Latest news with #Western nations
CNN
21-07-2025
- Health
- CNN
Western nations slam Israel's ‘drip feeding of aid' to Gaza as health ministry says 1,000 killed seeking supplies
The foreign ministers of 25 Western nations have slammed Israel for 'drip feeding' aid into the Gaza Strip, as the health ministry in the territory said that more than 1,000 people have been killed seeking humanitarian relief there since late May. The Palestinian health ministry did not specify the location of the deaths, but according to the United Nations, most casualties occurred while people were making their way to aid distribution sites operated by the controversial Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which began operating on May 27. Palestinian officials and witnesses have said the Israeli military is responsible for most of those deaths. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has acknowledged firing warning shots toward crowds in some instances, and denied responsibility for other incidents. In late June, the military said it had 'reorganized' the approach routes to aid sites to minimize 'friction with the population,' but the killings have continued. In their Monday statement, the Western foreign ministers said that 'the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths.' 'The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food,' they said. The foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom signed the statement, alongside the European Union's commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. According to the health ministry in Gaza, 99 people were killed and at least 650 were injured while attempting to get aid in the last 24 hours. A total of 1,021 people have been killed and 6,511 wounded seeking supplies since late May, the ministry said, adding that the total death toll since the war began is now at 59,029. Between March 2 and May 21, Israel imposed an 11-week blockade on aid to the Gaza Strip, and UN agencies have since sounded the alarm about growing levels of starvation and malnutrition in the territory. Aid organizations are still mostly restricted from entering the enclave, with Israel claiming that it is doing this to prevent Hamas from stealing supplies. The foreign ministers said it was 'horrifying' that so many 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,' they said. They urged the Israeli government to immediately lift its restrictions on aid into Gaza and allow humanitarian organizations, including the UN, to carry out work there 'safely and effectively.' In a post on X, Israel's foreign ministry said that it 'rejects' the statement published by the 25 nations, calling it 'disconnected from reality' and adding that it 'sends the wrong message to Hamas.' 'The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamas' role and responsibility for the situation. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides,' the Israeli statement said.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Tighter borders and aid cuts could risk greater instability, UN migration chief warns
The head of the United Nations' migration agency warned Thursday that Western nations risk creating greater instability by simultaneously tightening borders and reducing development aid to countries experiencing mass migration. In an interview with The Associated Press, Director General of the International Organization for Migration Amy Pope said that an approach focused solely on border enforcement without addressing causes of migration was 'short-sighted' and could destabilize origin countries further. 'If you want to manage irregular migration, then you need to make investments in stabilizing populations closer to where the migration begins,' Pope said. 'It is short-sighted to cut foreign assistance without identifying alternatives to make sure that populations are not on the move.' Pope became the first woman to lead the IOM in 2023 after serving as a White House advisor on migration and homeland security under the Obama and Biden administrations. She spoke to the AP at an international conference in Rome supporting Ukrainian reconstruction. Her comments come as European countries shift toward stricter migration policies, with more funding for expanded deportation efforts and for transit countries to deter migrants. Lawmakers in Greece on Thursday were expected to adopt a proposal to halt asylum applications for all migrants traveling by sea from Libya, following a spike in arrivals. Pope singled out Syria as a concern, cautioning that premature repatriation could prove counterproductive. 'If Syrians go home too quickly and they're facing further destabilization, further conflict, if their children aren't safe, if their homes are still destroyed and they have nowhere to go, that could actually backfire,' she said. Pope noted that tougher U.S. border policies have already created ripple effects throughout Latin America. 'We're seeing a reversal of the flows. Not only are fewer people coming to the United States and Mexico border, more are actually heading south,' she said, raising concerns about capacity and support for countries along alternative migration routes including Panama, Costa Rica and other Central American nations. The IOM chief was supportive of Italy's approach, which combines strict border measures with expanded legal migration channels. Italy plans to provide nearly 500,000 permits for non-EU workers, starting in 2026 and staggered over three years, working with employers to identify labor needs. 'You can't have enforcement on its own without addressing the pull factors that are encouraging migrants to come,' Pope said, calling Italy's strategy an 'experiment' worth watching. 'We encourage other governments to watch what's happening in this space closely.' ___
