Latest news with #KhanYounis
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Israel, we're begging you: please let aid organisations do our jobs in Gaza
Abed Al Rahman, just a boy, carried the weight of his family's hunger as he stepped into the streets of Gaza in search of bread. He had his father's money, but when he saw the tide of people pushing towards a food distribution site in Rafah, hunger pulled him into their flow. Almost immediately, the site descended into chaos. Gunfire. Drones. Then in a flash, shrapnel from a tank shell ripped through his little body. When I met him at a hospital in Khan Younis – where painkillers, like food, are scarce – the 13-year-old was in agony. 'I have shrapnel inside my body that they couldn't remove,' he told me. 'I am in real pain; since 6am I have been asking for a painkiller.' As he recounted the chaos, his father's composure shattered, and tears rolled down his face. Was he going to lose his son simply because Abed Al Rahman wanted his family to eat? Abed Al Rahman had been trying to get food from a new private and militarised distribution site in Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is funnelling aid through a handful of southern sites guarded by private contractors and Israeli soldiers. With so few distribution points, those who can make the trek are forced to travel long, dangerous distances – risking their lives for grossly inadequate amounts of supplies. In the first week of the GHF's operation, there were five mass-casualty events in the vicinity of distribution sites as desperate civilians were met by gun and tank fire. Children have been killed. The UN's aid chief, Tom Fletcher, said the sites made 'starvation a bargaining chip' and were 'a fig leaf for further violence and displacement'. A system that bypasses the UN has, in fact, bypassed humanity. Indeed, politicised aid distribution is unsafe for everyone involved – last week, the GHF said eight of its local team members and volunteers had been killed. And while it's critical that there is a focus on this lethal lack of aid for Palestinians, the daily killing and maiming of children has become an afterthought. This is my fifth mission to Gaza since the horrors of 7 October, and in all that time almost nothing has been done to stop the world's deadliest conflict for children in recent memory. There have been more than 50,000 children reported killed or injured in 20 months. Fifty thousand. On the same morning I met Abed Al Rahman, I spoke with 24-year-old Sheima, also hospitalised. She, too, went to one of the GHF distribution sites. Different day, same story: her family was denied humanitarian aid for months. Consumed by hunger, her father too sick to travel, Sheima reached a site. Again, gunfire. Boxes of food thrown to the dirt. 'I saw dead bodies on the ground,' she told me. 'People stepping over them, just trying to get some food.' In the mayhem, Sheima became entangled in wire – her leg and arm torn open as she tried to flee. She didn't get any food. 'Even though I almost died, I would go again,' she said. 'I'm the eldest in my family – we need food to survive. I wish to die with a full stomach, not from starvation.' These raw testimonials reinforce two critical questions. First, when UN and international non-governmental organisations warehouses outside Gaza are jam-packed with lifesaving supplies, why is there still a lethal lack of humanitarian aid in Gaza? And second, will these few sites run by private contractors solve the crisis? On the first point, after a total blockade on all supplies going into Gaza from early March until 19 May, Unicef and the World Food Programme are now permitted to bring in limited quantities of only a few selected items. Meanwhile, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned last month that all 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza are facing life-threatening food insecurity. Lack of access to clean water has been pushed to lethal levels. Amid incessant bombardments, drastic aid restrictions and mass displacement of the civilian population, the risk of famine is not just possible, but increasingly likely for families in Gaza. From the end of the ceasefire to May this year, malnutrition admissions among children aged under five surged by nearly 150%, with a steep rise in severe cases. This isn't just a trend – it's an urgent warning. And to the second question, can the GHF prevent famine? The reality is, far too little aid is being distributed from far too few distribution points, all amid concerns that families travelling from northern Gaza to reach sites in the south will not be allowed to return. This is not how you avert famine. Before the collapse of the most recent ceasefire, the UN operated a highly effective aid delivery system in Gaza. And during the ceasefire, we were delivering assistance from more than 400 distribution points across the territory. Access to food, safe water, medicines and shelter skyrocketed. Unicef even went door-to-door to reach malnourished children. Unicef continues to call for a ceasefire, protection of children, the release of hostages and full aid access. We know what it takes to deliver for children in emergencies – it is the same in every crisis and every conflict since the second world war. Children need nutritious food at scale, safety, clean water and dignity. Not security operators. Not indiscriminate fire. Not chaos. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. We delivered aid at scale during the ceasefire, and we can do it again. We just need to be allowed to do our jobs. Abed Al Rahman died of his injuries on 17 June 2025, after this article was written. James Elder is Unicef's global spokesperson
Al Jazeera
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Israel massacres in Gaza, locks down West Bank as attention shifts to Iran
