MSO targeted over Gandel link at Melbourne orchestra’s London performance
The Age | Alexander Darling & Kerrie O’Brien | 31 August 2025
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has been silenced during a concert at London’s BBC Proms by protesters angry that it cancelled the performance of a pianist who spoke out against the killing of Palestinian journalists.
A group calling itself Jewish Artists for Palestine claimed responsibility for disrupting the MSO’s performance at the Royal Albert Hall for a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3, stopping the music and forcing the concert to restart. “The MSO has blood on its hands,” roared a woman in the crowd, in a video filmed by an audience member, and uploaded to social media. “You silenced Jayson Gillham! The MSO is complicit in genocide! You silence artists! The MSO is complicit!”
Video footage of the concert was posted to Instagram, jointly uploaded by accounts belonging to Andrew Feinstein, an investigative author and activist, actors Maxine Peake and Khalid Abdalla, and climate and political activist Greta Thunberg, among others. It is not clear if these individuals are members of the group, Jewish Artists for Palestine, or, indeed, who are the members of that group.
The MSO cancelled a concert by pianist Gillham after he made a statement in support of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza before a performance in August 2024. It cancelled the next MSO event at which Gillham was to perform, and released a statement saying his comments were not appropriate and “an intrusion of personal political views”.
The MSO later said it had made an error in cancelling Gillham’s shows. Gillham later reached an in-principle settlement with former MSO managing director Sophie Galaise, but is still suing the MSO.
The trial begins on December 1, and the musician says he has raised more than $100,000 to put towards his legal fees.
On its website, Jewish Artists for Palestine said its members were angry that the MSO had accepted “principal funding from the Gandel Foundation”, which it described as “vocal supporters of the genocide in Gaza, and long-time associates of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu”.
There is no suggestion that the allegation is true, only that it has been made by the Jewish Artists for Palestine group.
The Gandel Foundation has also been in the sights of Melbourne’s pro-Palestine protesters, who rallied outside the National Gallery of Victoria in late July in protest against the gallery receiving the family’s financial backing.
On July 27, pro-Palestine protesters marched on the gallery, sending it into lockdown, writing on the gallery wall slogans such as “NGV funded by Zionists”, and holding banners which said, “NGV, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide”. On Saturday, the foundation had no comment to make on the MSO incident, though earlier this month it told this masthead it would not be deterred from its support of the NGV.
Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said the fresh “attack” on the Gandels was “no different to what we saw at the NGV, a targeted campaign against a Jewish family”.
“Let’s be clear: When a Jewish family is singled out in this way, it can only be described as one thing – antisemitism. Explicit, unmistakable antisemitism, regardless of the label this anonymous group chooses for itself.”
After the NGV protest, Premier Jacinta Allan labelled the actions extremist and antisemitic, saying the demonstrators were shameful and that she supported the Gandel family.
Polish immigrants Sam and Faye Gandel founded the Sussan women’s fashion chain. Their son, John Gandel, became the billionaire co-owner of Chadstone shopping centre. John Gandel is married to Pauline Gandel, who was honoured with a Companion of the Order of Australia for her community work.
The Gandel family has donated more than $150 million over the years to various institutions and causes, including $2 million to the Melbourne Museum, $2 million to the State Library of Victoria and $2 million to the NGV for the Pauline Gandel Gallery of Japanese Art. The family are long-standing supporters of Israel.
The Gandel Foundation funds the Birthright program, which is managed by the Zionist Federation of Australia and provides free tours of Israel, Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights for young Jewish adults from around the world.
In the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, when about 1200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage, John Gandel told The Australian Financial Review that Israel had to go “all out” in response. “There’s sort of no choice. If they don’t go all out, it means they withdraw. They can’t do it gently,” he said.
In the two years since, at least 60,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in Gaza, which is now in the grip of starvation, prompting a humanitarian outcry and leading some countries to move towards recognising a Palestinian state. Gandel has made no further public remarks about the conflict.
Days after the initial Gillham incident last year, MSO musicians sent a vote of no confidence to the board, requesting the removal of Galaise and chief operating officer Guy Ross, and asking for an independent review of what had happened.
Galaise was sacked weeks later, a decision she described as unfair. Last November, she reached her own settlement with the MSO. She had lodged a Fair Work complaint after being sacked for her handling of the Gillham affair. No details of the settlement were provided.
In a statement on Saturday night, the MSO said: “We are proud of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the resilience and professionalism demonstrated in its performance in London.
“The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was making its first visit to the BBC Proms under Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, with a sold-out performance at Royal Albert Hall.
“The London performance was the culmination of the MSO’s successful tour of Europe. We are proud of our musicians for delivering a world-class performance at one of the world’s great music venues.”
In a statement to its newsroom on Friday, the BBC said: “We are sorry about the disruption to our coverage of the BBC Proms on Radio 3 tonight.
