Latest news with #Israeli-US
Days of Palestine
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Gaza: Israel turns aid centers into death zones, hundreds killed
DaysofPal – The Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza announced on Sunday that at least 450 Palestinians have been killed in 'Israeli-US death traps,' a term referring to aid distribution points repeatedly targeted by Israeli occupation forces (IOF). Thousands more have been wounded or are still missing, as civilians seeking food and relief continue to come under fire. In a press statement, the GMO reported a total of 450 dead, 3,466 wounded, and 39 missing since Israeli forces began targeting areas designated for humanitarian aid distribution. The strikes, it said, amount to 'deliberate targeting of aid seekers' and reflect a broader campaign aimed at deepening civilian suffering. On Monday, Israeli bombardment of residential neighborhoods and aid collection areas across the Gaza Strip continued, leading to additional casualties. Hospitals across Gaza reported mounting deaths throughout the day. The Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza confirmed that at least 10 people were killed and over 15 others wounded in the vicinity of aid centers north of Rafah. In Gaza City, residents buried the bodies of several people who had been directly targeted while waiting for humanitarian trucks to arrive in the northern part of the Strip. Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza reported that one person was killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Deir al-Balah. Meanwhile, at Al-Auda Hospital, medical staff confirmed that two people were killed and several wounded after Israeli forces opened fire near the Netzarim junction, another key location for aid distribution. According to local sources, Israeli tanks also shelled areas near aid points in both central and southern Gaza, killing and wounding several more Palestinians. 'These attacks are part of the genocide campaign that has been ongoing since October 7, 2023,' the GMO stated, accusing the Israeli military of enforcing starvation, carrying out mass killings, destroying infrastructure, and forcibly displacing hundreds of thousands, all in open violation of international law and International Court of Justice rulings. The GMO also highlighted the role of U.S. support, calling the Israeli assault a 'joint Israeli-American project of destruction' that continues unabated despite global calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access. Since the beginning of the war, over 187,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded, with more than 11,000 still missing under the rubble or in unknown conditions. The siege has also triggered a man-made famine, claiming the lives of numerous civilians, including children. The frequent targeting of aid distribution points seems deliberate, according to rights groups and observers, with the goal of destroying the civilian population and denying them access to basic necessities. They say it amounts to a war crime. Shortlink for this post:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Dozens killed by Israeli fire as they sought desperately needed aid in Gaza, Palestinian health ministry says
At least 51 people were killed and more than 200 others injured by Israeli fire as they waited for aid trucks to arrive in Khan Younis in southern Gaza early Tuesday morning, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. The incident marks the highest reported number of people killed while seeking aid over the past few weeks in the enclave. In total, nearly 400 Palestinians have been killed near aid centers since Israel lifted an 11-week total blockade on Gaza and allowed a trickle of aid to enter, according to the health ministry. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a Tuesday statement that 'a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area.' The IDF said it was 'aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd's approach,' that 'details of the incident are under review,' and that it 'regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimize harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops.' One eyewitness, Mohammed Abu Abed, said that a group of people was hit by an airstrike. He told CNN: 'We were waiting for flour trucks. Suddenly, we were among the people and were hit by two missiles that tore apart people's bodies, remains, pieces of flesh everywhere. I don't know what to say; they killed the people, unarmed people who had nothing on them.' 