The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Territories (#COGAT), Major General Ghasan Alyan, has released a "counter-report" in an attept to challenge and discredit (or simply introduce some doubt) UN's report about starvation in Gaza.
For the past few days, COGAT has published images of aid trucks waiting on the Palestinian side of the border crossing, claiming #UNRWA (which Israel helped defund, and is desperately trying to shudown) has been unable to collect and distribute them. Ynet, a center-right Israeli "news" site, known to be IDF's unwavering mouthpiece, has taken part in amplifying COGAT's narrative.
[cont’d] Israel lodges proposal with UN for dismantling of Palestinian relief agency
After making unsubstantiated claims against #UNRWA, Israel might have understood that it could assert UNRWA's failure to effectively provide aid to Gaza. Humanitarian organizations have shown that Israel is responsible for obstructing the delivery of assistance.
#US / Biden Administration Scrutinizes Israel's Compliance with Laws of War Amid Gaza Crisis
A group of 17 Democratic senators, including Chris Van Hollen, Dick Durbin and Elizabeth Warren, stated the current "excessively burdensome restrictions" on aid delivery make Israel's assurances inconsistent with #Biden's compliance criteria. Withholding future arms transfers is a potential punitive measure.
#Australia / ABC journalists call for chief content officer to stand down over alleged Antoinette Lattouf mismanagement
[…] Lattouf was contracted as a casual presenter for five shifts in December. She maintains she was terminated after three shifts, after she reposted a video from Human Rights Watch on her personal Instagram page that said: “The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza”.
#UNRWA / Saudi Arabia boosts funding to UNRWA by $40 million targeting Gaza relief
[…] The donation by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), which is dedicated to Gaza, comes as UNRWA faces a severe funding crunch after the United States and Britain paused support following Israel's accusations that a dozen of its 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on the country.
[…] #Canada, #Australia, and #Sweden have recently restored funding to UNRWA, while several Gulf countries, in addition to Saudi Arabia have increased funding.
#GazaFamine / Gaza reports: Head of aid distribution organization killed in Gaza City
Reports coming from Gaza say the head of the emergency committee in charge of aid distribution and assistance was killed near an aid distribution site in Gaza City.
The official Amjad Hathat, is the fourth person linked to police or aid activity to be killed in Gaza over the last 48 hours.
#GazaFamine / Gaza reports: Head of aid distribution organization killed in Gaza City
Reports coming from Gaza say the head of the emergency committee in charge of aid distribution and assistance was killed near an aid distribution site in Gaza City.
The official Amjad Hathat, is the fourth person linked to police or aid activity to be killed in Gaza over the last 48 hours.
Five [Israeli] human rights organizations call on Israel’s High Court to order Israeli authorities to enable access of all humanitarian aid, equipment and staff to Gaza, to significantly increase the volume of aid to the Strip, and to provide for all the needs of the civilian population in keeping with Israel’s legal obligations.
[…] The petitioning organizations clarified that claims concerning military necessity or diversion of aid cannot warrant restricting supply, nor justify Israel’s violations of its obligations to facilitate aid operations, protect civilians and treat them humanely. Measures touted by Israeli officials such as aid drops, the opening of a sea route to Gaza or building of a costly floating pier, which could take months, cannot answer the urgent needs of 2.2 million Palestinians and are an attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the international community, while continuing to evade responsibility for the crisis.
#WHO / Famine in Gaza is imminent, with immediate and long-term health consequences
The World Health Organization, along with numerous other humanitarian organizations, are depending on an #IPC report to raise awareness about the pressing issue of an impending famine in Gaza. There are claims by some that the famine is architected by Israel.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a multi-partner initiative that uses a classification and analytical approach to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity and malnutrition situations in a country. The goal is to provide decision-makers with evidence-based analysis to inform emergency responses and long-term policies. The IPC was developed in 2004 by FAO's Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and has since been implemented globally in over 30 countries. It is considered a best practice in the food security field and a model of collaboration.
#WHO / Famine in Gaza is imminent, with immediate and long-term health consequences
The World Health Organization, along with numerous other humanitarian organizations, are depending on an #IPC report to raise awareness about the pressing issue of an impending famine in Gaza. There are claims by some that the famine is architected by Israel.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a multi-partner initiative that uses a classification and analytical approach to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity and malnutrition situations in a country. The goal is to provide decision-makers with evidence-based analysis to inform emergency responses and long-term policies. The IPC was developed in 2004 by FAO's Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and has since been implemented globally in over 30 countries. It is considered a best practice in the food security field and a model of collaboration.
#Germany / Scholz: “The cost of the Israeli military operation is high. Some say too high. We cannot stand by and risk Palestinians going hungry”
[…] The cost of the Israeli military operation is high. Some say too high. The situation in Gaza is desperate. As a friend of Israel, I expressed my concerns to Prime Minister
Netanyahu today. We cannot stand by and risk Palestinians going hungry. Significantly more humanitarian aid must reach Gaza and distribution must be made more possible. Terrorism cannot be combated with military means alone. We need a sustainable solution. It will not come from higher walls and deeper divides, but from a positive perspective for Palestinians.
As Israel launches a propaganda campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), millions of Palestinians continue to rely on the agency’s critical support when it comes to healthcare, education, and food.
In this latest DEBUNKED!, Mehdi Hasan refutes the top 7 Israeli lies about UNRWA.
#GazaFamine / David Cameron: Israel should open its port at Ashdod north of Gaza
[…] U.S. officials said building such a facility could take weeks, yet hospitals in northern Gaza are already reporting children dying of malnutrition. The U.N. says opening up more land routes should remain the priority.
[…] "It's going to take time to build," British foreign minister David Cameron told reporters, adding that Israel should open its port at #Ashdod north of #Gaza for more aid deliveries in the meantime.
#UN / IDF Blocked Food Trucks Entery to Northen Gaza
The UN World Food Programme (#WFP) is facing challenges in delivering food supplies to northern Gaza. The latest food convoy was turned back by the IDF due to a wait at the checkpoint. This has further exacerbated the food shortage in the region.
[...] “Although today’s convoy did not make it to the north to provide food to the people who are starving, WFP continues to explore every possible means to do so,” said Carl Skau, WFP’s Deputy Executive Director.
The WFP is working to ensure the safety of humanitarian staff and prevent famine in Gaza.
#US / Kamala Harris' Gaza speech watered down by administration officials before delivery
[…] As is protocol for most high-level White House principals giving speeches about foreign policy, Harris’ speech was submitted to the National Security Council and West Wing staff members for review, and a number of changes were made, said several officials, including two from Harris’ office. Edits were made up until the last minute, as is often the case with a live foreign policy issue, the officials said.
#Gaza / Hamas rejects U.S. airdropping of aid to the Strip: "A cover for continued support of the war, not a real solution"
Jack Khouri (Haaretz Hebrew Edition) updates that #Hamas' spokesperson responded to the airdropping of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, stating that some countries, especially the U.S., are using the airdropping of aid as a cover for their support of the continued fighting and supplying ammunition to Israel.
According to the office's statement, the dropping of equipment and aid forces the dense population to scramble and search for the aid, which only increases the chaos. "2.4 million people are expected to start running and trying to take what they can. Some people manage to seize the aid while others get nothing," it was stated.
The statement also noted that the aerial aid is limited in terms of cargo size, and some of the packages do not reach their destination or are damaged as a result of the fall.