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☆ Israel-UN spat intensifies after Secretary General says Hamas attacks ‘did not happen in a vacuum’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Palestinian children receive food from a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) centre in Gaza on Tuesday. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/APHis comments angered Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who was in the chamber as Guterres spoke. The deepening spat exposes tensions around the calls from some international observers for a ceasefire, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It was the opposite,” he told reporters, restating his condemnation of the October 7 attacks. But Guterres did not back away from his Tuesday call for a ceasefire, or from his nod towards the historical treatment of Palestinians.

Persons: CNN —, General Antonio Guterres, Guterres, “, Majdi, Eli Cohen, ”, Cohen, Gilad Erdan, Erdan, Martin Griffiths, ” Guterres, misinterpretations, restating, Antony Blinken, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Security Council, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UN, Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency, Israeli Army Radio, Security, US, National Security, Hamas, World Health Organization, WHO Locations: Israel, Gaza, Brazil

☆ Britain Would Discuss Humanitarian Pause in Gaza but Not Ceasefire - PM's Spokesperson
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain would discuss a humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza to facilitate aid shipments, but does not want a wholesale ceasefire as that would only benefit Hamas militants, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said on Wednesday. Israel's military intensified its bombing of southern Gaza overnight, amid international calls for a pause in fighting to let aid into the Palestinian enclave and prevent many more deaths. "A wholesale ceasefire would only serve to benefit Hamas," Sunak's spokesperson said. "Humanitarian pauses - which are temporary, which are limited in scope - can be an operational tool, and obviously that is something we could consider, and have been discussing." "We don't agree with that characterisation that's been put forward," the spokesperson said of Guterres' remarks but did not not call on him to resign.

Persons: Rishi Sunak's, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Andrew MacAskill, Alistair Smout, Sachin Ravikumar Organizations: U.N Locations: Britain, Gaza, Israel

☆ UN chief rejects Israel accusations he justified Hamas attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 25 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday rejected accusations by Israel that, in a statement to the Security Council, he had justified attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel. "I am shocked by the misrepresentations by some of my statement ... as if I was justifying acts of terror by Hamas. "It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights"But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he said.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Guterres, U.N, Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Israel's, Eli Cohen, Michelle Nichols, Susan Heavey, Daniel Wallis Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Security Council, Hamas, Security, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Al Arish

☆ Why is Israel attacking south Gaza after telling people to go there?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A woman stands near a bullet-riddled wall in Zahajra, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon October 10, 2023. Since telling Gazans to head south, the Israeli military (IDF) has continued to pound targets across the area, killing an unknown number of civilians. That's why we are asking civilians to go south of the Gaza River." Israel has massed troops on the border with Gaza and is widely expected to launch a land invasion. On Oct. 18, the military urged residents of Gaza to evacuate to what it called a humanitarian zone in Al Mawasi, on the coast of southern Gaza.

Persons: Mohamed Azakir, Gazans, Khan Younis, Jonathan Conricus, Israel, Hamas's, Antonio Guterres, Crispian Balmer, James Mackenzie, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Residents, IDF, Military, Hamas, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Thomson Locations: Zahajra, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Gaza City, Khan, Israeli, Al Mawasi, Gaza's, Egypt

☆ Gaza: UN agency warns its fuel to run dry on Wednesday as Palestinian officials say 700 killed in a single day
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Gaza needs at least 160,000 liters (42,267 gallons) of fuel a day for basic necessities, UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma said. Just eight out of 20 aid trucks scheduled to cross into Gaza on Tuesday made the journey, UNRWA said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday ruled out any fuel being allowed to enter Gaza, saying Hamas would co-opt fuel for its operational infrastructure and to continue its rocket attacks. In the wake of the assault, Israel launched a sustained aerial bombardment of Gaza that Palestinian health officials say has now killed more than 5,000 people. An aid truck arrives at a UN storage facility as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in central Gaza on October 21, 2023.

