Palestinians wait for aid lorries to cross into the central Gaza Strip in May. AP
Palestinians wait for aid lorries to cross into the central Gaza Strip in May. AP
Palestinians wait for aid lorries to cross into the central Gaza Strip in May. AP
Palestinians wait for aid lorries to cross into the central Gaza Strip in May. AP

Democrats push Biden to demand media access to Gaza amid Israeli aid block


Ellie Sennett
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

More than 60 Democratic legislators on Monday sent a letter to US President Joe Biden demanding “unimpeded media access” to Gaza amid growing warnings that Israel is intentionally starving Palestinians there.

Led by Jim McGovern, the members of the House of Representatives said that Israel's restrictions on foreign media “undermine the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability”.

“We urge the administration to take immediate action to advocate for unrestricted, independent media access to Gaza," their letter reads. "A free press is essential to ensuring that the world can bear witness to the realities on the ground and hold all parties accountable."

The letter has 64 congressional signatories – all members of Mr Biden's Democratic Party – and almost all are among the small group of largely pro-Israel US legislators to have endorsed a ceasefire in Gaza.

Only Palestinian reporters who were already inside the besieged enclave have been able to report on the devastating year of war in Gaza, which has taken an “unprecedented toll” on them, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The war in Gaza and its regional spillover have represented the deadliest period for journalists since the organisation began gathering data in 1992, with the killing of at least 128 journalists and media workers in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon since October 7, 2023.

In July, more than 60 organisations led by the Committee to Protect Journalists signed an open letter urging Israel to give journalists independent access to Gaza.

The Foreign Press Association has also raised concerns about the crackdown on media access to Gaza during Israel's continuing military campaign there, saying “it raises questions about what Israel doesn’t want international journalists to see”.

The letter also came as progressive Senator Chris Van Hollen hinted in a statement that he believes Washington is complicit in the starving of Gaza's vulnerable population, calling conditions there “unacceptable”.

“Since [Mr Biden's] last call with Netanyahu, we've seen only a trickle of food to [northern] Gaza, a spike in civilian deaths, an Israeli ban on some American doctors treating wounded and no new fuel for hospital generators,” Mr Van Hollen posted on X. “Silence and inaction equals complicity.”

This month, the UN warned that Israel had for weeks blocked nearly all food aid to the about 400,000 Palestinians stranded in northern Gaza.

The UN Palestinian relief agency warned that “civilians are given no choice but to either leave or starve” in the enclave's north, UNRWA commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini tweeted.

Providing support to foreign governments blocking humanitarian aid is illegal under US law, but the Biden administration has insisted on increasing support for Israel.

The Biden administration recently warned that if Israel does not address the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in Gaza within 30 days, Washington could begin to restrict military aid. In the same week, however, the Pentagon announced it was sending a Thaad anti-missile system and “associated personnel” to operate it to Israel.

What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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Kill%20
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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV

Power: 360bhp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh282,870

On sale: now

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5

500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25   Evacuation of injured and sick

Updated: October 21, 2024, 7:45 PM`