'They went to bring bread for their children, just bread or flour. They killed us in cold blood,' Abu Abed said. The IDF told CNN it was 'unaware' of an airstrike in that area on Tuesday. Video from the scene in Khan Younis on Tuesday shows dozens of bodies lying on the ground, covered in blood. The latest scenes of death, violence and desperation underline a grim existence for over 2.1 million people living in Gaza – which the United Nations has warned is edging closer to famine. Humanitarian organizations say that aid currently entering the enclave is only a tiny fraction of what is needed, with the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – the main supplier of aid in Gaza – coming under global scrutiny since it opened its distribution points late last month. Palestinians en route to GHF distribution sites have repeatedly been fired upon since its inception, according to the health ministry, with some 3,000 people injured in addition to the fatalities. On Tuesday, eight people were also killed after coming under Israeli fire near an aid distribution site west of Rafah, the ministry said. The GHF, an Israeli-US backed private contractor, has been criticized by multiple international aid agencies for setting up its distribution centers amid active combat zones. The organization has repeatedly said there has been no violence at their sites. But the GHF acknowledged earlier this month that there have been Palestinian casualties in the surrounding areas, which the organization described as 'well beyond our secure distribution site.' A spokesman referred further questions to the Israeli military. The IDF has not yet responded to CNN's comment on Tuesday's incident in Rafah. On Tuesday, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on X: 'Israel has weaponized food and blocked lifesaving aid. I urge immediate, impartial investigations into deadly attacks on desperate civilians trying to reach food distribution centres.' One of those killed in Khan Younis on Tuesday was a 20-year-old man, who had traveled there in hope of returning with food for his family. Speaking through tears, his mother said: 'He didn't go for a picnic. He went to bring food for his siblings and father.' Nearby, at Nasser Medical Complex, hospital staff said that the entire ward was crowded with casualties. Video from the hospital showed dozens of people arriving with wounds, with others inside the hospital waiting for treatment as they laid on the floor. One intensive care doctor told Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), an aid organization based in the United Kingdom, that the hospital had received on Tuesday 'a large number of injured and killed from the Israeli army's targeting of aid distribution points in Khan Younis.' 'The situation here is catastrophic beyond imagination,' the doctor said, adding that the morgue was completely full and that additional bodies had been placed outside the building. 'We are trying our best, but the numbers are overwhelming,' he said. CNN's Oren Liebermann contributing reporting.
CNN
6 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Dozens killed by Israeli fire as they sought desperately needed aid in Gaza, Palestinian health ministry says
At least 51 people were killed and more than 200 others injured by Israeli fire as they waited for aid trucks to arrive in Khan Younis in southern Gaza early Tuesday morning, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. The incident marks the highest reported number of people killed while seeking aid over the past few weeks in the enclave. In total, nearly 400 Palestinians have been killed near aid centers since Israel lifted an 11-week total blockade on Gaza and allowed a trickle of aid to enter, according to the health ministry. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a Tuesday statement that 'a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area.' The IDF said it was 'aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd's approach,' that 'details of the incident are under review,' and that it 'regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimize harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops.' One eyewitness, Mohammed Abu Abed, said that a group of people was hit by an airstrike. He told CNN: 'We were waiting for flour trucks. Suddenly, we were among the people and were hit by two missiles that tore apart people's bodies, remains, pieces of flesh everywhere. I don't know what to say; they killed the people, unarmed people who had nothing on them.' 'They went to bring bread for their children, just bread or flour. They killed us in cold blood,' Abu Abed said. Video from the scene in Khan Younis on Tuesday shows dozens of bodies lying on the ground, covered in blood. The latest scenes of death, violence and desperation underline a grim existence for over 2.1 million people living in Gaza – which the United Nations has warned is edging closer to famine. Humanitarian organizations say that aid currently entering the enclave is only a tiny fraction of what is needed, with the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – the main supplier of aid in Gaza – coming under global scrutiny since it opened its distribution points late last month. Palestinians en route to GHF distribution sites have repeatedly been fired upon since its inception, according to the health ministry, with some 3,000 people injured in addition to the fatalities. On Tuesday, eight people were also killed after coming under Israeli fire near an aid distribution site west of Rafah, the ministry said. CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment. The GHF, an Israeli-US backed private contractor, has been criticized by multiple international aid agencies for setting up its distribution centers amid active combat zones. The organization has repeatedly said there has been no violence at their sites. But the GHF acknowledged earlier this month that there have been Palestinian casualties in the surrounding areas, which the organization described as 'well beyond our secure distribution site.' A spokesman referred further questions