UN chief says Israel allowing only 'teaspoon' of Gaza aid

Swiss justice watchdog TRIAL International has called on authorities to investigate the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial US-backed group preparing to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.

Describing GHF as a private security company, TRIAL International said aid distribution should be handled by the United Nations and established humanitarian organizations.

"The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza requires an immediate response," said TRIAL International Executive Director Philip Grant. "However, the planned use of private security companies leads to a risky militarization of aid."

That approach, he argued, "is not justified in a context where the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs have the impartiality, resources and expertise necessary to distribute this aid without delay to the civilian population."

The group said it had submitted legal filings urging authorities in Switzerland — where GHF is registered — to verify the foundation's compliance with its statutes and Swiss law.

GHF has said it plans to distribute 300 million meals during its first 90 days of operations.

The fifth round of nuclear negotiations between Iranian and US delegations in Rome has ended with limited progress, according to Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who mediated the talks.

"The fifth round of Iran-US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress," Albusaidi said on X. He added that he hoped "the remaining issues" would be clarified in the coming days.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said Palestinians in Gaza are enduring "what may be the cruelest phase of this cruel conflict" as Israel steps up its offensive.

He also said Israel had only authorized for Gaza what "amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required."

"For nearly 80 days, Israel blocked the entry of life-saving international aid," Guterres said. "The entire population of Gaza is facing the risk of famine."

He warned that the military campaign is bringing "atrocious levels of death and destruction" and said 80% of Gaza is now either militarized or under evacuation orders.

"Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law," Guterres said. "As the occupying power, it must agree to allow and facilitate the aid that is needed."

On March 2, 2025, Israel imposed a complete closure of Gaza, halting all aid, fuel, and commercial shipments. This marked the most stringent phase of the blockade, leading to severe humanitarian consequences, including reports of starvation and widespread malnutrition.

Israel resumed major operations on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire. Aid began to move again Monday after weeks of criticism over severe shortages, although there have been reports that the small amount of aid entering the strip has not been able to reach those in need.

Iranian and US negotiators have been meeting in Italy's capital Rome for a fifth round of nuclear talks after a public dispute over uranium enrichment that ended the previous round in Oman.

The talks, the highest-level contact between the two countries since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, are being mediated by Oman. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are leading the delegations, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.

Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" strategy on Iran, supporting diplomacy while warning of military action if talks fail. Tehran is seeking a new agreement to ease sanctions that have severely impacted its economy.

During the fourth round of talks, Witkoff stated that Washington "could not authorize even one percent" enrichment — a stance Iran rejected, citing its rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Ahead of Friday's meeting, Araghchi said "fundamental differences" remain, particularly over enrichment rights. He warned, "We will not have an agreement at all" if the US insists on banning Iranian enrichment. However, he said Iran was open to increased international inspections of its nuclear sites.

The Rome talks come ahead of a June meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the expiration of parts of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in October.

Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity — far above the 3.67% cap under the deal but still below the 90% level required for a nuclear weapon. Tehran has repeatedly denied it is seeking nuclear arms.

Israelis have been protesting on the outskirts of the city of Sderot near the northern border of the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds have been calling for an end to fighting in Gaza and are demanding the immediate release of all Israeli hostages, calling for the Israeli government to strike a deal with Hamas.

DW correspondent Emily Gordine was in Sderot and reported on the protesters' demands.

"They want an end to the war, they want the hostages to be released but crucially they also want the Palestinian suffering in Gaza to end," Gordine said.

"Many of them are holding up pictures of the Palestinian children who were killed by Israeli airstrikes, their names are written underneath their pictures in Hebrew and Arabic," Gordine said with protesters pictured behind her.

"Something that the protesters have told me is that they believe their government is committing genocide in Gaza and that they desperately want this to end," Gordine said.

"I think it's also very important to say that this protest, especially here, is quite unusual, the city of Sderot, which is just around the corner from here, is a Likud and Netanyahu stronghold," with many supporting the government, Gordine said.

The DW correspondent said that her team had witnessed a driver stop and attack one of the cameramen covering the protest action.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the leaders of France, Britain and Canada of wanting to help the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

His criticism comes after the three countries threatened to take "concrete action" if Israel did not halt its latest military offensive in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. Israel had prevented aid from entering Gaza since March, before relaxing its blockade this week.

