Israel has declined to resume the residency visa of Jonathan Whittall, the senior UN humanitarian official within the occupied Palestinian territories, over his criticism of Tel Aviv‘s hunger coverage within the Gaza Strip, UN officers mentioned Sunday.
Whittall, who heads the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) within the area, can be compelled to depart the nation by the top of August, in accordance with a number of reviews and UN sources.
He resides in Jerusalem and repeatedly travels to Gaza as a part of his duties.
The transfer marks the newest in a sequence of restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on worldwide humanitarian workers working within the occupied territories.
According to native reviews, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar personally ordered that Whittall’s visa not be renewed.
UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko confirmed the event, noting that Israeli authorities had “informed us that Whittall’s visa would not be renewed.”
She added that current months have seen “a clear pattern of reduced visa durations and increased denials of entry for UN personnel,” together with rejections of entry requests to Gaza and restrictions on Palestinian workers attempting to enter East Jerusalem.
The Israeli resolution adopted public remarks by Whittall through which he harshly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing the humanitarian situations close to US-run assist distribution websites as “created to kill,” and accusing Israel of pursuing a “death sentence” for Palestinians trying to outlive.
In statements, Whittall mentioned the disaster in Gaza is just not the results of neglect, however of deliberate decisions. He mentioned the humanitarian system is being systematically dismantled, and starvation is getting used as a weapon.
Since October 2023, the Israeli military has killed practically 59,000 Palestinians, most of them ladies and kids, in Gaza. The relentless bombing has destroyed the enclave, practically collapsed its well being system, and created famine-like situations.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for battle crimes and crimes towards humanity in Gaza. Israel additionally faces a genocide case on the International Court of Justice over its battle on the enclave.
The German authorities has criticized the distribution of assist within the Gaza Strip by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as insufficient.
“In the view of the German government, it is now obvious that [the GHF’s new distribution mechanism] does not reach the civilian population to a sufficient extent and does not operate in accordance with humanitarian principles,” the Foreign Office in Berlin stated in response to a question from the Greens parliamentary group, which was made obtainable to dpa.
The GHF, which is supported by Israel and the United States, started its work on the finish of May following a month-long Israeli blockade of assist deliveries. It palms out meals at a small variety of distribution centres within the war-torn Palestinian territory.
There have been repeated stories of deadly incidents close to GHF distribution centres, with the Israeli military accused of killing individuals ready to obtain assist.
According to the United Nations, lots of of deaths have been recorded at GHF distribution centres in Gaza because the finish of May.
Previously, the UN had operated round 400 distribution centres within the Gaza Strip to produce round 2 million Palestinians.
The German authorities assertion says that no state funds are being channelled from Germany to the GHF. There are additionally no pending selections on funding for the GHF.
Israel‘s Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir believes a ceasefire within the Gaza conflict and an settlement to launch hostages held by Hamas are more and more attainable.
“Your achievements in the field as part of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ are advancing Hamas’ defeat and creating the potential for a hostage deal,” Zamir mentioned on Sunday throughout a go to to troops within the Gaza Strip, in keeping with army sources.
In oblique negotiations in Doha, Israel and the Palestinian resistance motion Hamas have been struggling for months to achieve compromises that will allow a 60-day ceasefire and the discharge of hostages.
Diplomats from Qatar, Egypt and the United States are appearing as mediators. Israeli media lately reported progress, however a breakthrough doesn’t but seem like in sight.
Zamir mentioned that the military command was ready for all eventualities.
“We will implement new operational formats that will amplify our strengths, reduce vulnerabilities, and deepen operational gains,” he defined, with out elaborating on these strategic choices. The eventualities could be offered to the political management for a choice, he added.
According to Israeli estimates, 50 individuals kidnapped from Israel are nonetheless being held within the Gaza Strip, at the least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Their launch – in return for the discharge of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails – is to be staggered in keeping with the plans.
During the non permanent ceasefire, the events to the battle will then negotiate an finish to the conflict in Gaza and the discharge of the final hostages.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off Russia’s far jap Kamchatka Peninsula on Sunday, prompting emergency providers to watch for potential tsunami waves, in keeping with earthquake monitoring businesses.
The earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles), shortly after a earlier quake, in keeping with the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) knowledge.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) confirmed the earthquake to be of seven.4 magnitude. GFZ additionally up to date the quake to a 7.4 magnitude after first reporting it at 6.7 magnitude.
Russia’s state-run TASS news company reported on Sunday, citing native emergency providers, that waves of as much as 60 centimeters may attain the sparsely populated Aleutsky District on the Commander Islands.
Waves of as much as 40 centimeters might have an effect on the Ust-Kamchatsky area in jap Kamchatka, whereas the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city district – essentially the most densely populated space within the south-eastern a part of the peninsula and residential to the regional capital – may see waves of as much as 15 centimeters.
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center cancelled a tsunami look ahead to the state of Hawaii.
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At least 86 Palestinians, together with 76 kids, have died from starvation and malnutrition as a consequence of Israel’s deliberate blockade stopping support from getting into the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Health Ministry stated on Sunday.
