Canada ‘working to airdrop aid to the Gaza Strip as soon as possible’
Canada is working to airdrop humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, a cabinet minister has said.
The confirmation that an active effort is underway comes after Ahmed Hussen, the Canadian International Development Minister, said Ottawa was exploring new options to deliver aid.
He said the provision of airdrops in partnership with like-minded countries in the region, such as Jordan, was on the table.
Mr Hussen said last week that the provision of aid is nowhere near what’s needed and a tedious inspection process was slowing down the movement of supplies brought in by truck.
New Zealand lists Hamas as terrorist group
New Zealand has listed Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist entity and imposed travel bans on “extremist” Israeli settlers whom it said had committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement that the attacks by the Hamas on Israel in October “were brutal and we have unequivocally condemned them.”
But he added that “New Zealand wants to be clear that the designation of Hamas is about the actions of an offshore terrorist entity and is not a reflection on the Palestinian people in Gaza and around the world.”
New Zealand has designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist entity since 2010.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the whole of Hamas bears responsibility for the October attacks, making it difficult for the New Zealand government to distinguish between the group’s military and political wings.
I’ll win back Arab-American voters who snubbed me over Gaza, promises Joe Biden
Joe Biden has pledged to “win back” the votes of Arab Americans who punished him over his handling of the war in Gaza in time for November’s presidential election.
Mr Biden easily won Michigan’s Democratic primary on Tuesday night, but faced a backlash from predominantly young and Arab voters who object to his support for Israel.
The US president took about 81 per cent of the vote, but more than 100,000 voters (13 per cent) revolted by marking “uncommitted” on their ballot papers instead. Mr Biden only won the state by 150,000 votes in 2020.
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