Latest news with #Zaheral-Waheidi
Mint
2 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Israel-Hamas War: 85 Palestinians killed while seeking food, evacuation orders issued in Central Gaza
At least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday, entering the 21st month of the war in the Middle East, according to news agency AP. There was a new alarm as Israel's military issued evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas where it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organisations trying to distribute aid are located, the agency said. The highest death toll was reported in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire. At least 79 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department, told The Associated Press. The UN World Food Program said 25 trucks with aid had entered for 'starving communities' when it encountered massive crowds. A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity with AP, said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds who tried to take food from the convoy. 'Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours,' Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and said he hadn't eaten bread in 15 days, told AP. Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly', and he saw his cousin and others shot dead. AP quoted Israel's military saying 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. The new evacuation orders cut access between the central city of Deir al-Balah and Rafah and Khan Younis in the narrow territory. The military also reiterated evacuation orders for northern Gaza. Palestinians were startled to see the orders for parts of Deir al-Balah, a relative haven. "All of Rafah is under evacuation, and now you have decided that half of Deir al-Balah is under evacuation. Where will we move to?' asked resident Hassan Abu Azab, as others piled everything from bedding to live ducks onto carts and other vehicles. Smoke rose in the distance, with blasts and the sound of a siren. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee called for people to head to Muwasi, a desolate tent camp with little infrastructure on Gaza's southern coast that Israel's military has designated a humanitarian zone. The announcement came as Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israel's military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations. Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory, AO said
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Gaza: 85 Palestinians seeking aid allegedly killed by Israeli forces
At least 85 Palestinians seeking aid were killed in Gaza on Sunday after Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on them, the Associated Press reported. The largest toll was reported from the northern part of the besieged Palestinian enclave, where at least 79 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, Zaher al-Waheidi, an official from Gaza's health ministry told the news agency. The United Nations' World Food Programme said that 25 trucks with aid for 'starving communities' had entered through the crossing when it encountered massive crowds. 'As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire,' it said on X. An unidentified United Nations official also told AP that Israeli forces opened fire towards crowds who tried to take food from the convoy. The World Food Programme said that it was concerned and saddened by the killings. 'These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation,' it added. 'This terrible incident underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza.' The killing also came despite assurances from Israeli authorities that humanitarian operational conditions would improve, including that armed forces will not be present nor engage at any stage along humanitarian convoy routes, the organisation said. On its part, the Israeli military said its soldiers shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who posed a threat and added that it was aware of some casualties, AP reported. However, it claimed that the toll reported by the officials in Gaza was far higher than what its initial investigation found. The military also accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of creating chaos. Apart from northern Gaza, Al-Waheidi also said that Israeli gunfire killed another six Palestinians in the Shakoush area, the news agency reported. This was hundreds of meters north of a hub of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a United States and Israel-backed group, in Rafah, he added. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation claimed that it was not aware of any such incident near its site. Additionally, seven Palestinians, including a five-year-old boy, were killed while sheltering in tents in Khan Younis, AP quoted the Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital as saying. Israel's military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on Gaza since then, leaving more than 57,000 persons dead. Tel Aviv has also enforced a severe blockade on humanitarian aid, which United Nations officials say has brought the population to the verge of famine. On Sunday, the World Food Programme reiterated that Gaza's hunger crisis had reached 'new levels of desperation', adding that residents of the enclave were dying due to a lack of humanitarian assistance. It added that malnutrition was surging, with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment. 'Nearly one person in three is not eating for days,' the organisation said. 'Only a massive scale-up in food aid distributions can stabilise this spiralling situation, calm anxieties and rebuild the trust within communities that more food is coming.' The developments also come amid evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military for parts of central Gaza, AP reported. This is one of the few areas where it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organisations trying to distribute aid are located. Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar. Earlier, efforts to reinstate a brief ceasefire that took effect in January had stalled due to major disagreements between Hamas and Israel.