On Thursday, Israeli troops killed at least 16 Palestinians trying desperately to get food in Gaza. On Wednesday, it was at least 29 Palestinians. The day before, at least 70 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces as they gathered at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in Khan Younis. They were gunned down by drones, machine gun fire and tanks, according to survivors. On Monday, at least 38 were killed in a similar manner while trying to get food, mostly in Rafah. And on Sunday, at least 17 were killed in southern and central Gaza. The GHF is an Israeli and United States-backed body staffed by private security contractors. Israel set it up in May to replace United Nations-led relief operations, yet dozens of Palestinians have been gunned down on at least eight occasions at GHF sites. 'This happens to some extent every day. It's becoming a routine,' said Yasser al-Banna, a journalist in Gaza. 'Now that Israel has started a war with Iran, everyone here in Gaza is scared that the world is going to forget about them,' he told Al Jazeera. Since Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, global attention on the plight of Palestinians in the occupied territory has faded from the headlines. But Israel has continued to attack Palestinians in Gaza, while conducting deadly raids in the West Bank. After the latest attack on Palestinians desperate for food, analysts and human rights monitors told Al Jazeera that they believe Israel is likely to commit more 'massacres', while prioritising the welfare of Israelis as the war with Iran drags on. 'Israel is using the diverted attention away from Gaza to continue to carry out atrocious crimes against starving civilians,' said Omar Rahman, an expert on Israel and Palestine for the Middle East Council on Global Affairs think tank. 'We have also seen a lot of military and settler activity in the West Bank in recent days,' he told Al Jazeera. Israel's violence against helpless Palestinians at the GHF site on Tuesday resulted in the highest single death toll at any GHF site since the controversial organisation began operations last month. It has been lambasted for what opponents have called the militarisation of humanitarian aid relief. Yet Israel's chokehold siege on the enclave has pushed Palestinians to make an impossible choice: Whither away from hunger or risk their lives to obtain a food parcel. 'Israel's whole GHF scheme is just a way to increase the humiliation of Palestinians,' said Ibrahim Nabeel, a Palestinian medic who has treated victims of the GHF attacks. Along with sustaining its genocidal war in Gaza, Israel has also tightened its occupation over the West Bank since it began attacking Iran. Several Palestinians told Al Jazeera that it is 'impossible to move' from one village or town to another. The entrances to Palestinian villages and cities have been blocked off by Israeli forces, and the number of military checkpoints has increased. The lockdown has spread fear that Palestinians may be suspended from their livelihoods or unable to stock up on basic necessities in case the Israel-Iran war drags on. Many Palestinians have also reported that there is a major fuel crisis throughout the West Bank. 'Most of our basic imports come from Israel … and Israel is prioritising its society, not us,' said Murad Jadallah, a human rights researcher with Al-Haq, a local organisation that advocates for Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, Israel continues to carry out deadly raids across the West Bank. According to the Wafa Palestinian news agency, Israeli troops stormed a village east of Ramallah on June 18. After storming several homes, Israeli troops warned former detainees that they would be arrested again, while others were assaulted, according to Wafa. Over the past week, Israel has also expelled dozens of Palestinians from their homes when they stormed a refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus city, Jadallah from al-Haq told Al Jazeera. In addition, Israel arrested at least 60 Palestinians across the West Bank between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, Wafa reported. 'The Israelis are still continuing their raids. Just last night, in fact, they came to our village and arrested a young man and then destroyed his home,' said Layth Barakat, a farmer who lives east of Ramallah. Like much of the world, Palestinians were shocked when Israel attacked Iran. They now worry that Israel will step up its aggression against Palestinians across the occupied territory once it finishes its war with Iran. 'We will pay a high price if Israel wins this war with Iran,' Jadallah said. 'If they can get what they want from Iran or carry out regime change, then who will stop them from achieving their dreams in Gaza and the West Bank?' he added. Prominent far-right ministers in Israel's government have long pushed for Israeli colonisation of Gaza and formally annexing the entire West Bank, an area they call 'Judea and Samaria'. Both of these ambitions are predicated on crushing all hopes for a Palestinian state and overseeing campaigns of ethnic cleansing. For now, Palestinians are just trying to survive, even as their plight garners less attention. Al-Banaa from Gaza said that most people are growing hungrier each day due to Israel's total siege. He said many people stopped buying bags of sesame, which they usually crush to make bread. A large bag of sesame used to cost two shekels ($0.33) before the war in Gaza, yet it now costs about 80 shekels ($23). Al-Banna noted that he can barely afford a meal for himself, his four young children and his wife. However, he still refuses to trek miles to a GHF distribution point. 'I would rather die from hunger than from getting shot,' he said. Rahman, from the Middle East Council, added that Israel's war of aggression against Iran and its war on Gaza should be deeply concerning for everyone, not just Palestinians. 'It is extremely worrying that Israel can get away with everything and anything … and keep its western support base,' he said. 'It is a signal to the Israelis that there are no limits,' he added. 'Israel is wreaking havoc in Palestine, the region, and on the global system.'
