air drops

Israel denies Turkey’s request to drop aid into Gaza, Turkish foreign minister says

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Israel denies Turkey’s request to drop aid into Gaza, Turkish foreign minister says

Israel has denied Turkey’s request to join air drops of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Turkey will take new measures against Israel in response, as it has already sent tens of thousands of tons of aid to Gaza since the start of the conflict. The United States and other countries have been dropping aid into Gaza by air, but Israel rejected Turkey’s request to participate. Turkey’s Foreign Minister stated that the new measures against Israel will be implemented until a ceasefire is declared and humanitarian aid is allowed to reach Gaza without interruption.

Situation in Gaza , ‘desperate’, as WCK suspends relief

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Situation in Gaza , ‘desperate’, as WCK suspends relief

World Central Kitchen suspended its operations in Gaza after seven of its aid workers were killed in an IDF strike. President Nikos Christodoulides stated that the maritime aid corridor will remain open despite the suspension.

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.

Only effective way to ramp up Gaza aid is by road, Guterres says

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Only effective way to ramp up Gaza aid is by road, Guterres says

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the only effective and efficient method to deliver heavy goods to meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs is by road, which requires a significant increase in commercial deliveries. Guterres highlighted the global impact of the war in Gaza and criticized the international community for failing to uphold Palestinian human dignity. During his visit to Egypt and Jordan, part of an annual Ramadan solidarity tour, he expressed outrage at the backlog of aid for Gaza at Egypt’s border. Despite over five months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, with aid accumulating in Egypt’s Sinai, efforts to deliver aid through air drops and ships have been proposed, but U.N. officials insist on scaling up deliveries by land. Guterres emphasized the need for Israel to facilitate relief by removing obstacles and increasing crossing points. He also mentioned the U.N.’s efforts to maintain funding for UNRWA, the main humanitarian aid agency in Gaza, despite funding pauses from countries like the United States and Britain due to accusations against UNRWA staff. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini expressed regret over the continued U.S. funding ban until at least March 2025.

Seeking a new role in the region

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Seeking a new role in the region

After six months of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, countering the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks, EU leaders called for a cease-fire. The Palestinians in Gaza have been suffering from starvation, lack of medical supplies, and the harsh rule of Hamas militants, with hospitals and schools being constantly targeted. The Cypriot ‘Amalthia’ initiative has opened a maritime aid corridor to Gaza, with the first supply of food relief reaching the Palestinians and a second shipment ready. Air drops continue from Jordan, and efforts are ongoing to open more land border crossings from Egypt. Cyprus has a history of humanitarian relief efforts and has evacuated foreign nationals from Lebanon, Sudan, and helped end the siege of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem in 2002. Cyprus has developed diplomatic channels and trust with neighboring countries, primarily focused on energy issues. The U.S. views Israel as a key ally in the region, while western powers tolerate Turkey’s actions, including its involvement in Syria and the Russia-Ukraine war. Cyprus has not invested in major defense purchases and lacks air and naval support to safeguard its Exclusive Economic Zone. Cyprus aims to remain proactive in regional matters, seeking full support from EU partners and western powers, aiming to lead in diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives without nepotism influencing appointments.

Aid supply ship from Cyprus reaches Gaza coast

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Aid supply ship from Cyprus reaches Gaza coast

– A ship towing a barge loaded with food arrived off Gaza as a test run for a new aid route from Cyprus.
– The ship was arranged by the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity and is carrying nearly 200 tonnes of aid.
– A second ship is expected to sail soon to deliver aid to Gaza.
– The aid is to be delivered via a jetty being prepared in Gaza.
– There are few details on how the aid delivery and distribution will work in Gaza.
– The new sea route aims to ease the hunger crisis in Gaza, where there is a looming famine after five months of Israel’s military campaign.
– Aid agencies have stated that bringing in aid by sea and through air drops will not fully compensate for the difficulties of getting supplies by land.
– The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7 with Hamas fighters attacking Israel, killing 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies.
– Israel’s military campaign in response has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians and driven most of the population from their homes, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza.

Aid ship reaches Gaza as Israel rejects Hamas truce offer [VIDEO]

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Aid ship reaches Gaza as Israel rejects Hamas truce offer [VIDEO]

– The first ship carrying food aid, the Open Arms vessel with 200 tonnes of food, reached the coast of the Gaza Strip.
– The charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) aims to deliver the aid on a temporary jetty.
– The aid is intended to ease the hunger crisis in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands face malnourishment.
– The war began with an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages in Israel.
– An Israeli assault has killed more than 31,000 people and displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza.
– Hamas’s latest ceasefire counter-proposal, which includes the release of hostages and talks to end the war, was rejected by Israel.
– Israel demands only temporary pauses in fighting and refuses to discuss ending the war until Hamas is eradicated.
– Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, criticized Israel’s rejection of the ceasefire proposal.
– Efforts for a ceasefire continue, with mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar involved.
– The United Nations reports all 2.3 million people in Gaza are suffering from a food crisis.
– Israel denies blame for the hunger crisis and calls for better food distribution by aid agencies.
– At least 21 people were killed and 150 wounded by Israeli forces during a food distribution event.
– U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Israelis to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticizing his approach to the conflict.

EU humanitarian chief urges Israel to boost land access to Gaza

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EU humanitarian chief urges Israel to boost land access to Gaza

– Air drops and a maritime corridor are insufficient to replace the supplies usually transported by trucks into Gaza, according to the European Union’s top humanitarian aid official.
– Janez Lenarcic, the EU’s humanitarian aid and crisis management chief, emphasized that land routes are the most efficient way to deliver supplies to Gaza.
– Lenarcic warned of a famine risk in Gaza, with credible indications of existing famine pockets.
– Gaza has been isolated since Israel’s war with Hamas began following an attack by Hamas on October 7.
– The United Nations estimates over half a million people in Gaza, out of a population of 2.3 million, are on the brink of starvation, with child malnutrition levels being extremely high, especially in the northern part of Gaza.
– Lenarcic called for a surge in humanitarian aid and its distribution within Gaza, stressing the importance of land access and urging Israel to open additional land crossings.
– Officials from the European Union, the United States, the United Nations, Britain, Cyprus, the UAE, and Qatar discussed establishing a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus amid international pressure on Israel to alleviate hunger in Gaza.
– A shipment from the U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen, carrying 200 million tons of aid, departed from Cyprus to Gaza earlier in the week.