Leaders
2 days ago
- Health
- Leaders
Gaza Faces Deadliest Day for Aid Seekers as Malnutrition Threatens Children
Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians trying to reach food in Gaza on Sunday, in one of the deadliest days for aid seekers in the war-torn enclave as malnutrition is threatening Palestinian children. Meanwhile, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for areas crowded with displaced people and international aid organizations in central Gaza, raising alarm over a new ground operation amid the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip. Largest Death Toll On Sunday, at least 85 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Most of the victims, were in northern Gaza, as at least 79 people died while trying to get aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, the head of the Health Ministry's records department, Zaher al-Waheidi, told the Associated Press (AP). Moreover, Israeli troops killed 6 Palestinians in the Shakoush area, near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the southern city of Rafah, according to al-Waheidi. However, the US-backed organization said it was not aware of any incident near its site. Another 7 Palestinians were killed in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, including a 5-year-old boy, according to the Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital. Tragic Incident The UN World Food Program (WFP) said a convoy of 25 trucks carrying vital food aid had entered into the area to help starving communities, but the convoy faced large crowds of civilians desperately waiting for needed food supplies. Hospitals said they received more than 150 casualties, some in critical condition. 'As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire,' the WFP said in a statement. It voiced deep concern over this 'tragic incident' that resulted in the loss of many lives. 'These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation. This terrible incident underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza,' the statement added. Israel Blames Hamas The Israeli military put the blame on Hamas, accusing the Palestinian movement's elements of creating chaos. It said Israeli forces opened fire at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians who posed a threat. The Israeli military acknowledged some casualties, but said that numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than the findings of its initial investigation. Malnutrition Risks The WFP warned that the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached 'new levels of desperation' due to lack of humanitarian assistance and the spread of malnutrition among women and children. 'Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment. Nearly one person in three is not eating for days,' it said. As a result, the UN agency called for an immediate ceasefire to scale up food supplies distribution. 'We urgently call on the international community and all parties to advocate for, and facilitate, the delivery of life-saving food aid to starving populations inside Gaza – safely, securely, wherever families are, and without obstruction,' the WFP said. New Evacuation Orders The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas where Israel has rarely operated with ground troops. These areas also host large crowds of displaced people and several international organizations trying to distribute humanitarian assistance. The military also reiterated evacuation orders for northern Gaza. The new evacuation orders direct residents and displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah to move south towards al-Mawasi, saying that the Israeli military 'continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area.' In response, the UN OCHA warned that the new evacuation orders 'dealt yet another devastating blow' to humanitarian efforts in Gaza, as Deir al-Balah hosts between 50,000 and 80,000 people, including some 30,000 people sheltering in 57 displacement sites. 'The newly-designated area includes several humanitarian warehouses, four primary health clinics, four medical points, and critical water infrastructure: the Southern Gaza Desalination Plant, three water wells, one water reservoir, one solid waste dumping site and one wastewater pumping station. Any damage to this infrastructure will have life-threatening consequences,' it said in a statement. Short link : Post Views: 81
Euronews
2 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
At least 85 seeking aid killed in Gaza, officials say
Gaza suffered its deadliest day for aid-seekers in more than 21 months of war on Sunday, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food, local health officials said. The reported deaths come as the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas where it has rarely operated on the ground and where many international aid organisations are based. One aid group said several of its offices had been told to evacuate immediately. The highest death toll was reported in northern Gaza, where the situation is especially desperate. At least 70 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, said Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Gaza Health's Ministry's records department. The UN World Food Programme said 25 trucks with aid had entered for 'starving communities' when it encountered massive crowds. '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. 'I will never go back against. Let us die of hunger, it's better.' Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people 'randomly' and that he saw his cousin and others shot dead. The Israeli 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. It said numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than its initial investigation found and accused Hamas militants of creating chaos.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Pope condemns ‘barbarity' of Gaza war as 85 more people are killed queueing for food
At least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food at locations across Gaza, the Health Ministry said, on the deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in 21 months of war. 'I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,' Pope Leo XIV said during an address at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. 'I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations.' Meanwhile, there was new alarm among Palestinians as Israel's military issued immediate evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organisations trying to distribute aid are located. The largest death toll in yesterday's attacks on aid queues was in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire. At least 79 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, said Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department. The UN World Food Programme said 25 trucks with aid had entered for 'starving communities' when it encountered massive crowds. A UN official said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds who tried to take food from the convoy. Footage taken by the UN showed Palestinian men 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. Mr Al-Waheidi said another six Palestinians were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of metres north of a hub of the recently created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US- and Israel-backed group, in the southern city of Rafah. Witnesses and health workers say several hundred people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access the group's aid-distribution sites. Separately, seven Palestinians were killed while sheltering in tents in Khan Younis in the south, including a five-year-old boy, according to the Kuwait Specialised Field Hospital, which received the casualties. The new evacuation orders cut access between the central city of Deir al-Balah and Rafah and Khan Younis in the narrow territory. The military also reiterated evacuation orders for northern Gaza. Palestinians were startled to see the orders for parts of Deir al-Balah, a relative haven. 'All of Rafah is under evacuation, and now you have decided that half of Deir al-Balah is under evacuation. Where will we move to?' asked resident Hassan Abu Azab, as others piled everything from bedding to live ducks onto carts and other vehicles. Smoke rose in the distance, with blasts and the sound of a siren. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee called for people to head to Muwasi, a desolate tent camp with little infrastructure on Gaza's southern coast that Tel Aviv has designated a humanitarian zone. The announcement came as Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israel's military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations. Earlier this month, Israel's military said it controlled more than 65pc of Gaza. Gaza's population of more than two million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced multiple times. Ambulances in front of three major hospitals in Gaza sounded their alarms simultaneously yesterday in an urgent appeal as hunger grows. The Health Ministry posted pictures on social media of doctors holding signs about malnourished children and the lack of medication.
