The UN says Israel's new security processes are preventing vital aid from reaching Palestinians, amid mounting criticism of the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government within Israel.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has claimed that what Israel "is doing now in Gaza, is very close to a war crime".
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that despite more supplies arriving in Gaza, none has yet reached the starving population as teams ran out of time after the Israeli military made them transfer the aid onto separate trucks.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Monday warned that 14,000 babies are at risk of dying within 48 hours if more aid doesn’t enter Gaza quickly.
An Israeli defence body that oversees humanitarian aid said five trucks entered Monday and 93 trucks entered Tuesday. But Ms Dujarric said the UN confirmed only a few dozen trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday.
In the UK, the government is facing pressure to sanction ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. It announced on Monday the suspension of trade talks with Israel and sanctioned individuals and entities involved with the settler movement - but was told it must move further and faster.
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Key Points
- UN says no aid distributed yet in Gaza
- Israeli politician accuses Netanyahu government of 'kill[ing] babies as a hobby'
- Children among 20 killed Wednesday morning - medics
- UK halts trade talks and sanctions Israel over Gaza crisis
Former Israeli PM claims current action in Gaza 'is very close to a war crime'
08:58
,
Rachel Clun
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has claimed that what Israel "is doing now in Gaza, is very close to a war crime".
Olmert, who was prime minister between 2006 and 2009, said that it was "a war without a purpose - a war without a chance of achieving anything that can save the lives of the hostages."
Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, he added: "From every point of view, this is obnoxious and outrageous.
"We are fighting the killers of Hamas, we are not fighting innocent civilians," he said. "And that has to be clear."
His comments came as Israel allowed some aid to begin to return to Gaza following an 11-week blockade, and after Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would take full control of the territory.
WHO head urges better access to healthcare in Gaza
08:46
,
Rachel Clun
The WHO director-general has pleaded for the remaining healthcare facilities in Gaza to be protected, with several medical facilities, incuding three hospitals, included in the evacuation zone announced by Israel on Tuesday.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Kamal Adwan Hospital was closed due to nearby hostilities while the Indonensian Hospital remains accessible.
“Al-Awda, the last functioning hospital in North Gaza, is overwhelmed and at risk of closure due to insecurity and access constraints,” he said.
Ghebreyesus added that eight primary care centres, nine medical points and one non-functioning hospital were in evacuation zones announced in southern Gaza on Monday.
“Intensified Israeli ground operations and new evacuation orders in Gaza are stretching the health system beyond the breaking point,” he said.
“Even if health facilities are not attacked or forced to evacuate, hostilities and military presence obstruct patients and staff from accessing care, and WHO from resupplying hospitals, which can quickly make them non-functional.”
He continued: “We’ve seen this too many times — it must not be allowed to happen again. WHO urges for the immediate protection of health care. Hospitals must never be militarised or targeted. Ceasefire!”
In pics: Israel continues its offensive on Gaza
08:30
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
EU to review ties with Israel amid 'catastrophic' Gaza situation
08:10
,
Alex Croft
Last night, news emerged that the EU will review its ties with Israel due to the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza, according to the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas.
Kallas said a "strong majority" of the ministers meeting in Brussels favoured such a review of the agreement with Israel, known as an association agreement, in light of events in Gaza.
The review is backed by 17 of 27 EU members, and would focus on whether Israel is complying with a human rights clause in the agreement.
Ms Kallas told reporters: "The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The aid that Israel has allowed in is of course welcomed, but it's a drop in the ocean. Aid must flow immediately, without obstruction and at scale, because this is what is needed.”
But the Israeli foreign ministry dismissed the critique by Ms Kallas: "We completely reject the direction taken in the statement, which reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing," it said in an X post late on Tuesday.
Trump wants Israel to 'wrap up' Gaza offensive – report
08:00
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Donald Trump is reportedly “frustrated” by the ongoing war in Gaza and wants Benjamin Netanyahu to end the offensive.
"The president is frustrated about what is happening in Gaza. He wants the war to end, he wants the hostages to come home, he wants aid to go in and he wants to start rebuilding Gaza," one White House official told Axios.
