humanitarian crisis

Pelosi joins call for Biden to stop transfer of US weapons to Israel

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Pelosi joins call for Biden to stop transfer of US weapons to Israel

Nancy Pelosi and other congressional Democrats signed a letter urging President Biden to stop weapons transfers to Israel amid criticism of Israel’s military assault on Gaza, which has led to thousands of deaths and widespread hunger. Pelosi’s support highlights a growing mainstream view in the Democratic Party. The letter also called for an investigation into an Israeli airstrike that killed aid workers. The United Nations has warned of a looming famine in Gaza.

Israel approves reopening of Erez crossing into Gaza, use of Ashdod port for aid

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Israel approves reopening of Erez crossing into Gaza, use of Ashdod port for aid

Israel approved the reopening of the Erez crossing into northern Gaza and the temporary use of Ashdod port in southern Israel following U.S. demands to increase humanitarian aid supplies into Gaza. The decision was made after U.S. President Joe Biden demanded specific steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and warned of potential conditions on U.S. aid if Israel did not respond. Israel also faced pressure after the killing of seven aid workers in an Israeli strike triggered global outrage. The move was welcomed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who emphasized the need to see results on the ground in Gaza. UNRWA urged Israel to do more to prevent famine in Gaza, while a senior Hamas official expressed concerns about potential delays in the implementation of aid. Israel has faced international pressure to assist civilians in Gaza and has previously blamed distribution problems on international agencies inside Gaza.

Israeli airstrike kills 7 air workers in Gaza, Netanyahu says it was ‘unintentional’

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Israeli airstrike kills 7 air workers in Gaza, Netanyahu says it was ‘unintentional’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his regret over an Israeli airstrike that unintentionally killed seven people working for Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen charity in Gaza. The airstrike hit a WCK convoy, killing citizens of Australia, Britain, and Poland, as well as Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. The Israeli military pledged an independent inquiry into the incident, which drew widespread condemnation and increased pressure to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Ecological disaster waiting to happen

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Ecological disaster waiting to happen

The text discusses the ongoing conflicts in various regions, including Gaza, and highlights the impact of these conflicts on nature and the environment.

World Court orders Israel to halt Gaza famine; Hamas says ceasefire needed

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World Court orders Israel to halt Gaza famine; Hamas says ceasefire needed

The World Court ordered Israel to ensure basic food supplies to Gaza’s Palestinian population and halt spreading famine.

Hamas tells mediators it will stick to original position on ceasefire

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Hamas tells mediators it will stick to original position on ceasefire

Hamas has informed mediators that it will stick to its original proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire, which includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians.

Netanyahu tells Republicans Gaza war will continue, days after Schumer speech

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Netanyahu tells Republicans Gaza war will continue, days after Schumer speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed U.S. Republican senators that Israel will continue its efforts to defeat Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This statement was made during a videolink address to the senators. The meeting highlighted the political nature of U.S.-Israel policy, with Netanyahu having a long-standing alignment with Republicans. The Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, considered inviting Netanyahu to address Congress. The conflict in question began with an attack by Hamas on October 7, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 253 captives according to Israeli counts. Schumer, the Senate’s Democratic majority leader, declined an offer for Netanyahu to speak to Democrats, emphasizing a non-partisan approach to supporting Israel. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has led to nearly 32,000 Palestinian deaths. Netanyahu discussed civilian casualties and supported plans to deliver aid to Gaza via a temporary pier. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell emphasized that the U.S. should not advise a democratic ally on election timing or military campaigns.

Hamas says Israeli response to its truce proposal was negative

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Hamas says Israeli response to its truce proposal was negative

A senior Hamas official announced that Israel negatively responded to Hamas’s latest Gaza ceasefire proposal, as conveyed by mediators on Tuesday. Osama Hamdan attributed the failure to negotiate a hostage release for Palestinian prisoners and to stop the fighting in Gaza to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Despite resumed talks in Qatar, weeks of negotiations have not yet resulted in an agreement between Israel and Hamas to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

First aid ship to Gaza leaves Cyprus port in pilot project [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

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First aid ship to Gaza leaves Cyprus port in pilot project [PHOTOS+VIDEO]

A ship carrying nearly 200 tons of food aid for Gaza departed from a port in Cyprus early on Tuesday, marking a pilot project to establish a new maritime route for delivering aid to the region’s population facing famine. The vessel, Open Arms, operated by the Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms, was towing a barge filled with flour, rice, and protein. The journey to Gaza, which is over 200 miles (322 km) from Cyprus, typically takes about 15 hours, but the heavy tow could extend the travel time to up to two days. This mission is primarily funded by the United Arab Emirates and organized by the U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), aiming to create a “maritime highway” for continuous food aid to Gaza. WCK has an additional 500 tons of aid in Cyprus ready for dispatch. The initiative seeks to directly deliver aid to Gaza, which has been isolated since a naval blockade was imposed by Israel in 2007 following Hamas’s control of the enclave. WCK is also working on constructing a landing jetty in Gaza using materials from destroyed buildings to facilitate aid delivery. This effort is separate from a U.S. plan announced last week to build a temporary pier in Gaza. The aid cargoes will undergo security inspections in Cyprus, involving Israeli personnel, to expedite delivery without the need for further screenings at the destination.

Haitian PM tenders resignation after Jamaica talks

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Haitian PM tenders resignation after Jamaica talks

Ariel Henry, Haiti’s unelected prime minister since the 2021 assassination of the last president, announced he will step down after a transition council and a temporary replacement are appointed. Under his administration, armed gangs expanded their wealth, influence, and territory, leading Henry to seek support from Kenya for a UN-backed security mission. His trip coincided with an escalation in conflict, leaving him stranded in Puerto Rico. Henry’s resignation was decided on Friday, and he will be replaced by a presidential council consisting of two observers and seven voting members from various sectors. Haiti has been without elected representatives since early 2023, and the next elections will be the first since 2016. The U.S. has pledged an additional 0 million to the international force to help fight gangs in Haiti, bringing its total pledge to 0 million. Gang violence has led to a humanitarian crisis, with over 362,000 people internally displaced and thousands killed since 2021. Gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier has called for a “bloody revolution” and criticized the current system as an apartheid system.