There was a disturbance at tonight’s Prom which meant the concert was paused for a few minutes and the live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 diverted to prerecorded music.
“The incident was dealt with swiftly by the Royal Albert Hall.
“Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of everyone who attends the BBC Proms, and we would like to thank our staff and the performers whose response helped keep disruption to a minimum.”
The protest group, Palestine Action, was banned in Britain in July after a High Court judge refused its request to temporarily block the UK government from proscribing it as a terror group. The ban means supporting Palestine Action has become a criminal offence, with membership or expressing support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
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US bars Palestinian leader from UN
The Age (& SMH) / Reuters, AP | Brittany Busch | 31 August 2025
The Trump administration has revoked the visas of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of other officials before next month’s United Nations General Assembly meeting, at which Australia and other US allies plan to recognise a Palestinian state.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had committed to meeting the Palestinian leader at the annual high-level meeting at UN headquarters in New York. Abbas had also been scheduled to attend a summit at which Australia, Britain, France and Canada would recognise a Palestinian state and discuss a two-state solution.
But yesterday (AEST), the US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had ordered that visa applications from the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) – the political body through which Australia and other countries officially engage with Palestine – be denied.
A department official said Abbas and about 80 other Palestinians would be affected by the decision. The department reiterated longstanding US and Israeli allegations that the Palestinian Authority and PLO had failed to stop extremism while pushing for “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state.
“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the department said in a statement.
The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of US commitments as the host country of the UN and said the move was a breach of international law.
In a statement, the Palestinian presidency “expressed its deep regret and astonishment” at the visa decision, which “contravenes international law and the Headquarters Agreement, especially since the State of Palestine is an observer member of the United Nations”.
Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour told reporters that Abbas had been expected to address the General Assembly, as he had done many times.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN would seek clarification from the US State Department. “We obviously hope that this will be resolved,” he said. “It is important that all member states, permanent observers be able to be represented.”
Under a 1947 UN “headquarters agreement”, the US is generally required to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York. Washington, however, has said it can deny visas for security, extremism and foreign policy reasons.
Despite the requirement, the US has occasionally refused visas, including for PLO leader Yasser Arafat in 1988. The General Assembly moved the meeting to Geneva that year so he could give his address.
Palestinian representatives assigned to the UN mission were granted exceptions to the visa decision so they could continue their New York-based operations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the US decision.
Israel and the US are upset with several allies who have pledged to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN next month.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month branded Australia “shameful” in its advocacy for Palestinian statehood.
In his announcement that Australia would recognise a Palestinian state, Albanese said promises from Abbas to pursue peace were a major factor in his decision, sparking criticism from Israel and the US.
The recognition pledges by the Western powers reflect frustration with Israel’s assault in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of people and set off a starvation crisis. It also reflects anger with Israeli settlement building in the West Bank, viewed as the heartland of a potential Palestinian state.
At least 147 of the 193 UN member states already recognise a Palestinian state. Palestinians currently have observer status at the UN, the same as the Holy See (Vatican City).
The move is the latest by the Trump administration to target Palestinians with visa restrictions and comes as the Israeli military prepares to take over Gaza City. The State Department also suspended a program that had allowed injured Palestinian children from Gaza to travel to the US for medical treatment after a social media outcry by some conservatives.
Meanwhile, Israel has declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone as its army launched the start of a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.
As the military announced the resumption of fighting, health officials said the death toll in Gaza had risen to 63,025, with 59 deaths reported by hospitals over the previous 24 hours.
Israeli forces recovered the remains of two hostages – Ilan Weiss and a second person whose identity had yet to be cleared for publication. An Israeli military official said Weiss was taken from his home by Hamas fighters and killed during the Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023.
About 1200 people, mostly Israelis, were killed during the attack that triggered the war, according to Israeli tallies, and about 250 hostages were seized. Nearly 50 of those hostages remain in Gaza, including 20 thought by Israel to be alive.
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Labor still alienating the only liberal democracy in Middle East
Daily Telegraph (Herald-Sun, Courier-Mail) | Peta Credlin | 31 August 2025
The Albanese government might have finally expelled the Iranian ambassador, but it’s still given the Islamist regime what it wants – an increasingly hard line against Israel – despite Tehran’s proven sponsorship of terrorism here in Australia.
To the protesters demanding a “free Palestine from the river to the sea” and also to the Albanese government, why is it always Israel that’s at fault – when the war would end instantly if Hamas released its hostages and recognised Israel’s right to exist behind secure borders?
Indeed, it seems that ASIO only started the investigation of local Iranian terrorism after a tip-off from Israeli intelligence.
Given the help that Australia has consistently had from Israel (including during the time of Islamic State), and the terrorism that we now know we’ve been subjected to from Iran, why is the Albanese government still pandering to Islamism by recognising a Palestine that doesn’t recognise Israel in any meaningful way?