In days after his trip to the Middle East, the US president is reportedly considering a plan to permanently relocate as many as a million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya.
White House sources told NBC News that the idea had been discussed with Libya’s leadership and is being seriously considered.
In exchange, the Trump administration would release billions of dollars of funds to Libya that the US froze more than a decade ago.
Oil prices surge amid reports of Israel preparing to strike Iran
07:58
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil prices jumped today after reports suggested Israel is making preparations to possibly strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
Multiple US sources told CNN that the Trump administration has obtained new intelligence suggesting that Israel is making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
The US officials cautioned the broadcaster that it was not clear that Israeli leaders had made a final decision.
The "chance of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility has gone up significantly in recent months,” said another person familiar with US intelligence on the issue.
“And the prospect of a Trump-negotiated US-Iran deal that doesn’t remove all of Iran’s uranium makes the chance of a strike more likely.”
Children among 20 killed Wednesday morning - medics
07:43
,
Alex Croft
Several children are among more than 20 people killed by Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday morning, medical sources in Gaza have said.
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, 11 were killed and 13 injured in an attack on the Nabhan family home in Jabalia al-Balad, in northern parts of the strip.
Three children were among five killed when a house was bombed in Deir al-Balah, in the centre of the strip.
Seven more were killed in southern parts of Gaza, around Khan Younis.
Wafa also reports that Israel has demolished several buildings west of the town of Beit Lahia, in the north of the enclave.
UK minister: ‘Israel has gone beyond self defence’
07:27
,
Alex Croft
Steve Reed has described the situation in Gaza as “intolerable” and said Benjamin Netanyahu is making things worse, not better.
The environment secretary doubled down on Sir Keir Starmer’s condemnation of the Israeli prime minister, calling for him to halt renewed hostilities.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “We are working closely with our allies and there are other allies as well who are trying to apply pressure on the Netanyahu government.”
And he added: “This has gone beyond self defence on the part of Israel, this is an attack that we can no longer tolerate.”
Full list of UK sanctions against Israel over Gaza
07:00
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The UK has announced further sanctions and a suspension of trade negotiations with Israel, as it condemned its “monstrous” 11-week aid blockade and renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Foreign secretary David Lammy announced a series of measures on Tuesday as the UN warned that 14,000 Palestinian babies could die by Thursday unless action is taken to ease the crisis in which civilians are severely malnourished.
He announced the suspension of trade talks, imposed sanctions on three individuals and four entities involved in the settler movement, and said Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions were “wholly disproportionate” and “utterly counterproductive”.
More here.
Israel says it is sending aid into Gaza as fresh strikes kill 85 Palestinians
06:30
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel pressed ahead on Tuesday with its new military offensive in Gaza despite mounting international criticism, launching airstrikes that health officials said killed at least 85 Palestinians.
Israeli officials said they also allowed in dozens more trucks carrying aid. Two days after aid began entering Gaza, the desperately needed new supplies have not yet reached people in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, according to the United Nations.
Experts have warned that many of Gaza's 2 million residents are at high risk of famine. Under pressure, Israel agreed this week to allow a "minimal" amount of aid into the Palestinian territory after preventing the entry of food, medicine and fuel in an attempt to pressure the Hamas militant group.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that although the aid has entered Gaza, aid workers were not able to bring it to distribution points where it is most needed, after the Israeli military forced them to reload the supplies onto separate trucks and workers ran out of time.
COGAT, the Israeli defence body that oversees humanitarian aid, said five trucks entered Monday and 93 trucks entered Tuesday. But Ms Dujarric said the UN confirmed only a few dozen trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday.
The aid included flour for bakeries, food for soup kitchens, baby food and medical supplies. The UN humanitarian agency said it is prioritising baby formula in the first shipments.
Watch: UK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violence
06:00
,
Athena Stavrou
Lammy ‘begged’ to ‘save children’s lives’ in Gaza as MPs call for tougher action
05:40
,
Athena Stavrou
The Foreign Secretary has been “begged” to “save children’s lives” in Gaza as MPs from across the Commons urged him to refer to Israel’s actions in the region as a “genocide”.
