US-backed aid group to start work in Gaza by end of May

US-backed aid group to start work in Gaza by end of May
Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 15 May 2025
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US-backed aid group to start work in Gaza by end of May

US-backed aid group to start work in Gaza by end of May
  • The newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will instead distribute aid in Gaza from so-called secure distribution sites

UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON: A US-backed humanitarian organization said on Wednesday that it would launch operations in Gaza by the end of May and has asked Israel to allow aid to start flowing into the enclave now under existing procedures until it is set up.

No humanitarian aid has been delivered to Gaza since March 2, and a global hunger monitor has warned that half a million people face starvation, a quarter of the enclave’s population. Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, aid deliveries have been handled by international aid groups and UN organizations.

The newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will instead distribute aid in Gaza from so-called secure distribution sites, but said Israel’s current plan to only allow a few such sites in southern Gaza needed to be scaled up to include the north.

“GHF emphasizes that a successful humanitarian response must eventually include the entire civilian population in Gaza,” the foundation’s executive director, Jake Wood, wrote in a letter to the Israeli government.

“GHF respectfully requests that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) identify and deconflict sufficient locations in northern Gaza capable of hosting GHF operated secure distribution sites that can be made operational within thirty days,” he wrote.

He asked Israel to facilitate the flow of enough aid “using existing modalities” until GHF’s distribution infrastructure is fully operational, saying this is essential to “alleviate the ongoing humanitarian pressure, as well as decrease the pressure on the distribution sites during our first days of operation.”

US security firm UG Solutions and US-based Safe Reach Solutions, which does logistics and planning, would be involved in the foundation’s operations, said a source familiar with the plans, speaking on condition of anonymity.

UN, AID GROUPS CONCERNED

Following the GHF announcement, the International Committee of the Red Cross said concerns about aid distribution remained.

“Humanitarian aid should not be politicized nor militarized. The level of need among civilians in Gaza right now is overwhelming, and aid needs to be allowed to enter immediately and without impediment,” said ICRC spokesperson Steve Dorsey.

Israel has accused Hamas of stealing aid, which the Palestinian militant group denies, and is blocking humanitarian deliveries until Hamas releases all remaining hostages.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said earlier on Wednesday that Israel endorsed what he called “the American humanitarian plan.” Israel’s mission to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wood’s letter.


A former Lebanese economy minister is arrested on corruption charges

A former Lebanese economy minister is arrested on corruption charges
Updated 3 sec ago
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A former Lebanese economy minister is arrested on corruption charges

A former Lebanese economy minister is arrested on corruption charges
BEIRUT: A former Lebanese Cabinet minister has been arrested and charged after an investigation into alleged financial crimes, judicial and security officials told The Associated Press.
Former Economy Minister Amin Salam was detained after a three-hour interrogation about illegal use of ministry funds and use of suspicious contracts. The three judicial officials and one security official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
Lebanon has been trying to reform its battered economy, which for decades has been rife with profiteering.
Salam has been charged with forgery, embezzlement, and misuse of public funds. Local media said it was related to alleged extortion of private insurance companies and using funds from a committee that supervises those companies for his own expenses.
Salam did not directly comment. On Monday, however, he shared a video on social media that denied the reports and asserted that his use of those funds was to increase the committee’s efficacy and transparency.
Salam was economy minister for over three years. He was appointed in 2021 at a time when Lebanon’s economy had plummeted and the country was plagued by severe power outages, fuel shortages and stark food inflation.

Israel urges Egypt to block Gaza-bound activist convoy

Israel urges Egypt to block Gaza-bound activist convoy
Updated 12 min 32 sec ago
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Israel urges Egypt to block Gaza-bound activist convoy

Israel urges Egypt to block Gaza-bound activist convoy
  • Pro-Palestinian activist convoy, bound for Gaza, arrived in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Wednesday

JERUSALEM: Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday called on Egypt to block a hundreds-strong pro-Palestinian activist convoy from reaching Gaza, as the group arrived in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
“I expect the Egyptian authorities to prevent the arrival of jihadist protesters at the Egypt-Israel border and not to allow them to carry out provocations or attempt to enter Gaza — an act that would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed,” Israel Katz said in a statement.


Charity accuses Israel of deadly strike on Gaza office building

Charity accuses Israel of deadly strike on Gaza office building
Updated 15 min 37 sec ago
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Charity accuses Israel of deadly strike on Gaza office building

Charity accuses Israel of deadly strike on Gaza office building
  • Medical charity Medecins du Monde says Israel violated international law with drone strikes on building housing one of its offices