Reportedly, Home Affairs wanted the government to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation two years ago – as did the federal Coalition.
But the government took no action then; nor did it expel the Iranian ambassador earlier for his repeated attacks on Israel as a “vile entity” that would soon “end”.
As Tehran’s man left, there was smug satisfaction from the ambassador, even a sense of “mission accomplished”. He congratulated Australia for “upholding the rights of the Palestinian nation against the occupation, apartheid and genocide by the illegitimate Israeli regime”. The Albanese government might have expelled the Iranian ambassador but it’s still appeasing the Islamist regime and alienating the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.
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They’re banned from UN address
Daily Telegraph (Courier-Mail, Hobart Mercury) | Vanessa Marsh | 31 August 2025
Palestinian officials will be blocked from attending next month’s United Nations meeting in New York where countries including Australia intend to recognise a Palestinian state.
The Trump administration criticised the pursuit of statehood recognition, blaming it for the breakdown in Gaza peace talks and the continued captivity of October 7 hostages as it announced a ban and revocation of travel Visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed off on the plans to deny visas to senior Palestinian officials seeking to attend the UN meeting in a move designed to send a message the Trump administration would “not reward terrorism”.
“The Trump Administration has been clear – it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” a State Department spokesman said.
“Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism – including the October 7 massacre – and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by US law and as promised by the PLO.”
Palestine holds observer status at the UN and officials have previously used the gathering as an opportunity to lobby for statehood recognition.
The decision marks a significant departure from historic UN participation and puts the US at odds with allies intent on using the general assembly to recognise Palestinian statehood.
“The PA must also end its attempts to bypass negotiations through international lawfare campaigns, including appeals to the ICC (International Criminal Court) and ICJ (International Court of Justice), and efforts to secure the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state,” the State Department spokesman said. “Both steps materially contributed to Hamas’s refusal to release its hostages, and to the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire talks.”
The PA’s Mission to the UN will receive waivers to the visa restrictions.
The State Department said the US remained open to re-engagement “should the PA and PLO meet their obligations and demonstrably take concrete steps to return to a constructive path of compromise and peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel”.
It comes as the Times of Israel reported the entire Houthi cabinet – including the prime minister and 12 other ministers – were likely killed in Thursday’s strikes in Yemen. It said the IDF was still working to reach a clearer understanding of the strike’s results.
Yemen’s Al-Jumhuriya channel and the Aden Al-Ghad newspaper reported that Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in an Israeli attack on an apartment in the capital Sanaa.
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Invoke deportation
Daily Telegraph | Letters | 31 August 2025
Recent revelations about Iranian anti-Semitic attacks on our home turf should prompt equally dramatic reappraisal of our immigration and deportation policies.
The danger is not only the overt fire-bombings of Jewish premises, but the more insidious spreading of hateful sermons and diatribes against Jews, the West and Anglo-Australian culture.
If such fomenters of religious fanaticism and bile do not like those values then feel free to get a one-way ticket to another country.
Active deportation should now be fully considered. Even those fanatics who have wormed their way into Australia through lax immigration procedures must be reviewed and their oath of citizenship has clearly been a sham. Whatever the bureaucratic legalities and niceties, religious or political hatemongers have no right to abuse our freedom of speech to promote death, destruction and turmoil in our society.
A couple of weeks ago, this might be seen as a bit of fearmongering, but this week’s exposure of Iranian incursion and co-opting of local residents into acts of violence must be a basis for expulsion from our society.
Giles Edwards, Dee Why
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Radical schooling for tots
Herald-Sun | Carly Douglas | 31 August 2025
Radical Victorian teachers are circulating unauthorised teaching resources urging other staff to teach children as young as three that Palestinians are dying because they’re being attacked by Israel.
A “rogue” group of anti-Israel teachers and staff have been accused of trying to “radicalise” children by urging colleagues to include lessons on the “genocide” in Gaza.
The 15-page ‘teaching guide’, obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun, explains how teachers can wear Palestinian stickers and scarfs called keffiyehs in classrooms and how to weave anti-Israel rhetoric into subjects.
In Health and PE, the “impacts of the occupation” can be taught through “infographics to compare nutritional requirements to reality for many in Palestine”, the guide says.
In Science, 12-year-olds can explore the way in which sonic booms have “historically been used by Israeli forces to inflict harm on Palestinians in Gaza”.
In a “kinder letter” the group suggests early childhood educators explain to three and four-year-olds that Palestinians are “hungry, sad and dying … because their country is being attacked by Israel”.
Teachers are instructed to fill in a form to detail how they used the teaching guide to track the extent to which people are “breaking the silence on Palestinian genocide in their classrooms”.
The radical group has also backed Victorian teacher Jason Wong who in 2023 – soon after Hamas’s barbaric October 7 attack in Israel – said the terrorist organisation was “doing exactly what they have to do”.