Persons: Juliette Touma, Mustafa Hassona, General Herzi Halevi, “, ”, Mohammed Salem, General António Guterres, ” Guterres, Guterres, Antonio Guterres, Seth Wenig, Gilad Erdan, Eli Cohen, ” Cohen, John Kirby, –, Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Vital, UN, Israel, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Nasser Hospital, Getty, World Health Organization, WHO, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, UN Security, Guterres, Twitter, US, National Security, Foreign, Israeli Locations: Gaza, East, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Anadolu, Israel, UN, Ramallah, “, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq

☆ Israel envoy calls for resignation of UN chief who said Hamas attack 'did not happen in a vacuum'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) speaks during a press conference at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Israel's representative to the U.N. called for the resignation of the organization's secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, following his remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict and action in Gaza. Israel is carrying out a military campaign against Palestinian militant group Hamas, which launched a multipronged attack against Israel two weeks prior. "The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas," he added. Israel's foreign minister, Eli Cohen, responded to the speech by listing the names of children killed in the Hamas attacks and asking, "Mr. Secretary-General, in what world do you live?

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Eli Cohen, Mr Organizations: United Nations, . Security, Palestinian, Hamas, Guterres Locations: Rafah, Egypt, Gaza, Israel

[1/5] Smoke is rising after an Israeli strike on Gaza seen from a viewpoint in Southern Israel October 24, 2023. US, RUSSIA OFFER RIVAL PROPOSALSAt the United Nations, the United States and Russia put forward rival plans on humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians. Washington has called for pauses and Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire. Arab states firmly back a call for a humanitarian ceasefire amid widespread destruction of Gaza's buildings in Israel's aerial bombardment. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Joe Biden, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel, Iran's U.N, Amir Saeid Iravani, Antony Blinken, Vassily Nebenzia, Sameh Shoukry, Antonio Guterres, Justin Trudeau, Nidal al, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, Michelle Nichols, Humeyra Pamuk, Grant McCool, Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, UN, Tuesday, Saudi Arabian Crown, White, West Bank, Washington, Security, United Nations, Palestinian, UNRWA, quicken, U.S, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Southern Israel, Iran, Israel, Russia, Saudi, GAZA, JERUSALEM, United States, Canada, Palestinian, Egypt, U.S, Lebanon's Iran, Lebanon, Iran's, RUSSIA, Washington, Ottawa, Gulf

☆ Israel releases video of captured Hamas militant saying the group offered $10,000 and an apartment for each hostage taken to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hamas offered a $10,000 reward and apartments to militants who brought Israeli hostages to Gaza. That's according to an interrogation video of a Hamas militant released by Israeli authorities. The footage, shared by Israel's security agency Shin Bet and the country's police force, features what it says are several detained Hamas militants being interrogated about the events of October 7. In the video, an unnamed Hamas militant stated that he was given orders to "kidnap as many as possible" during the terror attacks. AdvertisementAdvertisementHe says in the video that Hamas operatives were incentivized with a "stipend" for every Israeli hostage they brought into Gaza.

Persons: —, Shin Bet, Al, António Guterres, Joe Biden Organizations: Reuters, Service, Brigades, Al, European Union, . United Nations, Gaza Ministry of Health Locations: Gaza, That's, Jerusalem, Israel

☆ UN says no aid trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

She did not say why the trucks had not been able to cross into Gaza from Egypt on Tuesday. The United States is negotiating with Israel, Egypt and the United Nations to try and create a delivery mechanism to get aid into Gaza. They are wrangling over procedures for inspecting the aid and bombardments on the Gaza side of the border. Since limited aid deliveries began on Saturday, 54 trucks have crossed into Gaza carrying food, medicine and water, which U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as "a drop of aid in an ocean of need." Senior U.N. aid official Lynn Hastings had earlier told the Security Council that 20 trucks were due to cross on Tuesday.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe Biden, Eri Kaneko, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Lynn Hastings, John Kirby, Hastings, Michelle Nichols, Ismail Shakil, Deepa Babington Organizations: United Nations, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, White, Security Council, White House, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Egypt, United States, Israel, Rafah