PARIS: Medical charity Medecins du Monde Wednesday accused Israel of violating international law with drone strikes on a building housing one of its offices in war-torn Gaza that killed eight people, none of them staff.
The France-based aid group said in a statement the attack on Tuesday “constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law, which protects both civilian populations and humanitarian organizations operating in conflict zones.”
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Yesterday morning, at around 11:00 am local time, a building in Deir el-Balah housing a Medecins du Monde office was attacked by drones,” the aid group said.
Its staff had not been present as they had been off as part of the Eid Al-Adha holiday, it added.
“At least eight people were killed in the bombardment. All were on the last floor of the building,” it said, without providing more details on those killed.
“Medecins du Monde had informed the Israeli military of the presence of its office, which had officially been declared ‘deconflicted’, or shielded from Israeli military attacks under humanitarian coordination agreements,” it said.
“However, as during previous Israeli attacks, the team received no forward warning that would have allowed it to evacuate the building or take measures to protect anyone inside,” it added.
Several other non-governmental organizations as well as Palestinians displaced by the war are based in the same area, it said.
Israel is facing mounting pressure to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, whose entire population the United Nations has warned is at risk of famine.
Medecins du Monde last month, after more than two months of a total blockade on Gaza, accused Israel of using hunger as “a weapon of war” in the Palestinian territory.
Israel recently allowed some deliveries to resume through the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
But the United Nations refuses to work with it, citing concerns over its practices and neutrality.
Dozens of people have been killed near GHF distribution points since late May, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. It said Israeli forces killed 31 people waiting for aid early on Wednesday.
Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023 attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says the retaliatory Israeli military offensive has killed at least 54,981 people, the majority civilians. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable.
Out of 251 taken hostage during the Hamas attack, 54 are still held in Gaza including 32 the Israeli military says are dead.


Jordan condemns Israeli shelling near field hospital in southern Gaza, injuring nurse

Jordan condemns Israeli shelling near field hospital in southern Gaza, injuring nurse
Updated 36 min 3 sec ago
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Jordan condemns Israeli shelling near field hospital in southern Gaza, injuring nurse

Jordan condemns Israeli shelling near field hospital in southern Gaza, injuring nurse
  • Injury is not severe and the nurse will be transferred to Amman for treatment
  • Jordan’s chief nurse says ‘painful incident highlights sacrifices made by the Jordanian medical staff’

LONDON: Jordan condemned the Israeli shelling near the Jordanian field hospital in southern Gaza on Wednesday.

The Jordan Nursing Council reported that a Jordanian nurse sustained injuries to his hand and left thigh from shrapnel that fell while he was providing care to Gazans in the hospital. The nurse’s injury is not severe, and he will be transferred to Amman for treatment, the Jordanian Armed Forces said.

Dr. Hani Nawafleh, the secretary-general of the JNC, said the “painful incident highlights sacrifices made by the Jordanian medical staff ... (who never) hesitated to support their Palestinian brethren and provide all possible support and healthcare” in the Gaza Strip.

He said that the Israeli attack near the hospital was a clear violation of all human values, according to the Petra news agency.

Nawafleh praised the dedication of the medical services and Jordan Armed Forces personnel and affirmed that Jordanian nursing staff will continue to provide humanitarian services.


Netanyahu’s government faces possible collapse as opposition seeks to dissolve parliament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (File/AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (File/AP)
Updated 46 min 59 sec ago
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Netanyahu’s government faces possible collapse as opposition seeks to dissolve parliament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (File/AP)
  • The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government faced a major test Wednesday after the opposition submitted a bill to dissolve parliament, with his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners threatening to support the measure and force early elections.
The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service, an issue that has long divided the Jewish Israeli public, especially during the 20-monthlong war in the Gaza Strip.
While many expect a last-minute compromise, the vote is the most serious challenge to Netanyahu’s government since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, the biggest security failure in Israel’s history.
The opposition submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. In response, coalition members submitted numerous bills, packing Wednesday’s schedule and buying time for last-minute negotiations.
The dissolution vote, if it is not pulled, is expected to take place late at night. Separately, Argentina’s President Javier Milei will address the Knesset on Wednesday.
The bill must pass another three readings before parliament is dissolved, a process that could take days or weeks.
Even if the bill passes, it could take weeks or months for new elections to be called. If the bill fails, another vote for dissolution cannot be brought again by the opposition for at least six months. The opposition could still pull the bill if there isn’t enough support and submit it again in the coming weeks.
Netanyahu’s coalition includes two ultra-Orthodox parties, and both would need to support the dissolution bill for it to pass. On Tuesday, top ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, rabbis issued a religious decree emphasizing their stand against military service, which complicates the Haredi politicians’ ability to negotiate.
Military service is mandatory for most Jews in Israel, but the politically powerful ultra-Orthodox, who make up roughly 13 percent of Israeli society, have traditionally received exemptions if they are studying full-time in religious seminaries.
The ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredim, or “God-fearing” in Hebrew, say that integrating into the army threatens their traditional way of life.
Israel is engaged in the longest active war in the country’s history, which has stretched its military to the breaking point. The Haredim’s widespread refusal to serve, and threats to topple the government during wartime, have enraged many Israelis, especially those who have served multiple rounds of reserve duty.
Since the start of the war, 866 Israeli soldiers have been killed.