David Lammy announced new measures against Israel but Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat backbenchers urged him to go further.
A number of MPs called on the Foreign Secretary to suspend all arms sales to Israel, sanction Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and to recognise a Palestinian state.
Backbenchers shouted “genocide” as Mr Lammy said in his opening statement: “We must call this what it is.
“It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Israeli politician accuses Netanyahu government of 'kill[ing] babies as a hobby'
05:19
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
An Israeli politician has warned his country is becoming an "outcast among nations" because of the government's approach to the war in Gaza.
"A sane country doesn't engage in fighting against civilians, doesn't kill babies as a hobby and doesn't set for itself the goals of expelling a population," Yair Golan, a retired general and leader of the opposition Democrats party, told Reshet Bet radio.
The UN's humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Monday warned that 14,000 babies in Gaza were at risk of dying within 48 hours if more aid doesn’t enter Gaza quickly.
Mr Golan's comments represent rare criticism from inside Israel of its wartime conduct in Gaza. Many Israelis have criticised Benjamin Netanyahu throughout the war, but that has been mostly limited to what opponents argue are his political motives to continue the war. Criticism over the war's toll on Palestinian civilians has been almost unheard.
Mr Netanyahu swiftly slammed Mr Golan's remarks, calling them "wild incitement" against Israeli soldiers and accusing him of echoing "disgraceful antisemitic blood libels" against the country.
Mr Golan, who donned his uniform during Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack to join the fight against the militants, previously sparked an uproar when as deputy military chief of staff in 2016 he likened the atmosphere in Israel to that of Nazi-era Germany.
In pictures: Palestinians flee Khan Younis
05:19
,
Athena Stavrou
UN says Israel's attack on Gaza killed 28,000 women and girls
04:41
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Israel's almost two-year-long offensive in Gaza has killed more than 28,000 women and girls, UN Women said.
At least one woman and one girl on average have been killed every hour in attacks by Israeli forces since they launched their retaliatory attack on the Strip in October 2023, according to UN Women's analysis.
Among those killed, thousands were mothers, leaving behind devastated children, families, and communities, the agency said, adding that these figures underscore the shattering human toll of the conflict, and of lives and futures lost too soon.
"Since the ceasefire collapsed in March 2025, conditions have deteriorated further in Gaza, compounded by nearly nine weeks of an ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid. The entire population in Gaza is rapidly running out of food and essential supplies with increasing risks of famine," the agency said.
"This means every woman and girl, (more than 1 million) is facing catastrophic levels of hunger. Women and girls are trapped, facing displacement, rising maternal mortality rates, and a severe lack of safety and protection mechanisms."
Analysis: Why Starmer’s government has waited until now to take action on Israel
04:22
,
Athena Stavrou
Frustration spilled over in the Commons on Tuesday – from Labour MPs and others – over the time it has taken for Keir Starmer’s government to step up and take action against Israel over the Gaza crisis.
As the UN warned that 14,000 babies risked death from malnutrition by Thursday without urgent aid, there was a sense that, by the time foreign secretary David Lammy got to his feet, it was already too late and not enough.
As David Lammy announces the suspension of trade talks with Israel and new sanctions over the Gaza humanitarian crisis, political editor David Maddox explains why action wasn’t taken sooner:
UK sanctions far-right Israeli settler Daniella Weiss
04:19
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The British government has imposed sanctions on a far-right Israeli settler known as the "godmother" of the movement.
Daniella Weiss, 79, is among the three individuals and four entities involved in the settler movement that were sanctioned by the British government yesterday over Israel's “monstrous” 11-week aid blockade and renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Ms Weiss leads the group Nachala, which has a stated goal of enhancing West Bank settlements and has openly planned construction of unauthorised outposts.
The group has also been sanctioned by the UK.
“I’m not afraid of sanctions,” Ms Weiss told the Associated Press last year.
Ms Weiss, described by the UK as a "high-profile extremist settler leader", was a key focus of the recent Louis Theroux BBC documentary Settlers, which shone a light on the tactics of Israeli settlers in the Palestinian West Bank.