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief warned at a high-level U.N. meeting Tuesday that the situation in the Middle East is growing more dire by the hour with the risk of the Gaza war spreading through the region increasing as societies splinter and tensions threaten to boil over. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire to deliver desperately needed food, water, medicine and fuel. The secretary-general said the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify “the horrifying and unprecedented Oct. 7 acts of terror” by Hamas in Israel and demanded the immediate release of all hostages. There were some expectations that it might be voted on Tuesday, but diplomats said it is still being negotiated. A draft obtained Monday by The Associated Press would also demand the immediate release of all hostages, strongly urge respect for international laws on conducting war and protecting civilians, call on all countries to take steps to prevent a spillover, and demand immediate humanitarian access to Gaza.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, “, ” Guterres, Guterres, ”, Israel Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Associated Press Locations: Gaza, New York, Israel, United States

☆ Blinken tells UN: US doesn't want war with Iran but will defend itself
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. But if Iran or its proxies attack U.S. personnel anywhere, make no mistake: we will defend our people, we will defend our security - swiftly and decisively." The U.S. has also sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region to try to deter Iran and Iran-backed groups, including two aircraft carriers. Iran was due to address the Security Council meeting on the Middle East later on Tuesday. "It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Shannon Stapleton, Blinken, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Israel's, Eli Cohen, Cohen, Michelle Nichols, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, United, United Nations, Security, Reuters, The, Palestinian Hamas, Israel, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, U.N, New York, U.S, United States, Iran, Washington, Gaza, Tehran, The U.S, GAZA

Israel is escalating its bombardment of targets in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion against Hamas militants. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas rampage. In addition, 222 people including foreigners were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, Israel's military has said. UNRWA said it found shrapnel in its facilities in the Bureij camp and in Nuseirat in central Gaza from Israel’s bombardment of nearby areas Sunday. Israel said Monday it struck 320 militant targets throughout the besieged Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours.

Persons: Israel, HAVE, won’t, —, ROME —, Antonio Tajani, Nir Forti, ’, Forti, “, barbarously, ’ Tajani, Tajani, Ní Aoláin, Ní, Antonio Guterres’s, ” Ní Aoláin, ” Organizations: Hamas, Health Ministry, West Bank, U.S . Department of Defense, UNRWA, Association of University Heads, Israel Army Radio, Gaza, Gaza’s Health Ministry, UNITED, United Nations, University of Minnesota Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, Beirut, israel, CAIRO, Nuseirat, Sunday, ISRAEL, al, Aqsa, Deir al, “, ITALY, Geneva, United

EU officials also drafted a statement in support of the proposal for an EU summit later this week, although they cautioned the text could still change in the coming days. "There's a vital need to get water, to get food, to get medical supplies into Gaza," said Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. Some questioned whether a pause would impede Israel's right to defend itself as it seeks to destroy Hamas positions in Gaza. But Israel has the right to self-defence," said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky questioned "how such a ceasefire should be established with a partner inside Gaza, where the Hamas terrorist organisation now is controlling the situation".

Persons: Josep Borrell, Juan Medina, Antonio Guterres, Borrell, Micheal Martin, Annalena Baerbock, Israel, Alexander Schallenberg ., Jan Lipavsky, Andrew Gray, Bart Meijer, Jan Strupczewski, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Alison Williams Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, U.N, United Nations, Irish, Austrian, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights BRUSSELS, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Egypt, Rafah, Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, Germany, Alexander Schallenberg . Czech

For Shalabi, a local aid worker, a working phone is one of his most vital possessions. “With regards to the humanitarian situation right now, it’s really dire,” Shalabi, senior program manager of Medical Aid for Palestinians, stressed. The first trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza from Egypt on Saturday. Aid workers say they are a fraction of what’s needed, with the World Health Organization saying Gaza requires 100 trucks a day to meet demands. The death toll cannot be independently verified, but the Ministry of Health in Gaza said more than 400 had died.

Persons: Mahmoud Shalabi, ”, CNN’s Erin Burnett, it’s, ” Shalabi, –, General Antonio Guterres, “, Dad, CNN Shalabi, It’s, Shalabi, ” Mahmoud Al, Aloul Organizations: CNN, Medical Aid, Hamas, Health, UN, CNN’s, World Health Organization, Al, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ministry of Health, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: Gaza, Israel, Northern Gaza, Egypt, Rafah, Ahli, Gaza City

Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18. Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza on October 16. Yousef Masoud/The New York Times/Redux Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on the seaport of Gaza City on Tuesday, October 10. Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux Palestinians walk amid the rubble following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10. Erik Marmor/AP Six-month-old Sama Alwadia is rescued from the rubble in Gaza City on October 9.

