21 h. ago Gaza’s children needed a ceasefire – now they desperately need the aid that will keep them alive | Alison Griffin

The youngest and most vulnerable have suffered extreme mental and physical trauma. We can help – but we must be granted immediate accessAlison Griffin is head of conflict and humanitarian campaigns at Save the Children UKIn the last few days, we have seen celebrations alongside cautious optimism about a future for Gaza without bombs and bullets. This much needed pause in hostilities is providing children with the chance to sleep without the fear of drones above their heads, airstrikes on nearby buildings or fires breaking out in their tents. Families in Gaza are slowly returning to their neighbourhoods and trying to salvage what they can of their lives from the rubble.But crucially, what they are still not currently getting is full and sustainable access to aid supplies and vital services. This is about fundamental basic rights for children in the occupied Palestinian territory, which we have been demanding and advocating for since 1953.Alison Griffin is head of conflict and humanit...

Society

39 h. ago ‘It’s a trickle – we need a flood’: Northern Gaza is still not seeing enough aid despite ceasefire, humanitarian agencies warn

The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel has allowed more aid to flow into Gaza – but obstacles remain, particularly in the north

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61 h. ago Israel and Hamas trade accusations as tensions rise over hostages’ remains

Militant group says it needs specialist equipment to recover bodies as Netanyahu says fight ‘is not over yet’Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son saysIsrael and Hamas have traded accusations of ceasefire violations amid tensions over the flow of aid into Gaza and warnings that the humanitarian crisis in the devastated territory risks deteriorating further.The ceasefire deal signed last week between Israel and Hamas raised hopes of a surge of humanitarian aid finally reaching the territory after two years of war, but most restrictions have remained in place, throttling the supply of desperately needed assistance. Continue reading...

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67 h. ago Israel and Hamas trade blame over truce violations as tensions rise over return of hostage bodies

Militant group says it needs specialist equipment to recover remains as Netanyahu warns the fight ‘is not over’Gaza ceasefire – live updatesPalestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son saysIsrael and Hamas have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire in Gaza amid tensions over the flow of aid into the devastated territory, the return of the remains of deceased hostages by the militant group and new casualties from Israeli firing on Palestinians close to new military positions.Regional diplomats and US officials have sought to minimise the significance of the accusations, emphasising that Hamas or Israel still appeared committed to the ceasefire agreed last week. Continue reading...

Events

67 h. ago Israel and Hamas trade blame over truce violations as tensions rise over return of hostages’ bodies

Militant group says it needs specialist equipment to recover remains as Netanyahu warns the fight ‘is not over’Gaza ceasefire – live updatesPalestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son saysIsrael and Hamas have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire in Gaza amid tensions over the flow of aid into the devastated territory, the return of the remains of deceased hostages by the militant group and new casualties from Israeli firing on Palestinians close to new military positions.Regional diplomats and US officials have sought to minimise the significance of the accusations, emphasising that Hamas or Israel still appeared committed to the ceasefire agreed last week. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Israel says body handed over by Hamas is not one of the hostages

Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday Israel reportedly pulls back from threat to slash humanitarian aid entering GazaThe Israeli military said on Wednesday that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous day as part of the ceasefire deal is not that of one of the hostages who was held in Gaza. Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday – when the last 20 living hostages were released. The military said that “following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages”.In the north of the territory, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government’s black-masked armed police resumed street patrols, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).Our message is clear: There will be no place for outlaws...

Events

3 d. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Israel says one of the bodies handed over by Hamas is not a hostage amid reports vital aid crossing to reopen

Israel previously said the flow of aid would be cut by half and Rafah crossing would not open as planned due to delay in returning bodies of hostagesIsrael limits aid into Gaza in dispute over hostages’ remainsThe Israeli military said on Wednesday that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous day as part of the ceasefire deal is not that of one of the hostages who was held in Gaza. Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday – when the last 20 living hostages were released. The military said that “following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages”.In the north of the territory, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government’s black-masked armed police resumed street patrols, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).Our message is clear: There will be no place for ...

Events

4 d. ago Fears for fragile Gaza ceasefire after seven Palestinians killed and aid cut off

Hamas has also been filmed carrying out public executions of men accused of ‘collaborating’ with Israeli forces

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4 d. ago Rafah crossing to stay closed, Israel says, affecting aid after Hamas failed to hand over bodies of hostages – Gaza ceasefire live

Israeli defence minister says delay in returning bodies is violation of ceasefireDespite the ceasefire agreement, a medical source told Palestinian news agency Wafa today that four people were killed when Israeli drones fired at residents inspecting their homes in Gaza’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood. We have not yet been able to independently verify this information.Israel’s military said it opened fire on people who it says approached Israeli forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Palestinians surround Gaza aid truck in desperate bid to gather supplies

Crowds of Palestinians surrounded aid trucks as they arrived in Khan Younis on Sunday, 12 October.

Politics

6 d. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Trump says ‘war is over’ as he heads to Middle East for release of hostages

Israeli prime minister says there are ‘very great security challenges ahead of us’ but expects hostages will be released tomorrowIsraeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel is ready for the “immediate” reception of all Gaza hostages.“Israel is prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages,” he said in a statement after a meeting with the coordinator for the hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Ceasefire live: aid trucks enter Gaza as Netanyahu says Israel is ready for ‘immediate’ release of hostages

Israel’s military says it has completed first phase of withdrawal, ahead of Monday peace summit in EgyptIsraeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel is ready for the “immediate” reception of all Gaza hostages.“Israel is prepared and ready to immediately receive all of our hostages,” he said in a statement after a meeting with the coordinator for the hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Ceasefire live: aid trucks enter Gaza as Hamas confirms it will begin releasing Israeli hostages on Monday morning

Israel’s military says it has completed first phase of withdrawal, ahead of Monday peace summit in EgyptA Hamas source close to the Palestinian militant group’s negotiating committee has told AFP that it will not participate in postwar Gaza governance.“For Hamas, the governance of the Gaza Strip is a closed issue. Hamas will not participate at all in the transitional phase, which means it has relinquished control of the Strip, but it remains a fundamental part of the Palestinian fabric,” the source told AFP.Israel’s great challenge after the phase of returning the hostages will be the destruction of all of Hamas’s terror tunnels in Gaza, directly by the IDF and through the international mechanism to be established under the leadership and supervision of the United States. This is the primary significance of implementing the agreed-upon principle of demilitarizing Gaza and neutralizing Hamas of its weapons. I have instructed the IDF to prepare for carrying out the mission. Continue r...

Events

6 d. ago Preparations begin to ramp up aid in Gaza as ceasefire brings hope for end to 2

Preparations are underway for aid to enter Gaza and for the release of hostages under a new ceasefire deal

Events

3 w. ago With or without a ceasefire, humanitarian aid must enter Gaza. We managed it in previous wars | Moazzam Malik

Global powers ensured aid during civil wars in Syria and Sudan. We need a ‘Lifeline Rafah’ before more people starveMoazzam Malik is CEO of Save the ChildrenAs the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, world leaders gathering for the UN general assembly face a grave moral and political test – one that has implications for the conduct of war and the supply of humanitarian aid in the decades to come.The use of humanitarian aid as an instrument of occupation by the Israeli authorities dates back almost 20 years. As a British official, I led a review of the humanitarian situation in Gaza in 2008 when the then government of Israel had just imposed a blockade. I advised UK ministers that this was not in line with international humanitarian principles, that we wouldn’t accept this in other humanitarian contexts, and we should not do so in this case. The UK government ignored my recommendations on securing independent access for humanitarian aid for Gaza.Moazzam Malik is CEO of Save the...

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