“Famine has killed 86 people in Gaza, including 76 children, as a result of starvation and malnutrition,” the ministry stated in an announcement.
It described the disaster as a “silent massacre” unfolding within the blockaded territory and held each Israel and the worldwide neighborhood liable for the worsening humanitarian circumstances within the enclave.
The ministry famous that 18 folks had starved to dying in Gaza within the final 24 hours, calling for the instant reopening of Gaza’s border crossings to permit the entry of meals and medication.
Israel has sealed all crossings with Gaza since March 2, successfully reducing off entry to humanitarian support and accelerating the unfold of famine.
Israel has killed practically 59,000 Palestinians, most of them girls and youngsters, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombing has destroyed the enclave, virtually collapsed the well being system, and created famine-like circumstances.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for battle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity in Gaza.
Israel additionally faces a genocide case on the International Court of Justice for its battle on the enclave.
Dozens of rescuers searched Sunday for 4 lacking individuals after a thunderstorm capsized a vacationer boat in Vietnam’s Halong Bay, killing at the least a number of dozen, authorities mentioned.
Despite a relaxed sea, rescuers, from police and border guards to divers and navy personnel, have been battling restricted visibility hours earlier than the anticipated landfall in northern Vietnam of Typhoon Wipha, which is now approaching Hong Kong.
The authorities mentioned rescuers had managed to retrieve the sunken boat and revised down the loss of life toll to 35 from an preliminary 38 on Saturday, whereas slicing an estimate of these aboard to 49 from 53, although officers concern the toll might nonetheless rise.
All the vacationers aboard have been Vietnamese, together with a number of youngsters, the official Vietnam News Agency mentioned.
“My brother can swim, but I was told everything happened too fast,” Tran Trung Tu, 39, whose sibling was 32, informed Reuters at a funeral parlour Sunday.
The accident was one of many worst lately within the UNESCO-protected archipelago of 1000’s of limestone islands about 200 kilometers (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, which pulls tens of 1000’s of holiday makers annually.
The sudden thunderstorm turned the sky darkish in a matter of minutes, felling timber within the capital of Hanoi, the place officers on the Noi Bai worldwide airport mentioned 9 flights have been diverted and three departures quickly halted.
“It is the first time I have experienced an accident with so many casualties here,” mentioned insurance coverage agent Do Thi Thuy.
A tour boat sank in Halong Bay in 2011, killing 12, with some international vacationers amongst them.
The authorities mentioned the accident was attributable to a “sudden” storm. Strong winds, heavy rain and lightning have been reported across the time of the occasion, at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
“I was told life vests were available, but it was too sudden,” mentioned Do Van Hai, 42, a Halong resident. “Hopefully, the missing ones will be found soon.”
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Napoli have additional bolstered their squad with the signing of defender Sam Beukema from Bologna, the Serie champions introduced on Sunday, with the Dutchman becoming a member of on a five-year deal price 30 million euros ($34.88 million) in response to Italian media.
Beukema joined Bologna in 2023 from AZ Alkmaar, and the 26-year-old made 80 appearances throughout all competitions for the Italian facet over the previous two seasons, together with beginning all eight video games of their Champions League marketing campaign final season.
Napoli, who received their fourth Scudetto in May, have additionally added Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, Dutch winger Noa Lang and Italian striker Lorenzo Lucca to Antonio Conte’s squad within the shut season.
Speaking on the official ceremony held to mark the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned, “The international community must recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and establish diplomatic, political, and economic relations as soon as possible. Direct flights and trade must be opened up.”
Erdoğan laid out the next keynotes in his historic handle:
“With the landing of Turkish soldiers on the island during the Cyprus Peace Operation, the whole world saw the Turkish Cypriots did not stand alone,
We have not forgotten what happened to Turkish Cypriots, and will do whatever it takes to prevent such pain from happening again.
Turkish Cypriots can’t afford to lose another 60 years. It’s time to move beyond ‘outdated, UN-backed federation model’.
Despite Greek Cypriot attempts to present themselves as ‘sole authority’ on island, TRNC is now represented in Turkic and Islamic country groups.
Insisting on solution model that Turkish Cypriots have clearly withdrawn their support from and that has failed many times benefits no one.
Turkish Cypriots will forever live free in their own homeland, with Türkiye’s support, no matter what anyone says.”
Israel on Sunday killed one other 73 Palestinians who had been attempting to entry important support throughout Gaza, the territory’s Health Ministry stated.
The largest toll, in response to the Gaza ministry, was within the northern a part of the territory, the place at the very least 67 Palestinians had been killed whereas attempting to succeed in support getting into northern Gaza by way of the Zikim crossing with Israel, in response to the ministry and native hospitals.
More than 150 folks had been wounded, with a few of them in essential situation, hospitals stated. Seven Palestinians had been additionally killed whereas sheltering in tents in Khan Younis, together with a 5-year-old boy, in response to the Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital, which acquired the casualties.