Persons: uluations, –, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie Raanan, ”, Ben Raanan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Maj, Doron Spielman, Rami Igra, Abed Khaled, Antonio Guterres, Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Ali Jadallah, Janis Laizans, Mohammed Dahman, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Khan, Yasser Qudih, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Ronen Zvulun, Belal Khaled, Abed Rahim Khatib, Leon Neal, Hod, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Biden, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Ariel Schalit, Mohammed Abed, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mustafa Hassona, Mahmoud Khaled, Samar Abu, Fatima Shbair, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Shir Torem, Wahaj Bani Moufleh, Antonio Macías, Macías, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Hatem Ali, Dor Kedmi, Mahmud Hams, Saher, Hatem Moussa, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Yousef Masoud, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Majdi, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Jalaa Marey, Oded, Khan Younis, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Tsafrir, Ahmad Gharabli, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Israel –, Martin Griffiths, Tamara Alrifai Organizations: Rafah CNN, Israel, Hamas, CNN’s, Media Offices, Palestinian Ministry of Health, United, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, CNN Aid, Humanitarian Affairs, Red, United Nations, Reuters Civil, Getty, Reuters Rockets, AP Israel's, Reuters, Regional, Al, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israeli, Ben Gurion International, New York Times, Shifa, Palestinian, AP, West Bank, Aris Messinis, Haim, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Rockets, Reuters Police, UN Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Israel, Egypt, Tel Aviv, United States, United Kingdom, France, Gaza City, El, Arish, Anadolu, Israel's, Khan Younis, Yehuda, Aqsa, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, AFP, Al, Ahli, Sderot, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Beit Kama, Haifa, Cyprus, Nablus, West, Lebanon, Kfar Saba, Israeli, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Be'eri, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Palestinian, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion

☆ Cairo Peace Summit on Gaza conflict: who will attend?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the military stand guard as people take part in a protest in support of Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Old Cairo, Egypt, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Egypt is planning to host an international conference on Saturday to discuss the escalating war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. The list of attendees expected so far at the Cairo Peace Summit include:Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-SisiPalestinian President Mahmoud AbbasJordanian King AbdullahBahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al KhalifaKuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-SabahItalian Prime Minister Giorgia MeloniSpanish Prime Minister Pedro SanchezGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos MitsotakisCypriot President Nikos ChristodoulidesSouth African President Cyril RamaphosaGerman Foreign Minister Annalena BaerbockFrench Foreign Minister Catherine ColonnaJapanese Foreign Minister Yoko KamikawaBritish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs James CleverlyNorwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth EideUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio GuterresEuropean Council President Charles MichelEuropean Union foreign policy chief Josep BorrellReporting by Reuters bureaus; Editing by Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Abdel Fattah al, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al, Ahmad al, Giorgia, Pedro Sanchez, Kyriakos, Nikos Christodoulides, Cyril Ramaphosa, Annalena Baerbock, Catherine Colonna Japanese, Yoko Kamikawa, Foreign Affairs James, Espen Barth Eide, Antonio, Charles Michel, Josep Borrell, Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Palestinian, Cairo Peace, Pedro Sanchez Greek, State, Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide United Nations, Charles Michel European Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Old Cairo, Egypt, Gaza, Cairo, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown, Sabah Italian, Spanish, Norwegian

☆ U.N. chief pushes to get aid into Gaza but process is slow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Aidan Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Earlier, the United States had said details of a deal to send aid through the Rafah crossing were still being hammered out. Before the outbreak of conflict, about 450 aid trucks were arriving there daily. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people depend on humanitarian aid. A U.N. official said more than 200 trucks of aid were ready to move from Sinai to Gaza. During previous conflicts, aid had been delivered to Gaza during humanitarian pauses through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is controlled by Israel.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Israel, Guterres, Jens Laerke, Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan Organizations: United Nations, Hamas, Humanitarian Affairs, Thomson Locations: RAFAH, Egypt, Rafah, Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, Geneva, United States, Al Arish, Roads, Sinai

