Latest from Days of Palestine
Days of Palestine
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Haaretz: Israeli Army Commanders Gave Direct Orders to Shoot Palestinians Near Aid Centers in Gaza
DaysofPal- In a shocking report that has sparked widespread controversy, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that senior commanders in the Israeli army issued direct orders to their soldiers to open fire on Palestinian civilians approaching humanitarian aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip, effectively turning relief points into sites of mass killings. According to testimonies from soldiers currently serving in Gaza, the orders were explicit: fire on anyone approaching aid areas, regardless of whether they posed a threat or were unarmed. The soldiers stressed that this was implemented as a field policy, not as isolated or exceptional behavior. Haaretz reported that Israeli forces used medium and heavy weaponry, including machine guns, armored vehicles, and drones, in operations where the gunfire resembled a military response to an armed attack, even though the targets were starving civilians. One soldier was quoted saying, 'We were shooting at hungry people as if we were repelling an armed assault, while they were merely trying to get food.' The report added that many of the shootings were conducted at very close range, targeting unarmed individuals, including women and the elderly. According to the newspaper, aid distribution sites have become 'death traps,' as over 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza struggle under catastrophic humanitarian conditions, where the pursuit of food may cost one's life. This revelation comes amid mounting international pressure on the Israeli occupation over its ongoing violations in Gaza, particularly the alleged use of starvation as a weapon of war—a practice the United Nations has described as possibly rising to the level of crimes against humanity. While the Israeli occupation has previously justified some incidents as 'warning shots at suspected threats,' the Haaretz report undermines that narrative and points instead to a systematic policy of violent deterrence rather than civilian protection. The report is expected to provoke strong reactions from human rights organizations and international courts, which have renewed calls for transparent and independent investigations to hold accountable those responsible for these violations, and to prevent the militarization of humanitarian aid and its transformation into a tool of repression and mass killing. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
EU Condemns Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza, Urges Immediate Entry of Aid
DaysofPal-At the conclusion of their summit held in Brussels, European Union leaders issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The statement warned of an imminent famine threatening millions of civilians and called for an immediate and full lifting of the Israeli blockade. The EU declared its 'deep concern over the severe deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Gaza,' highlighting the growing risk of famine and the mounting civilian death toll, including women and children. The European leaders urged an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as a first step to halt the bloodshed. They emphasized that ongoing military operations were exacerbating civilian suffering and posed a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The statement warned that Gaza was 'on the brink of famine,' noting that more than 2.2 million Palestinians are living under conditions of 'acute food insecurity' due to severe restrictions on the entry of essential goods and humanitarian aid. 'Each day of delay in delivering food, water, and medicine deepens the crisis and threatens a total collapse of humanitarian infrastructure in the Strip,' the leaders said. The EU called on the Israeli occupation to lift the blockade immediately and completely, allowing humanitarian aid through all land and sea crossings, and granting UN agencies and humanitarian organizations free and safe access to carry out their work. The statement also noted that alternative attempts by some countries to deliver aid—such as maritime routes or airdrops—have been inadequate and, in some cases, resulted in civilian casualties due to technical failures and poor coordination. In a rare diplomatic move, EU leaders revealed they had discussed the possibility of suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing Article 2, which requires both parties to respect human rights as a core condition of the agreement. The European Council announced it would conduct a formal review in July 2025 to assess Israel's compliance with these principles, potentially paving the way for economic or diplomatic measures. The EU also condemned the targeting of civilians, hospitals, schools, and UN facilities in Gaza, stating that the use of excessive force in civilian areas constitutes a clear violation of international law. The statement stressed that using food as a tool of political pressure against a besieged civilian population is a war crime, and called for independent international investigations to hold perpetrators accountable. This statement comes amid growing global criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza, with increasing accusations of using starvation as a weapon of war and a means of forced displacement—acts described in UN reports as amounting to genocide. The EU's bold stance is expected to draw sharp reactions from the Israeli occupation, especially as the bloc considers taking tangible economic and diplomatic actions in the coming weeks. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- General
- Days of Palestine
WFP: Gaza food deliveries insufficient for one day's needs