The killings in northern Gaza did not happen close to support distribution factors related to the Gaza Humanitarian Fund, or GHF, a U.S.- and Israel-backed group that arms out meals packages to Palestinians.
Witnesses and well being employees say tons of of individuals have been killed by Israeli fireplace whereas attempting to entry the group’s distribution websites.
The Israeli navy claimed that troopers had shot at a gathering of hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza who allegedly posed a risk and that it was conscious of some casualties.
But it stated that the numbers being reported by groups in Gaza had been far larger than the navy’s preliminary investigation discovered.
Meanwhile, the navy revealed new evacuation warnings for areas of central Gaza yesterday, in one of many few areas the place the navy has not often operated with floor troops.
New evac order
The evacuation cuts entry between the town of Deir al-Balah and the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis within the slender enclave.The announcement got here as Israel and Hamas have been holding cease-fire talks in Qatar, however worldwide mediators say there have been no breakthroughs.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly careworn that increasing Israel’s navy operations in Gaza will strain Hamas to barter, however negotiations have been stalled for months.
Earlier this month, the Israeli navy stated that it managed greater than 65% of the Gaza Strip.
The space of Gaza below the evacuation order is the place many worldwide organizations trying to distribute support are situated.
Palestinians collect to obtain meals from a charity kitchen, amid a starvation disaster, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025. (Reuters Photo)
The United Nations has been in touch with Israeli authorities to make clear whether or not U.N. amenities in southwestern Deir al-Balah are included in yesterday’s evacuation order, in response to a U.N. official who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of he wasn’t approved to talk to the media.
The official stated that in earlier situations, U.N. amenities had been spared from evacuation orders. The evacuation announcement covers an space stretching from a beforehand evacuated space all the way in which to the coast and can severely hamper motion for support teams and civilians in Gaza.
Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned that the navy will assault “with intensity” in opposition to resistance members. He known as for residents, together with these sheltering in tents, to go to the Muwasi space, a desolate tent camp on Gaza’s southern shore that the Israeli navy has designated a humanitarian zone.
Gaza’s inhabitants of greater than 2 million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian disaster.
The conflict was triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas incursion that triggered round 1,200 deaths and took 251 others hostage. Fifty stay, however fewer than half are considered alive.
Israeli opposition
The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots group that represents lots of the households of hostages, condemned the evacuation announcement and demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli navy clarify what they hope to perform within the space of central Gaza, accusing Israel of working with no clear conflict plan.
“Enough! The Israeli folks overwhelmingly need an finish to the preventing and a complete settlement that can return all the hostages,” the discussion board stated.
On Saturday night time, through the weekly protest, tens of hundreds of protesters marched in Tel Aviv to the department of the U.S. Embassy, demonstrating for an finish to the conflict.
Yesterday morning, ambulances in entrance of three main hospitals in Gaza sounded their alarms concurrently in an pressing enchantment to make clear the starvation disaster within the territory.
The Health Ministry posted footage on social media of docs holding paper indicators about malnourished youngsters and lack of remedy.
Zaher al-Wahidi, one of many spokespeople on the Health Ministry, stated that at the very least 9 youngsters below 5 years previous have died of malnutrition as of yesterday since Israel imposed an support entry blockade in March.
He defined that monitoring the variety of folks dying of hunger is difficult as a result of some might be affected by different medical circumstances that might be worsened when compounded with extreme starvation.
In northern Gaza, Shifa Hospital director Abu Selmiyah stated that the hospital recorded 79 individuals who died of malnutrition prior to now month.
Israeli bombardments continued to pound the Gaza Strip in a single day. Large explosions in northern Gaza had been seen from Israel as plumes of fireplace shot into the sky.
In northern Gaza, Shifa Hospital director Abu Selmiyah stated that the hospital recorded 79 individuals who died of malnutrition prior to now month.
Israeli bombardments continued to pound the Gaza Strip in a single day. Large explosions in northern Gaza had been seen from Israel as plumes of fireplace shot into the sky.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday headed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend ceremonies marking the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, often called Peace and Freedom Day.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, deputy speaker of Turkish parliament Bekir Bozdağ, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and chief presidential adviser Akif Çağatay Kılıç, accompanied the president on his flight.
During the go to, Erdoğan will meet his TRNC counterpart Ersin Tatar and attend the opening of the Lefkosa Northern Ring Road Interchange and Connecting Roads.
– Decades-long downside
Cyprus has been mired in a decades-long dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, regardless of a sequence of diplomatic efforts by the UN to attain a complete settlement.
Ethnic assaults beginning within the early Nineteen Sixties compelled Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into enclaves for his or her security.
In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed toward Greece’s annexation of the island led to Türkiye‘s army intervention as a guarantor energy to guard Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. As a consequence, the TRNC was based in 1983.
It has seen an on-and-off peace course of lately, together with a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland beneath the auspices of guarantor international locations Türkiye, Greece, and the UK.
The Greek Cypriot Administration entered the EU in 2004, the identical 12 months that Greek Cypriots single-handedly blocked a UN plan to finish the longstanding dispute.