☆ U.N. Chief Says Restrictions Being Imposed on Aid Deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to the media on a visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said restrictions were being imposed on aid deliveries to Gaza, and called on Israel to lift its blockade. “We are actively engaging with all the parties in order to clarify these restrictions so we can have these trucks moving towards where they’re needed. We need these trucks moving as soon as possible,” said Guterres at a press briefing outside the Egyptian gates of the Rafah border crossing. He didn't elaborate on what the restrictions were.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Amr Abdallah Dalsh, ”, Guterres Organizations: United Nations, Reuters Locations: Rafah, Egypt, Gaza, Israel

They were the first hostages confirmed by both sides in the conflict to be freed since Hamas gunmen burst into Israel and killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 200 others. Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, said the hostages were released in part "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts. HEAVY BOMBARDMENTPalestinian media reported heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza overnight, including a strike on a house in Jabalia in northern Gaza that killed at least 19 people. [1/8]Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, U.S. citizens who were taken as hostages by Palestinian Hamas militants, walk while holding hands with Brig.-Gen. Israel has already told all civilians to evacuate the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which includes Gaza City.

Persons: Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie, Gal Hirsch, Uri Raanan, we'll, Abu Ubaida, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, it's, Natalie Shoshana Raanan, Antony Blinken, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Nandita Bose, Nidal, Idrees Ali, Stephen Coates, Diane Craft Organizations: Gaza Hamas, Friday, Reuters, Israeli, Brig, Palestinian, of Saint, United, Israel, Hamas, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Bannockburn , Illinois, Chicago, Jabalia, U.S, Jerusalem, of Saint Porphyrius, Gaza City, Iran, United States, United Nations, Rafah, Egypt, Palestinian, Jericho, Washington

The president also stressed the urgency of getting relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza who lack food, water and medicine. Israel appeared to be getting closer to a full-scale invasion of Gaza, a densely populated enclave ruled by Hamas. The Israeli military has massed troops and equipment near the Gaza border. The command will come," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday. [1/8]Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon, in southern Israel, October 19, 2023.

Persons: Khan Younis, Biden, Joe Biden, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Ayman Safadi, Amir Cohen, David Satterfield, General Antonio Guterres, Gaza's, Issam Abdallah, Crescent, Abu Obeida, Al, Nidal al, Cynthia Osterman, Stephen Coates, Howard Goller Organizations: Israel, Wednesday, Israeli, REUTERS, Middle East, State Department, Hamas, United Nations, Palestinian, Gaza's Hamas, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, Hezbollah, Bank, West Bank, Thomson Locations: West Bank, Lebanon, U.S, Yemen, Israel WASHINGTON, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, kibbutzes, Jordanian, Amman, Tel Aviv, Egypt, Ashkelon, Rafah, FLASHPOINTS, Khan, Iran, Lebanese, Manara, Nur, Tulkarm, Al Jazeera, Gaza , Washington, Jerusalem

China is ramping up its diplomatic efforts in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with President Xi Jinping issuing his first public comments on the war and calling for a cease-fire. These increased diplomatic efforts show that China is seeking a quick end to the conflict, which started Oct. 7 after Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people. Cartoons on Ukraine and Russia View All 104 Images"It's a very cost-effective strategy in the Middle East. China has vested economic interests in the Middle East given its oil imports from the region. The efforts also highlights ongoing attempts from China to be seen more broadly as a peacemaker and a prominent influence among international groups and developing countries.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Mostafa Madbouly, Xi “, Xi, Zhai Jun, it’s, Mor, Axios, Sobol, Antonio Guterres, ” Organizations: Egyptian, Chinese Foreign, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hamas, Tamkang University, U.S, United Nations Locations: China, Israel, Beijing, State, Palestine, Egypt, Gaza, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia

She hopes the foundation's success in providing support to communities in Haiti even while gang violence escalates in the country will convince other nonprofits to help as well. “Part of this campaign is to help other funders understand that there is an ecosystem in Haiti that is functioning,” Montgomery Tabron said. We're trying to explain to partners that we can help connect them to those places, those pockets of hope where the investments will truly matter and make a difference." In the past month, “Pockets of Hope” raised an additional $20 million collectively in commitments from the Digicel Foundation, the Dunn Family Charitable Foundation, and the Amsterdam-based Porticus foundation. Actress Garcelle Beauvais, who emigrated from Haiti to the United States as a child, told The Associated Press that she wanted to support “Pockets of Hope” to let Haitians know that they have not been forgotten by the rest of the world.