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Israel massacres in Gaza, lockdowns West Bank as attention shifts to Iran
On Thursday, Israeli troops killed at least 16 Palestinians trying desperately to get food in Gaza. On Wednesday, it was at least 29 Palestinians. The day before, at least 70 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces as they gathered at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in Khan Younis. They were gunned down by drones, machine gun fire and tanks, according to survivors. On Monday, at least 38 were killed in a similar manner while trying to get food, mostly in Rafah. And on Sunday, at least 17 were killed in southern and central Gaza. The GHF is an Israeli and United States-backed body staffed by private security contractors. Israel set it up in May to replace United Nations-led relief operations, yet dozens of Palestinians have been gunned down on at least eight occasions at GHF sites. 'This happens to some extent every day. It's becoming a routine,' said Yasser al-Banna, a journalist in Gaza. 'Now that Israel has started a war with Iran, everyone here in Gaza is scared that the world is going to forget about them,' he told Al Jazeera. Since Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, global attention on the plight of Palestinians in the occupied territory has faded from the headlines. But Israel has continued to attack Palestinians in Gaza, while conducting deadly raids in the West Bank. After the latest attack on Palestinians desperate for food, analysts and human rights monitors told Al Jazeera that they believe Israel is likely to commit more 'massacres', while prioritising the welfare of Israelis as the war with Iran drags on. 'Israel is using the diverted attention away from Gaza to continue to carry out atrocious crimes against starving civilians,' said Omar Rahman, an expert on Israel and Palestine for the Middle East Council on Global Affairs think tank. 'We have also seen a lot of military and settler activity in the West Bank in recent days,' he told Al Jazeera. Israel's violence against helpless Palestinians at the GHF site on Tuesday resulted in the highest single death toll at any GHF site since the controversial organisation began operations last month. It has been lambasted for what opponents have called the militarisation of humanitarian aid relief. Yet Israel's chokehold siege on the enclave has pushed Palestinians to make an impossible choice: Whither away from hunger or risk their lives to obtain a food parcel. 'Israel's whole GHF scheme is just a way to increase the humiliation of Palestinians,' said Ibrahim Nabeel, a Palestinian medic who has treated victims of the GHF attacks. Along with sustaining its genocidal war in Gaza, Israel has also tightened its occupation over the West Bank since it began attacking Iran. Several Palestinians told Al Jazeera that it is 'impossible to move' from one village or town to another. The entrances to Palestinian villages and cities have been blocked off by Israeli forces, and the number of military checkpoints has increased. The lockdown has spread fear that Palestinians may be suspended from their livelihoods or unable to stock up on basic necessities in case the Israel-Iran war drags on. Many Palestinians have also reported that there is a major fuel crisis throughout the West Bank. 'Most of our basic imports come from Israel … and Israel is prioritising its society, not us,' said Murad Jadallah, a human rights researcher with Al-Haq, a local organisation that advocates for Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, Israel continues to carry out deadly raids across the West Bank. According to the Wafa Palestinian news agency, Israeli troops stormed a village east of Ramallah on June 18. After storming several homes, Israeli troops warned former detainees that they would be arrested again, while others were assaulted, according to Wafa. Over the past week, Israel has also expelled dozens of Palestinians from their homes when they stormed a refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus city, Jadallah from al-Haq told Al Jazeera. In addition, Israel arrested at least 60 Palestinians across the West Bank between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, Wafa reported. 'The Israelis are still continuing their raids. Just last night, in fact, they came to our village and arrested a young man and then destroyed his home,' said Layth Barakat, a farmer who lives east of Ramallah. Like much of the world, Palestinians were shocked when Israel attacked Iran. They now worry that Israel will step up its aggression against Palestinians across the occupied territory once it finishes its war with Iran. 'We will pay a high price if Israel wins this war with Iran,' Jadallah said. 'If they can get what they want from Iran or carry out regime change, then who will stop them from achieving their dreams in Gaza and the West Bank?' he added. Prominent far-right ministers in Israel's government have long pushed for Israeli colonisation of Gaza and formally annexing the entire West Bank, an area they call 'Judea and Samaria'. Both of these ambitions are predicated on crushing all hopes for a Palestinian state and overseeing campaigns of ethnic cleansing. For now, Palestinians are just trying to survive, even as their plight garners less attention. Al-Banaa from Gaza said that most people are growing hungrier each day due to Israel's total siege. He said many people stopped buying bags of sesame, which they usually crush to make bread. A large bag of sesame used to cost two shekels ($0.33) before the war in Gaza, yet it now costs about 80 shekels ($23). Al-Banna noted that he can barely afford a meal for himself, his four young children and his wife. However, he still refuses to trek miles to a GHF distribution point. 'I would rather die from hunger than from getting shot,' he said. Rahman, from the Middle East Council, added that Israel's war of aggression against Iran and its war on Gaza should be deeply concerning for everyone, not just Palestinians. 'It is extremely worrying that Israel can get away with everything and anything … and keep its western support base,' he said. 'It is a signal to the Israelis that there are no limits,' he added. 'Israel is wreaking havoc in Palestine, the region, and on the global system.'
