A US-Israeli plan to sideline UN aid distribution in Gaza, where mass starvation looms, and replace it with an operation run by private US contractors is at odds with the neutrality of the European Union, an official has said.
The EU, the world's largest humanitarian donor, which aims to provide €1.9 billion ($2.1 billion) in aid this year, avoids channelling funds through governments for fear it might become politicised. There is no intention to change that position, the EU official told The National, and statements of support to the UN are expected to be issued at a humanitarian forum in Brussels on Monday.
"No EU humanitarian aid is provided to governments but only to humanitarian organisations such as UN agencies, NGOs and international organisations," said the official, who did not wish to be identified. "We will continue working with our trusted EU humanitarian partners as we have been doing for decades, defending international humanitarian law, the respect of humanitarian principles and multilateralism."
Such statements have found echo among countries that are becoming increasingly critical of the conduct of Israel's war against Gaza, including France. Last week, two EU commissioners and foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas dismissed the new mechanism. "Using aid as a tool of war is prohibited under international humanitarian law," they said. "The mechanism would shift the responsibility for the distribution of aid to non-humanitarian international actors and private security contractors."
Yet some EU countries have said they support plans to privatise aid distribution. Arguments in its favour include the fact it would allow much-needed aid to enter the enclave quickly. Adopted by the Israeli security cabinet on May 4, the new mechanism reportedly plans to deliver aid only in certain parts of the enclave. The aid would be distributed in the south of the enclave by US contractors protected by the Israeli military.
Last week, Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul appeared to endorse the plan during a trip to Israel. But in remarks to Parliament on Thursday, Mr Wadephul stressed the humanitarian situation in Gaza must be improved in a manner fully consistent with the principles of international humanitarian law.
Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, recently described the plan to the UN Security Council as “a cynical sideshow, a deliberate distraction" and "a fig leaf for further violence and displacement". It would make "starvation a bargaining chip" and "aid conditional on political and military aim", he added.
Mounting criticism of Israel
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said his country was open to alternatives. "We're troubled by the humanitarian situation there," he said, after warnings of famine in Gaza. "I hear criticism of that plan. We're open to an alternative if someone has a better one. We are for all the aid we can get without Hamas being able to steal it from people."
The Gaza war will continue to drive discussions among EU affairs ministers meeting in Brussels next week. Israel's siege and threats to fully destroy the enclave fuels have increased criticism. The Netherlands has led an initiative to review relations with Israel due to the total aid blockade in place since March 2. The call has garnered the support of a dozen countries, The National understands. The EU Commission, the bloc's executive arm, has yet to respond to the request, which could lead to a suspension, in part or in whole, of the EU-Israel association agreement.
A similar request lodged in February 2024 by Ireland and Spain over the situation in Gaza was ignored. It had been opposed by more pro-Israel EU countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic.
Close to 53,000 Gazans have been killed since Israel's retaliatory war to Hamas-led attacks in which 1,200 died in October 2023.
The EU's persistent inability to take a collective stance on the war despite increasingly critical statements from a number of countries reflects the bloc's lack of capacity to deliver concrete action that may pressure Israel, said Kelly Petillo, programme manager for the Middle East and North Africa at the European Council on Foreign Relations. "It begs the question of what the EU is prepared to do about it besides expressing concern," Ms Petillo said.
On May 7, Ms Kallas muddled the EU's messaging even further, saying she had offered the bloc's help to Israel "to distribute humanitarian aid if they don't trust the actors there [in Gaza]". The nature of that offer remains unclear but it triggered sharp criticism from Irish MEP Lynn Boylan, who said Ms Kallas had no mandate to make such a proposition. Contacted by The National, a representative for Ms Kallas declined to clarify and said: "Our priority is to get the aid to flow to save people’s lives."
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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Director: Milan Jhaveri
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Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