In a post on X on Thursday evening, the Israeli prime minister said Hamas wanted to "destroy the Jewish state" and "annihilate the Jewish people."

"I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others," Netanyahu said.

"I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice," he wrote, adding: "Because by issuing their demand replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas — these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power."

Netanyahu said the actions of the leaders were not "advancing peace," but "emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever."

The Israeli leader's comments come after two Israeli embassy staff were killed outside a Jewish museum in Washington this week.

Starmer condemned the shooting and said that "antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears." London, however, said its approach towards Israel's actions in Gaza will not change as a result of the killings.

Britain's armed forces minister Luke Pollard said the UK stood with Israel in their right to self-defense, "but that self-defense must be conducted within the bounds of international humanitarian law."

Responding to Netanyahu's criticism, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France — which like Britain, Canada and a number of other countries designates Hamas as a terrorist organization — was "unwaveringly committed to Israel's security."

Another 107 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have arrived in Gaza, according to Israel's government agency for civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank (COGAT).

"107 trucks carrying humanitarian aid by the UN and the international community, including flour, food, medical equipment and pharmaceutical drugs, were transferred yesterday (May 22) via the Kerem Shalom Crossing into the Gaza Strip after security inspection," COGAT posted on social media platform X. 

Monday saw Israel lift its blockade on aid deliveries to Gaza amid growing condemnation over the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory.

The United Nations and aid organizations have warned of famine and aid workers in Gaza say the quantities that have arrived in Gaza are nowhere near enough to deal with the suffering taking place.

"Significant challenges in loading and dispatching goods remain due to insecurity, the risk of looting, delays in coordination approvals and inappropriate routes being provided by Israeli forces that are not viable for the movement of cargo," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

On Thursday, COGAT said that according to its assessment "there is no food shortage in Gaza at this time," adding that the entry of food trucks had been "conducted in accordance with the situation assessment and in order to prevent any shortages."

The UN says 500 trucks need to enter Gaza daily to feed the some 2 million people in Gaza.

At least 28 people were killed and dozens injured following overnight Israeli strikes in Gaza, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing local medical officials.

The reports come as Israel's military said on its official Telegram channel that it was continuing operations "against terrorist organizations throughout the Gaza Strip."

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its forces "eliminated several terrorists throughout the Gaza Strip and struck military compounds, weapons, storage facilities, and sniper posts."

Claims from Palestinian media and the Israeli military cannot be independently verified.

The Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza say more than 53,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed since the war in Gaza began.

The figures from Gaza health authorities are generally considered to be reliable by the United Nations and humanitarian organizations.

Israeli forces reported intercepting a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels early on Friday. 

Air raid sirens were sounded in several parts of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement published on social media. 

There were no initial reports of damage. 

The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched numerous attacks on Israel since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in what they describe as a show of support for Palestinians in Gaza.

Negotiators from Iranand the United States are set to meet in the Italian capital of Rome for a fifth round of talks over Tehran's controversial and rapidly expanding nuclear program. 

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are to hold the discussions with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi mediating the negotiations. 

Iran's uranium enrichment has emerged as a crucial issue and both sides have taken a strong public stance on it. 

US President Donald Trump's officials insist that Tehran needs to completely halt enriching uranium to reach any deal that could see the lifting of sanctions on Iran's burdened economy. 

Washington considers its demand a necessary measure to permanently prevent the development of nuclear weapons. 

Araghchi on Friday asserted that no enrichment would mean "we do NOT have a deal."

"Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science," the Iranian foreign minister said on social platform X, adding that it was "time to decide."

Trump exited a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers in 2018 during his first term as president.

He reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran that have dealt a devastating blow to the Islamic Republic's economy. 

Since February, Trump has also waged what he has called a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran.

The US president has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if a deal is not reached. Iranian officials have warned they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

The United States and Iran are about to begin a weighty fifth round of negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The Islamic Republic's enrichment of uranium will be a key point of contention as negotiators from Washington and Tehran sit with Omani mediators in Italy's capital, Rome. 

Meanwhile, Israel's military has said that it intercepted a projectile fired from Yemen. 

This blog brings you the latest news and analysis from the Middle East as events unfold in the crisis-hit region.