WFP to send aid ship to feed displaced in Lebanon The UN food agency is raising the alarm over food insecurity and a harsh winter in the Levant as the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon continue. Israel
Interview WFP’s McCain: 'No difference' in Gaza aid flow despite Israel’s tactical pause Al-Monitor interviews World Food Program chief Cindy McCain about the hunger crisis gripping the Gaza Strip after more than eight months of war. Cindy McCain World Food Programme Executive Director
Pentagon pauses humanitarian airdrops in Gaza, citing Israel's Rafah operation The Biden administration's plan to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza is falling apart. Palestine
Poverty in Lebanon tripled to 44%, as high as 62% in rural areas: World Bank In a recent report, the World Bank revealed a three-fold increase in poverty rates in Lebanon, which is hard hit by an economic crisis and financial meltdown, with nine out of every 10 Syrians displaced in the country living under the poverty line. Lebanon
Algeria signs $3.5B deal with Qatari firm to develop world's largest dairy farm A Qatari food giant announced a $3.5 billion agreement with the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop the world’s largest integrated dairy farming and production project in the south of the African country. Algeria
US says Israel boosted Gaza aid flow after convoy strike, but more is needed US envoy David Satterfield said the volume of assistance reaching Gaza is "significantly greater" than it was, but issues remain with aid distribution. Palestine
Starbucks pledges $3M to World Central Kitchen for Gaza meals The coffee giant has announced a large donation to the aid group World Central Kitchen, which lost seven of its staff members earlier this month in an Israeli airstrike. Palestine
Israel's Gaza aid convoy strike reflects 'absolute breakdown' of process Aid agencies who spent months urging Israel to improve its “deconfliction” system say the deadly strike that killed seven of World Central Kitchen’s staff was foreseeable. Israel
Humanitarian groups suspend Gaza operations after Israeli strike kills 7 aid workers World Central Kitchen, a US-based charitable organization, said seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza. Israel said the incident is under investigation. Palestine
White House: No Rafah invasion until Israeli delegation talks alternatives "We don’t support a major ground operation," White House NSC coordinator John Kirby emphasized on Thursday, as an Israeli delegation is expected to discuss alternatives with top officials in Washington next week. Palestine
Macron warns Netanyahu forced population transfer in Gaza would be war crime French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Paris is against a military operation in Rafah and against any attempt to transfer displaced Gazans. Israel
Israel should ease 'unnecessary restrictions' on key Gaza goods, Blinken says The top US diplomat acknowledged Israeli concerns about "dual-use" items ending up the hands of Hamas, but said "greater clarity" is needed for humanitarian groups whose work is hindered by "unnecessary restrictions." Palestine
Turkey’s Erdogan hosts Zelenskyy, hopeful on Ukraine-Russia compromise Zelenskyy’s visit to Turkey comes one week after that of Lavrov, and as Ankara is trying to find a compromise between Moscow and Kyiv on a Black Sea mechanism. Turkey
Gaza in numbers: 30,000 dead, 80% displaced, half million on brink of famine As the war in Gaza enters its sixth month, Palestinians face violence at aid distribution points, with possibility of famine ‘almost inevitable,’ UN Palestine
Turkey’s Fidan, NATO chief discuss Sweden’s bid, Ukraine grain deal The phone call comes a day after the meeting in Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Turkey
Turkey’s Fidan to visit Russia as Ukraine's grain deal, Syria talks stall Ankara’s efforts to revive the Black Sea grain deal and stalled high level talks between Ankara and Damascus are expected to be high on the agenda of the talks between top Russian and Turkish diplomats. Turkey