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
Video: Wounded girl in Gaza bids farewell to her dead father and siblings
NewsFeed Video: Wounded girl in Gaza bids farewell to her dead father and siblings Video shows distressing scenes as a badly wounded Palestinian girl in Gaza embraces the body of her father, who was killed in an Israeli attack on Khan Younis. Luna Rasras was sheltering in a tent with her family when the attack happened. Her siblings were also killed.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Gaza: Eleven killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid, rescuers say
Eleven Palestinians seeking aid were among at least 33 killed by Israeli gunfire and strikes across Gaza on Wednesday, rescuers and medics say.A spokesman for the Hamas-run civil defence agency said Israeli forces "opened fire and launched several shells" at thousands of people who were queuing for desperately needed food supplies on the main Salah al-Din Israeli military said troops operating in the Nuseirat area fired warning shots overnight after a group approached them in a manner that posed a potential threat, but that it was unaware of any 19 people were killed in three Israeli air strikes in northern and southern Gaza, according to the civil defence agency. They included eight who died when a home was hit in the Zeitoun area of Gaza City, it the air strikes, the Israeli military said it was "operating to dismantle Hamas military capabilities" in the territory. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Wednesday afternoon that at least 140 people had been killed over the previous 24 ministry reported on Tuesday that 51 people were killed while waiting for aid in the southern city of Khan Younis, while the UN cited partner organisations working on health as putting the death toll at more than told the BBC that Israeli tanks and drones opened fire as crowds gathered near a charity community centre and a warehouse belonging to the UN's World Food Israeli military acknowledged that its troops were in the area and said the details of the incident were under a separate incident on Tuesday, the civil defence agency said another seven people seeking aid were killed and many others were injured on Rashid Street north-west of Gaza City.A doctor at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City told Reuters news agency that the fatalities were the result of Israeli air strikes and that the injuries were caused by Fida Masoud said her son "went to bring a bag of flour and came back [injured] in a bag".Meanwhile, a local journalist posted footage that he said showed his cousin celebrating after collecting a bag of flour for his family."A 50kg bag. I pulled it out from under the truck, inches from death," he declares. Almost 400 people have been killed while trying to get aid since 26 May, when the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) opened the first of its three distribution centre, according to the health GHF, which uses US private security contractors, aims to bypass the UN as the main supplier of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in UN and other aid groups refuse to co-operate with the new system, saying it contravenes the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and also warn that Gaza's population faces catastrophic levels of hunger after an 11-week total Israeli blockade that was partially eased a month US and Israel say GHF's system will prevent aid being stolen by Hamas, which the group denies Wednesday, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) condemned it as "lame, medieval and lethal"."Inviting starving people to their death is a war crime. Those responsible of this system must be held accountable," Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X."This is a disgrace and a stain on our collective consciousness." The GHF has not commented, but it said in a statement that it had so far distributed 30 million meals across its three distribution centres "without incident"."We remain focused on a singular mission: to feed the people of Gaza - and we are committed to scaling our efforts to reach even more in need," it WFP meanwhile warned that the 9,000 tonnes of food aid it had dispatched over the past four weeks was "a tiny fraction" of what was needed in also said the desperate need for food was causing large crowds to gather along well-known transport routes, hoping to intercept and access humanitarian supplies while in transit."Only a massive scale-up in food distributions can stabilize the situation, calm anxieties and rebuild the trust within communities that more food is coming," it military body Cogat reported that 85 lorry loads of aid entered southern and northern Gaza via the Kerem Shalom and Erez West crossings on Tuesday, 66 of which were collected. Another 380 lorry loads of aid were waiting for collection by the UN, it Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken least 55,637 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.