DaysofPal – The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has sounded a dire warning about the escalating food crisis in the Gaza Strip, revealing that it has only been able to deliver 9,000 metric tons of food aid to the besieged territory since May 19, an amount it says is less than a single day's worth of food for the entire population. In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, the WFP wrote that the amount delivered so far 'represents less than one day's worth of food needs for every individual in the besieged territory.' The agency reiterated that it is ready to expand its operations but stressed that this can only happen with 'guarantees for safe access and improved field conditions.' The agency has previously warned that the probability of famine in Gaza is rapidly increasing, driven by the ongoing Israeli military offensive, which continues to obstruct humanitarian operations. A recent WFP report noted that 'high food prices, the collapse of livelihoods, and the trade blockade will accelerate economic collapse' in the Strip. 'The situation can only be stabilized through a significant expansion of food distribution, to calm fears and rebuild confidence within communities that more food is coming,' the WFP said. It called for immediate steps to ease the flow of aid: 'There is now an urgent need to find safer routes for convoys, speed up approvals for permits, provide reliable communications services, and open more border crossings.' The consequences of Gaza's humanitarian collapse are staggering. The WFP projects that by September 2025, all 2.1 million people in Gaza will face food insecurity classified as crisis level or worse (IPC Phase 3 and above), with nearly half a million expected to reach catastrophic levels (IPC Phase 5), the highest level of food insecurity classification. The desperation is also turning deadly. 'The fear of starvation and the desperate need for food are driving large crowds to gather along known transport routes, hoping to intercept humanitarian supplies as they pass through,' the agency noted. Recent weeks have seen multiple Israeli massacres of Palestinians waiting for food. The Gaza Government Media Office reported on Wednesday that the number of Palestinians killed at aid distribution sites has risen to 549, with more than 4,000 others wounded in just one month. Medical sources counted 78 Palestinians killed in Israeli raids across the Strip since dawn on Wednesday alone, including 14 people who were reportedly waiting for aid. Press sources suggested the true toll may be closer to 100. Many of these attacks occurred near distribution points set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has overseen food aid since May under a U.S.-Israeli arrangement. Witnesses and human rights groups have increasingly reported Israeli forces firing on hungry civilians approaching these aid locations. With needs soaring and access shrinking, humanitarian agencies continue to plead for meaningful access and protection. But without urgent change, the Strip risks plunging further into an unprecedented man-made famine. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Think Tank: Israel Using Starvation as Weapon of War in Gaza, Cover for Forced Displacement
DaysofPal- A leading U.S.-based think tank has accused Israel of systematically using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, describing it as both a tool of collective punishment and a strategy to forcibly displace the population. In a detailed report released this week, the Arab Center Washington DC (ACW) asserted that Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, has transformed hunger into a calculated military tactic aimed at subjugating civilians and redrawing Gaza's demographic map. 'Starvation is no longer just a byproduct of conflict. It is now a deliberate weapon of war,' the center concluded. Engineered Famine: Children Are Dying The report underscores the devastating human toll of the blockade on food, fuel, and humanitarian aid, now in its ninth month. According to the UN, Gaza has not received a single day's worth of adequate aid since the war began. Dozens of children have already died from hunger and malnutrition, the think tank notes, with thousands more at risk due to the collapse of Gaza's health and supply systems. 'Entire families are being deprived of life's most necessities,' the report states. A previous UN commission described Israel's actions as amounting to genocide, specifically citing the use of starvation as a weapon. This accusation is reflected in the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Failed Aid Alternatives and Militarized Relief With land routes blocked, the U.S. and allies have pursued alternative delivery mechanisms. But these efforts have largely failed. A floating pier built off Gaza's coast—touted by the Pentagon—managed to deliver food for just one day. Meanwhile, humanitarian airdrops have reportedly caused civilian deaths due to erratic landings and malfunctioning parachutes. To circumvent criticism of the UN, Israel and the U.S. jointly launched the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—a new relief agency operated not by humanitarian organizations, but by private military contractors. In its first few weeks, over 300 Palestinians were reportedly killed while trying to access GHF distribution points, many of which became targets of Israeli gunfire or airstrikes. Aid Points as 'Death Traps' Eyewitnesses describe the GHF aid locations as 'traps of death.' Survivors recount chaos, sniper fire, and stampedes during distribution events, especially in southern Gaza. 