The UK has described her as having been involved in "threatening, perpetrating, promoting and supporting, acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian individuals".
Britain halts trade talks and sanctions Israel over ‘intolerable’ Gaza crisis
04:01
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Britain has issued fresh sanctions against Israel over its “morally unjustifiable” escalation of violence in Gaza, and demanded an end to its “cruel and indefensible” 11-week block on humanitarian aid.
Foreign secretary David Lammy condemned the “monstrous” situation as the UN warned that 14,000 Palestinian babies could die by Thursday unless action is taken to ease the crisis, which has left civilians severely malnourished.
He announced the suspension of trade talks with Israel, imposed sanctions on three individuals and four entities involved in the settler movement, and said Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions were “wholly disproportionate” and “utterly counterproductive”.
More here.
Cambridge college to cut ties with arms companies following student protests
03:35
,
Athena Stavrou
A University of Cambridge college has announced it will divest from arms companies following student protests.
King’s College said on Tuesday that its governing body has voted to “adopt a new responsible investment policy” to align with the values of its community.
It comes after pro-Palestine protesters staged demonstrations and set up encampments against the violence in Gaza at Cambridge University last year.
Under the new policy, King’s College’s financial investments will exclude companies that are involved in activities “generally recognised as illegal or contravening global norms, such as occupation”.
It will also exclude companies which produce military and nuclear weapons, weapons restricted by international treaty, or companies that produce key or dedicated components of such weapons.
Pictured: Smoke rises following an Israeli army bombardment in Gaza Strip on Tuesday
02:29
,
Athena Stavrou
UN says no aid distributed yet in Gaza
01:36
,
Athena Stavrou
No humanitarian aid has been distributed yet in the Gaza Strip, the UN said on Tuesday evening.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that despite more supplies being dropped off on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing on Tuesday, none have reached the starving population.
"Today, one of our teams waited several hours for the Israeli green light to access the Kerem Shalom area and collect the nutrition supplies. Unfortunately, they were not able to to bring those supplies into our warehouse," Dujarric said.
In pictures: Palestinians flee Khan Younis
Wednesday 21 May 2025 00:48
,
Athena Stavrou
Analysis | Netanyahu is turning Israel into a global pariah, so what next?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 00:01
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew writes:
My friends in Gaza - civilians who woke up on 7 October 2023 like the rest of the world, clueless, shocked, and scared - are on the run again this week. For the eighth time.
Israel bombed the building next to their home last week; blowing their neighbours - again, women, children - to pieces and burying them under more rubble.
Now the Israeli military is issuing new sweeping “evacuation” orders - dangerous directives that make no sense in the nightmare reality on the ground.
Under Israel’s total blockade, these friends struggle to eat, sometimes resorting to rotten food. They struggle to get clean water. They struggle to get nutrients to their young baby. They have lost dozens of extended family members. They have done nothing to deserve this.
Israel ramps up attacks on Gaza despite mounting international pressure
Tuesday 20 May 2025 23:03
,
Athena Stavrou
Israeli forces killed at least 55 Palestinians in airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday alone, local medics said.
Israel continued to bombard the enclave despite mounting international pressure to halt military operations and allow unimpeded deliveries of aid.
The violence has left Gaza in ruins and its population facing a worsening hunger crisis.
Lammy ‘begged’ to ‘save children’s lives’ in Gaza as MPs call for tougher action
Tuesday 20 May 2025 22:29
,
Athena Stavrou
The Foreign Secretary has been “begged” to “save children’s lives” in Gaza as MPs from across the Commons urged him to refer to Israel’s actions in the region as a “genocide”.
David Lammy announced new measures against Israel but Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat backbenchers urged him to go further.
A number of MPs called on the Foreign Secretary to suspend all arms sales to Israel, sanction Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and to recognise a Palestinian state.
Backbenchers shouted “genocide” as Mr Lammy said in his opening statement: “We must call this what it is.
“It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Israel's UK ambassador summoned to Foreign Office
Tuesday 20 May 2025 22:08
,
Athena Stavrou
The Middle East minister told Israel's ambassador Tzipi Hotovely that the UK will not "stand by" as Israel escalates military operations in Gaza.