Persons: Jovenel Moïse, Montgomery Tabron, ” Montgomery Tabron, “, Hope ”, Garcelle Beauvais, ”, Beauvais, that's, ’, António Guterres, ” Beauvais, Kellogg Organizations: —, Kellogg Foundation, Digicel Foundation, Charitable Foundation, Associated Press, Housewives, Beverly, United Nations, U.S . Agency for International, Government, USAID, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Haiti, Amsterdam, United States, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, ”, Prince, U.S

☆ Israel-Hamas war fuels debate and nationalist sentiment on Chinese social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“The lack of condemnation of Hamas by Chinese officials gives it support,” she said. As an increasing number of China watchers and Israeli scholars pointed out the rise in antisemitic sentiment in China, some Chinese diplomats appeared to have taken note. The Israeli diplomatic outpost has been active on Chinese social media, Lavi, from the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center told CNN. China bans foreign social media platforms and censors comments deemed marginally sensitive by the Chinese Communist Party. “Many comments also highlight China’s peace-making efforts and draw parallels between the suffering of the Palestinian people and China’s own historical experiences with colonization.”

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Yuval Waks, ” Waks, Waks, “, Beijing’s, Wang Yi, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Israel “, Adolf Hitler, Xiao Qiang, ”, Xiao, Lavi, Diane, Guilford Glazer, Hua Chunying, ’ “, Mohammed Al, Masri, Noa Argamani, ” Wendy Zhou, Mao, Zhou Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, Weibo, Embassy, United Nations, UN, School of Information, University of California, China Policy Center, Israeli Embassy, Diane, CNN, Shifa, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Reuters, Georgia State University, Chinese Communist Party, Israel, Palestine, Palestinian Authority Locations: China, Hong Kong, Israel, Gaza, Beijing, Israeli, Weibo, United States, University of California Berkeley, Guilford Glazer Israel, Shanghai, Al, Ahli, Gaza City

☆ China's Belt and Road Forum: What to know following Beijing's 'grand gathering'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Here are the main takeaways from China’s Belt and Road Forum. No doubt over Putin’s prominenceThe gathering left no question over who was the most important world leader in attendance in the eyes of China’s Xi. In his meeting with Putin, Xi hailed the China-Russia partnership as “a long-term commitment,” stressing “ever-lasting good neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation,” and alluding to their shared 4,300-kilometer border and mutual aims. Since then, skepticism about China’s global ambitions has risen in Europe, in particular over Beijing’s economic and diplomatic support for Moscow. “Obviously, competition should not mean working against each other but mutually improving each other,” he said, while touting the quantity of China’s global development projects.

Persons: Beijing CNN —, Xi, Vladimir Putin, –, Putin striding, Putin, ” Putin, Joe Biden’s, ”, Giuseppe Conte, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Kassym, Joko, General António Guterres, ” Guterres, Zhai Jun, Wang Yi, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN, Initiative, of, Italian, Beijing, United Nations, Hamas Locations: China, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, Russia, China’s, East, Gaza, Israel, Europe, US, Greece, Austria, Portugal, Czech Republic, Moscow, Italy, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Egypt

☆ UN chief 'horrified' by Gaza hospital strike that killed hundreds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Oct 18 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "horrified" by hundreds of people killed in Tuesday's strike on a Gaza hospital. Before flying to the Chinese capital to attend the Belt and Road Forum, Guterres said on Wednesday he had appealed to Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and to Israel to allow immediate unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for Gaza. [1/2]United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF), to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Edgar Su Acquire Licensing RightsHe also emphasised the need for promotion of effective debt relief mechanisms to ensure that countries involved in the Belt and Road programme were not locked into unsustainable debt. (This story has been corrected to fix the day of week to say Tuesday, not Sunday, in paragraph 1)Reporting by Laurie Chen, Ella Cao and Liz LeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Edgar Su, Laurie Chen, Ella Cao, Liz Lee Organizations: United Nations, Initiative, of, People, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Gaza, Israel, Beijing

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