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More UNRWA staff killed in Gaza; toll tops 300
May 19, 2025
Nine aid trucks enter Gaza ‘a drop in the ocean’ — UN aid chief
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Death toll from Israel's genocidal war on Gaza rises to 53,486

Israel will 'take control of all' of Gaza, PM says

Aid trucks wait to enter Gaza amid Israel's inaction

Israel begins so-called 'Operation Gideon's Chariots' in Gaza

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More UNRWA staff killed in Gaza; toll tops 300

Three more staff members of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) were killed in Gaza, bringing the total number of staff killed to over 300, the global organisation said.

“Tragically, three more UNRWA staff were killed today,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a press briefing.

UNRWA said earlier the death toll among its personnel had reached “the gruesome milestone of 300,” most of whom were killed by Israeli forces along with their children and loved ones.

“The vast majority of staff were killed by the Israeli Army with their children & loved ones: whole families wiped out,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement.

“Several were killed in the line of duty while serving their communities,” he added.

One killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon: ministry

At least one person was killed and three others wounded by Israeli attacks on multiple locations across southern Lebanon, authorities said, despite ceasefire.

An Israeli drone strike on the outskirts of the border village of Houla killed one person, the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement.

Israel will 'take control of all' of Gaza: Netanyahu

Netanyahu cited "practical and diplomatic reasons" for the resumption of aid, saying that "images of mass starvation" could harm the legitimacy of Israel's war effort.

Israel will 'take control of all' of Gaza: Netanyahu
UK, France and Canada threaten 'concrete actions' against Israel, including sanctions for actions in Gaza and West Bank

UK, France and Canada threaten 'concrete actions' against Israel, including sanctions for actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

Over 20 countries demand Israel allow 'full resumption' of Gaza aid

Twenty-two donor countries issued a joint statement urging Israel to "allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately" after the partial lifting of its blockade on the territory.

The foreign ministers of the countries, including France and Germany, said that "whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid", the population of the war-ravaged territory "faces starvation" and "must receive the aid they desperately need".

Italy underlines need for ‘timely entry’ of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Italy underlined the need for the “timely entry” of the humanitarian aid to Gaza, as the country's foreign minister spoke to his Israeli counterpart.

“Today I had a new telephone conversation with (Israeli Foreign Minister) Gideon Saar to reiterate the need to guarantee the timely entry of humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza,” Antonio Tajani said on X.

Reiterating Rome’s appeal to reach an immediate ceasefire along the lines Italy and the US are working on, and to free Israeli captives, Tajani urged Hamas to do its part by releasing them.

UN aid chief says aid allowed into Gaza 'a drop in the ocean'

United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said Israel cleared nine trucks of aid to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing following 11 weeks of a complete blockade.

"But it is a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed, and significantly more aid must be allowed into Gaza, starting tomorrow morning." Fletcher said in a statement.

"To reduce looting, there must be a regular flow of aid, and humanitarians must be permitted to use multiple routes. Commercial goods should complement the humanitarian response," he said.

US vice president cancels Israel trip to avoid endorsing Gaza offensive: Report

US Vice President JD Vance scrapped plans to visit Israel over concerns his presence would validate Israel's expanded military offensive in Gaza, Axios reported.

Vance abandoned the proposed stop following his Rome visit because he was concerned that his visit might imply Washington supports Israel's decision to escalate its military attacks while the US pursues a ceasefire deal, a senior US official told the news outlet.

The Trump administration had notified Israeli officials Saturday about Vance potentially visiting after attending Pope Leo XIV's inauguration, according to Israeli sources.

Though a White House official later cited "logistical constraints" for the cancellation, another US official told Axios that logistics were not the actual concern.

No progress in Doha talks for Gaza ceasefire: Israeli media

Indirect negotiations in the Qatari capital, Doha, to reach a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal have failed to make progress, Israeli media said.

“There is no progress in the talks for a deal,” the public broadcaster KAN said, citing Israeli and foreign sources.

“Israel is considering the return of its negotiating delegation from Qatar unless there is an exceptional development in the negotiations," the sources added.

Protesters demand justice for Gaza during EU humanitarian forum in Brussels

A protest targeting European Union Commissioner Hadja Lahbib took place at the end of the opening panel of the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels, with a participant accusing her of "complicity in what they described as ‘genocide" in Gaza.

Lahbib, the European commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, was speaking about the challenges facing global humanitarian efforts.

She referenced the limited aid reaching Gaza and emphasised the need for thousands of trucks to deliver life-saving assistance, far beyond the small convoy currently near the border.

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