to the Israeli military. On Tuesday, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on X: 'Israel has weaponized food and blocked lifesaving aid. I urge immediate, impartial investigations into deadly attacks on desperate civilians trying to reach food distribution centres.' One of those killed in Khan Younis on Tuesday was a 20-year-old man, who had traveled there in hope of returning with food for his family. Speaking through tears, his mother said: 'He didn't go for a picnic. He went to bring food for his siblings and father.' Nearby, at Nasser Medical Complex, hospital staff said that the entire ward was crowded with casualties. Video from the hospital showed dozens of people arriving with wounds, with others inside the hospital waiting for treatment as they laid on the floor. One intensive care doctor told Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), an aid organization based in the United Kingdom, that the hospital had received on Tuesday 'a large number of injured and killed from the Israeli army's targeting of aid distribution points in Khan Younis.' 'The situation here is catastrophic beyond imagination,' the doctor said, adding that the morgue was completely full and that additional bodies had been placed outside the building. 'We are trying our best, but the numbers are overwhelming,' he said. CNN's Oren Liebermann contributing reporting.
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Irish politician released by Egyptian authorities
He was one of a number of Irish people who were expected to take part in the march. Paul has been detained again, with other participants in the Global March to Gaza. On advice of the Irish Embassy, he went to a Cairo police station to retrieve his phone. His passport was taken again & he was prevented from leaving the station. — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated before he and others were put on a bus to Cairo airport, where they believed they would be deported. All Irish people who were detained were then released but some did not have their phones returned. On Monday, Mr Murphy went to a police station in Cairo to retrieve his phone. People Before Profit said this was done on the advice of the Irish embassy. He then sent messages from the station that he was concerned that his passport had been taken again and was told he could not leave. He then attempted to leave, but the party said he and others were prevented from doing so. From Paul: 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo. On the advice of the Irish embassy I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took." — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo,' the party quotes Mr Murphy as saying. 'On the advice of the Irish embassy, I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took. 'They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. 'I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand that other march participants have also been detained.' (cntd) "They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand other march participants have also been detained' — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 Mr Murphy's partner and Dublin councillor Jess Spear asked the Irish Government to intervene. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance. People Before Profit said after 8pm Irish time that Mr Murphy had been released with his passport, and is to 'fly out' on Tuesday morning. The Global March to Gaza is a civilian movement that aims to march from Egypt to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and increase pressure so that vital supplies to the besieged region are unblocked. A blockade on Gaza was imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas earlier this year. This has deepened fears of famine, while a new Israeli-US aid system has been marred by violence. It comes as Israel's 20-month military campaign in Gaza continues, during which an estimated 55,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages on October 7 2023.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: How Iran Strikes Put Trump's Impotence on Full Embarrassing Display
While Iranians are sifting through the rubble caused by over 100 Israeli strikes on strategic targets across their country, questions about the Trump administration's role in the strikes are swirling in the air in capitals worldwide. The narratives being peddled by the Israeli and U.S. governments are not making matters clearer. It does not help matters that both are notorious for their lies. The Israelis quickly sought to make it appear that they coordinated the attack closely with Team Trump. They argued that Trump's public statements of opposition to such attacks was all a ruse designed to mask the joint Israeli-US intent to strike a blow to Iran's nuclear and missile launch capabilities. Trump meanwhile issued a statement which began, 'I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal.' It then went on to say that he warned Iranians that if they didn't that they would have content to contend with the fact that the U.S. 'makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of they know how to use it.' He then said, 'Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!' This led into another plea from the U.S. president for Iran to make a deal to 'save what was once known as the Iranian Empire (sic).' For emphasis, in his signature ALL CAPS style, he wrote, 'JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.' While the Trump statement was written to suggest the strikes were all part of a US-Israeli plan, a statement put out by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately after the attacks asserted, 'Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran.' The statement went on to assert that because of our lack of involvement, 'Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.' While inconsistent with Trump's remarks, Rubio's statement does fit more easily with the seeming reality of the chill between the U.S. and Israel that made headlines when Benjamin Netanyahu was snubbed by Trump during the U.S. president's recent trip to the Middle East. Other reports suggested the U.S. shared intelligence with the Israelis to help them prepare for the strikes. As seasoned Middle East analyst Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations told me, in the hours after the attack there was 'a lot of BS flying.' Call it the fog of war. Or call it the fog of having to deal with leaders like Trump and Netanyahu. Two things concerning Washington's role in the attacks are, however, clear. One is that that despite the U.S. efforts to perform their now familiar clean-up on Aisle Trump duties, none of the possible scenarios for what actually happened with regard to the Israeli attacks reflect well on the U.S. president and his team. The other, related to the first, is that this latest development only extends the Trump Administration's foreign policy losing streak and, combined with his fumbling efforts to look like he's on top of this when he is clearly not, make him appear increasingly impotent. Consider the scenarios that might be true. If Trump is a master of the universe and he was playing 4-D chess negotiating with Iran while plotting Israel's sneak attack and his goal was to use the threat of the attacks to push Iran toward a deal, that did not work. If, as the Israelis assert, Trump greenlit the attack he owns the war that will now take place and has put U.S. personnel in the region in grave jeopardy. Further, it suggests that either the negotiations with Iran were a sham or they failed. If he did not OK the attacks and actually argued against them as several experts with whom I have spoken believe, then it reveals yet again how little sway the U.S. has over an Israeli ally it continues to supply with vast amounts of military aid. If he knew about Israeli plans and considered an Israeli war with Iran an equally effective way to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat, then he was being reckless and the jury is likely to be out for a long time about whether he was right and whether the losses incurred actually justify the returns. In any of these scenarios, of course, Trump's position is doubly bad because there was in fact, a pretty good deal with Iran to keep it from developing nuclear weapons, the one negotiated by the Obama Administration, that Trump pulled out of in 2018. He undid it and now appears to have been unable to do his usual sleight of hand of condemning or undoing a deal then renegotiating and claiming credit for a deal that was pretty much the same as the one he pulled out of (see NAFTA). He will own the consequences which, should this turn into a protracted war or should there be significant civilian or U.S. casualties, could be severe. For a president who came into office professing mastery of the art of international diplomacy, great relations with world leaders, and ability to make peace in the world's most volatile regions, this latest development is yet another setback. Indeed, it demonstrates that despite his self-image and in ironic contrast to his critique of his predecessor, Trump may be turning out to be the most impotent American president of the modern era. The war between Russia and Ukraine was not ended within '24 hours.' What is more, Trump's efforts to court Vladimir Putin have largely been met with derision and rejection from the Russian president. The carnage in Gaza continues. In both cases, the problems are growing worse because of the reluctance of Trump to apply real pressure on leaders with whom he once boasted he had strong relations. The 'Liberation Day' tariffs have been a flop producing virtually no gains of any sort for the U.S.: no real deal, only political backlash and market volatility. Trump, who likes to boast that he has 'all the cards,' has been revealed to be holding little more than jokers in negotiations with the Chinese. Trump's rejection of international trade norms and threats have alienated many of our closest allies who are now working furiously to find ways to move forward without the U.S. The leaders of many of those allies have in fact openly mocked or tweaked Trump, sometimes while sitting next to him in the Oval Office. Mockery of a U.S. president is not unprecedented. Rifts with allies happen. Biden did not have much influence over the Israelis either. But signs of Trump's weakness internationally are spreading and its costs are rising in human, military and economic terms. The new crisis in the Middle East could compound those costs geometrically and, in so doing, diminish a U.S. president who appears to be shrinking daily on the global stage.