'People don't just risk their lives—they often lose them,' said one resident who narrowly escaped an attack near Rafah. Despite these dangers, GHF operates without oversight, and with only four distribution points across Gaza's south. This forces displaced civilians to cross exposed, militarized areas just to access basic food supplies. Starvation as a Tool of Forced Displacement Analysts cited in the ACW report argue that the current aid policy is being used to encourage forced displacement. By concentrating aid in specific zones and depriving others, Israel is effectively coercing civilians to relocate—or starve. UNICEF has echoed this concern, warning that Palestinians face a grim choice: 'displacement or death.' Statements from Israeli officials further support this conclusion. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly advocated for the complete destruction of Gaza, arguing that it would motivate residents to 'voluntarily migrate' elsewhere. Growing Outcry, Minimal Accountability While global concern continues to rise, meaningful international action remains absent. Activists—including the Freedom Flotilla and climate figure Greta Thunberg—have been blocked or detained while attempting to deliver aid. Meanwhile, GHF continues to publish press releases promoting its work—despite its own data showing it has delivered only two days' worth of food for the entire population. ACW: 'This Is Not a Crisis—It's a Crime' The Arab Center concludes: this is not a humanitarian emergency. It is a deliberate crime against humanity, facilitated by both direct action and international complicity. 'History will not only remember the massacre,' the report warns, 'but also those who enabled it through silence or support.' Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- Days of Palestine
GHF: Aid Under Bombing, Funding Suspicions, and Deadly Ambushes
By: Rami Mohammad While the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation' (GHF) regularly announces the quantities of aid it distributes in southern and central Gaza, growing anger is rising among the families of victims and the injured, who accuse the organization of complicity in mass killings during distribution operations. This comes amid a total disregard for documenting the number of deaths and injuries caused by repeated bombings near aid centers. According to eyewitnesses and local sources, over 500 civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured—some permanently disabled—while attempting to reach food distribution points. Despite this heavy toll, the foundation continues its operations amid accusations of chaos, lack of transparency, and neglect for civilian safety. Affected citizens, along with national and Islamic factions and Palestinian and international human rights institutions, are calling for an immediate investigation into the foundation's work and for a halt to what they describe as its 'deadly' activities. They point out that most victims are youth under 30, raising concerns about a targeted attack on Gaza's younger population. Abu Shaker Imran, the father of one of the injured, told Palestine Online: 'My son went looking for aid and came back with an injured leg. He told me he narrowly escaped death and swore never to return there, even if he starves.' Imran added that the foundation deliberately conducts its aid distributions at night, under the cover of darkness, to keep the media and cameras away and prevent documentation of the bombings and gunfire targeting crowds trying to receive aid. He stressed that this policy reflects a clear failure in humanitarian operations, where distributions are conducted without a clear database or proper targeting of beneficiaries and geographic areas. Similarly, citizen Samih Azzara noted that chaos has become the dominant feature of the scene, adding: 'Greed is also worsening the crisis. Some people go just to collect aid and resell it at high prices for personal gain, while those truly in need remain deprived.' In another incident highlighting the dangerous situation, young man Wasim Abu Abdu described a violent assault he faced while returning from an aid point: 'As I was carrying a bag with some aid items, I was confronted by a masked group. They tore the bag apart, and when I resisted, one of them slashed my hand with a knife. The pain forced me to drop everything and run.' These testimonies come as warnings grow about how the foundation's operations are creating a chaotic and dangerous environment, with no effective oversight from humanitarian or official bodies. Aid points are turning into zones of exploitation and lawlessness. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was established in early 2025, with U.S.-Israeli funding, operating outside the UN framework. According to international reports and investigative journalism, the foundation receives an estimated $500 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in addition to undisclosed financial support from Western countries and direct funding from Israel's Ministry of Defense and companies linked to the Mossad intelligence agency. This complex funding web has raised serious questions about the foundation's neutrality and integrity, especially after the resignation of its founding executive director, Jake Wood, one day before operations began. Wood cited a 'lack of humanitarian principles and distribution neutrality' as his reason for stepping down. Additionally, Boston Consulting Group withdrew from the project due to 'non-transparent political interference and excessive costs with no accountability.' In its first official response, the United Nations expressed 'deep concern' about the politicization of aid, warning that 'turning food into a political weapon threatens humanitarian security in Gaza' and violates international law. Palestinian and international human rights organizations have increasingly called for holding the foundation accountable and for halting what activists describe as 'open ambushes'—turned into mass-death traps under the guise of humanitarian assistance.
