the Palestinian enclave. "People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence,' Guterres told reporters. "It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza." Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited U.N. deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid from both the U.N. and GHF operations. A senior U.N. official said on Sunday that the majority of those people were trying to reach GHF sites. A GHF spokesperson said there have been no deaths at or near any of the GHF aid distribution sites. 'It is unfortunate the U.N. continue to push false information regarding our operations,' the GHF spokesperson said. 'Bottom line, our aid is getting securely delivered. Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome the UN and other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza.' GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics firms to operate. It began operations in Gaza on May 26 and said on Friday so far it has given out more than 48 million meals. The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it had approved $30 million in funding for the GHF and called on other countries to also support the group. Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the U.N.-led operations, which the militants deny. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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First Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
'It is killing people': UN chief slams US-backed Gaza aid operation as unsafe
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday slammed the US-backed aid initiative in Gaza, describing it as 'inherently unsafe' and bluntly stating, 'It is killing people' read more UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, on June 10, 2025. Reuters File United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday slammed the US-backed aid initiative in Gaza, describing it as 'inherently unsafe' and bluntly stating, 'It is killing people.' The United States and Israel have pushed for the United Nations to cooperate with the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a controversial aid mechanism. However, the UN has declined to participate, raising concerns about the foundation's neutrality and accusing it of militarising humanitarian assistance and contributing to the forced displacement of civilians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Guterres said that UN-led humanitarian operations are being 'strangled,' with aid workers themselves facing starvation. He emphasised that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally obligated to allow and facilitate the delivery of aid throughout Gaza. 'People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence,' Reuters quoted Guterres as telling reporters. 'It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza,' he added. Since Israel eased its 11-week blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited UN aid deliveries to resume, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access assistance from both UN and Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) operations, according to the United Nations. A senior UN official said on Sunday that the majority of those fatalities occurred near GHF distribution sites. GHF has not yet responded to a request for comment on Secretary-General António Guterres' remarks made on Friday, reported Reuters. Earlier this week it said: 'Bottom-line, our aid is getting securely delivered. Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome the UN and other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza.' GHF, which began operations in Gaza on May 26, relies on private US security and logistics firms to carry out its mission. As of Friday, GHF reported distributing over 48 million meals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Thursday, the US State Department announced it had approved $30 million in funding for GHF and urged other nations to contribute to the initiative. Both Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of diverting aid from UN-led efforts—an allegation the militant group has denied. With inputs from agencies
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
UN chief says US-backed Gaza aid operation is unsafe, killing people
FILE PHOTO: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a press briefing during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference centre in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Manon Cruz/File Photo UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that a U.S.-backed aid operation in Gaza is 'inherently unsafe,' giving a blunt assessment: 'It is killing people.' Israel and the United States want the U.N. to work through the controversial new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the U.N. has refused, questioning its neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement. Guterres said U.N.-led humanitarian efforts are being 'strangled,' aid workers themselves are starving and Israel – as the occupying power - is required to agree to and facilitate aid deliveries into and throughout the Palestinian enclave. "People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence,' Guterres told reporters. "It is time to find the political courage for a ceasefire in Gaza." Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited U.N. deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid from both the U.N. and GHF operations. A senior U.N. official said on Sunday that the majority of those people were trying to reach GHF sites. GHF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Guterres' remarks on Friday. Earlier this week it said: "Bottom-line, our aid is getting securely delivered. Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome the U.N. and other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza." GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics firms to operate. It began operations in Gaza on May 26 and said on Friday so far it has given out more than 48 million meals. The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it had approved $30 million in funding for the GHF and called on other countries to also support the group. Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the U.N.-led operations, which the militants deny. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