"Today I summoned Israel's Ambassador to the FCDO," Hamish Falconer posted on X.
"I made clear the UK's opposition to expanded military operations in Gaza and rising violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
"The UK will not stand by as this happens."
UAE says it agreed with Israel to allow delivery of urgent aid to Gaza
Tuesday 20 May 2025 21:47
,
Athena Stavrou
The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it agreed with Israel to allow delivery of urgent humanitarian aid from the Gulf country to Gaza, the state news agency WAM reported.
We will bring you more details when more information becomes available.
Full story: Britain sanctions Israel over ‘intolerable’ Gaza crisis and halts trade talks
Tuesday 20 May 2025 21:29
,
Athena Stavrou
Britain has issued fresh sanctions against Israel over its “morally unjustifiable” escalation of violence in Gaza, and demanded an end to its “cruel and indefensible” 11-week block on humanitarian aid.
Foreign secretary David Lammy condemned the “monstrous” situation as the UN warned that 14,000 Palestinian babies could die by Thursday unless action is taken to ease the crisis, which has left civilians severely malnourished.
He announced the suspension of trade talks with Israel, imposed sanctions on three individuals and four entities involved in the settler movement, and said Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions were “wholly disproportionate” and “utterly counterproductive”.
Read the full story:
UN: 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours
Tuesday 20 May 2025 21:02
,
Athena Stavrou
The UN’s humanitarian chief has warned 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours if more aid does not enter the territory.
Tom Fletcher said five aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, a “drop in the ocean” after an 11-week blockade by Israel, and were yet to reach the communities in need.
“There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them,” he said.
“We run all sorts of risks trying to get that baby food through to those mothers who cannot feed their children right now because they're malnourished.”
Watch: UK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violence
Tuesday 20 May 2025 20:29
,
Athena Stavrou
What new sanctions has the UK placed on Israel today?
Tuesday 20 May 2025 20:01
,
Athena Stavrou
The Foreign Office announced new sanctions against West Bank settlers in “response to the persistent cycle of serious violence” in the region.
Mr Lammy condemned the actions of “extremist” settlers in the West Bank, saying Mr Netanyahu’s administration has a responsibility to intervene to halt their actions.
The measures announced on Tuesday include financial restrictions and travel bans. They cover prominent settler leader Daniella Weiss and two other individuals, as well as two illegal outposts and two organisations that the Foreign Office said supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities.
Ms Weiss, a target of the sanctions who the government described as a "high-profile extremist settler leader", was a key focus of the recent Louis Theroux BBC documentary Settlers, which shone a light on the tactics of Israeli settlers in the Palestinian West Bank.
The measures follow a dramatic surge in settler violence in the West Bank, with the UN recording over 1,800 attacks by settlers against Palestinian communities since 1 January 2024.
Why Starmer’s government has waited until now to take action on Israel
Tuesday 20 May 2025 19:23
,
Athena Stavrou
Frustration spilled over in the Commons on Tuesday – from Labour MPs and others – over the time it has taken for Keir Starmer’s government to step up and take action against Israel over the Gaza crisis.
As the UN warned that 14,000 babies risked death from malnutrition by Thursday without urgent aid, there was a sense that, by the time foreign secretary David Lammy got to his feet, it was already too late and not enough.
As David Lammy announces the suspension of trade talks with Israel and new sanctions over the Gaza humanitarian crisis, political editor David Maddox explains why action wasn’t taken sooner:
Israel army to capture additional territory in Gaza, military chief says
Tuesday 20 May 2025 19:01
,
Athena Stavrou
The Israeli army will expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip and will capture additional territory, its chief said on Tuesday.
"We are acting according to a structured plan and moving to the next phase. Hamas will pay the price for its defiance... We will expand our manoeuvre, capture additional territory, clear and destroy the terrorist infrastructure until its defeat," Eyal Zamir said in Gaza during a field tour.
The announcement comes as international condemnation of Israel’s latest bombardment and blockade of the strip grows.
