Israeli National Security Minister Storms into Jerusalem Holy Site

TOPSHOT - A cat walks near of the Dome of the Rock mosque inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, on July 15, 2024. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
TOPSHOT - A cat walks near of the Dome of the Rock mosque inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, on July 15, 2024. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
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Israeli National Security Minister Storms into Jerusalem Holy Site

TOPSHOT - A cat walks near of the Dome of the Rock mosque inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, on July 15, 2024. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
TOPSHOT - A cat walks near of the Dome of the Rock mosque inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, on July 15, 2024. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)

Israel’s far-right national security minister stormed into Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Thursday morning, threatening to disrupt Gaza cease fire talks.
The Palestinian WAFA news agency quoted witnesses as saying that Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed into the Jerusalem hilltop compound of al Aqsa Mosque accompanied by Israeli police.
It’s a third time for Ben-Gvir to storm into Al Aqsa after two similar encounters on July 27 2023, and May 22 2023.
The move by Itamar Ben-Gvir threatens to disrupt sensitive talks aimed at reaching a cease fire in the 9-month-old Israel-Hamas war.



Italy Sends Humanitarian Flight with Aid for Gaza Population

Palestinians inspect the destroyed home of the Muheisen family following an Israeli airstrike in the Al Zwaida neighbourhood in the central Gaza Strip, 18 July 2024. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Palestinians inspect the destroyed home of the Muheisen family following an Israeli airstrike in the Al Zwaida neighbourhood in the central Gaza Strip, 18 July 2024. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
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Italy Sends Humanitarian Flight with Aid for Gaza Population

Palestinians inspect the destroyed home of the Muheisen family following an Israeli airstrike in the Al Zwaida neighbourhood in the central Gaza Strip, 18 July 2024. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Palestinians inspect the destroyed home of the Muheisen family following an Israeli airstrike in the Al Zwaida neighbourhood in the central Gaza Strip, 18 July 2024. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Italy has sent food supplies and health equipment for the Gaza population aboard a humanitarian flight that landed in Jordan, a statement said on Thursday, as part of Rome's "Food for Gaza" initiative to help civilians there.
Aid includes over 60 tons of food, hygiene kits and sanitary equipment, along with 150 tents. The flight, which departed from the southern city of Brindisi, has landed in the Jordan capital of Amman from where the materials will be delivered to Gaza.
"With this operation we give a tangible demonstration of the attention that the Italian government is dedicating to the humanitarian situation in the Strip," Reuters quoted Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani as saying.
He added Italy was committed "to do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza."
The Food for Gaza initiative is led by Italy together with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food program (WFP) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
On Wednesday, the US military announced that its mission to install and operate a temporary, floating pier off the coast of Gaza was complete, formally ending an effort to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Italy said in May it would allocate 30 million euros ($32.8 million) in the Food for Gaza plan, as it resumed funding for the United Nations' Palestinian relief organization UNRWA.

UNRWA faced criticism over allegations that some of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.