Opposition spokesman Jess Wilson said there was no place for activism in classrooms.
“If hatred is allowed to fester in our schools it will only end up as more violence on our streets,” she said. “Students deserve an education without political bias infiltrating the classroom – let alone our kinders.
“The Minister for Education needs to take action to determine where these divisive resources are being used in schools across Victoria and ensure those responsible are held to account.”
An Education Department spokeswoman told the Herald Sun it was “regrettable” that some teachers were pushing such “divisive action”.
“It is regrettable that a few rogue teachers are taking advantage of their positions and making political statements based on their own beliefs rather than supporting students and colleagues from all backgrounds,” she said.
“The events in the Middle East are incredibly difficult for many Victorian students and staff. Now is the time for unity, not for divisive action.”
The document, however, claims public school teachers are allowed to teach the unauthorised content because “the union supports us in teaching for Palestine”.
“We insist on our right to express Palestine solidarity by displaying stickers, badges and clothing showing Palestinian cultural symbols at school,” the group declares.
The Australian Education Union Victorian branch said while some members promoted the material, the union had not endorsed the document.
However, the branch supported staff who “elevate Palestinian human rights by wearing Keffiyeh and Palestinian symbols at school or who advance views to support those Palestinian rights with students (in the context of the curriculum), colleagues or the public”.
Zionist Federation of Australia chief executive Alon Cassuto accused the group of trying to radicalise children.
“The complexity of the Middle East deserves nuanced and balanced education, not teachers radicalising kids as young as three,” he said. “Radicalisation that starts in the classroom never ends in the classroom.”
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Security first on synagogue
Herald-Sun (Courier-Mail, Hobart Mercury) | Stephen Drill | 31 August 2025
The Australian synagogue torched allegedly under the orders of Iran’s terrorists will lodge plans to rebuild within months as it refuses to be intimidated by Tehran.
Australia’s top spy Mike Burgess last week revealed that ASIO believed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had hired “cut outs” to light the blaze at the Adass Israel Synagogue.
Arsonists used five 20-litre jerry cans of petrol to fuel the blaze, which reached temperatures of 700C in 15 minutes.
Benjamin Klein, a board member for the synagogue, said plans were being developed with architects for the rebuilding.
A temporary structure built within weeks of the December 2024 fire has continued to serve the community.
“This is our home,” Mr Klein said. “These things are upsetting and traumatic, but we pick ourselves up and keep on going, we won’t stop.”
Mr Klein said he was shocked that Iranians could co-ordinate an attack from 12,000km away.
“Quite horrendous to see that linkage and to see this hatred that is being sent from the other side of the world to this beautiful city,” he said.
“It’s shocking, traumatic and distressing, but we do feel well supported by police and government.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week expelled Iran’s ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, saying that ASIO intelligence linked Tehran to the synagogue fire and an attack on a kosher deli in Sydney.
Mr Sadeghi clashed with media as he boarded a plane to leave the country, labelling the claims a “conspiracy”.
However, intelligence sources detailed what they say is a complex web of “cut outs” between two alleged arsonists arrested in Melbourne and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp – Iran’s hardline force that Australia has declared a terrorist organisation.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said Kazem Hamad, a criminal deported from Australia in 2023, was thought to be involved in co-ordinating the firebombing for the IRGC.
Hamad, now based in Iraq, has become wealthy by controlling Australia’s illicit tobacco market and is suspected of a string of firebombings of rival tobacco outlets.
A VW Golf used in the Adass Israel fire was also the getaway car for an earlier cigarette store blaze.
Iran was suspected of involvement in other anti-Semitic attacks since Hamas sparked the Gaza war with the October 7, 2023 massacre.
The Adass Israel synagogue has remained a beating heart for the orthodox Jewish community in Melbourne despite the firebombing.
Mr Klein said detailed plans were being discussed.
“We’ve got overseas draftsmen and local draftsmen working on a plan for the future of the synagogue that’s now sitting with the members,” he said.
“We’re hoping plans can be lodged in two or three months to council and then a building process of 2½ years until we see a nice big building here.”
The new synagogue, which is opposite a station and shopping strip, is likely to be set further back from the street.
“The building will be built heavily with security in mind,” Mr Klein said.
“We’ve employed two separate companies who are working with the architects to ensure it’s a secure building.”
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London protest at MSO
Courier-Mail | Sophie Elsworth | 31 August 2025
Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted a performance by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in London to voice their anger over “Zionist funding and censorship” and the treatment of Australian-British pianist Jayson Gillham.
Jewish Artists for Palestine interrupted the performance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, yelling, “You silenced Jayson Gillham” and “the MSO is complicit in genocide”.
Outside protesters held a banner that read, “BBC Proms & Melbourne Symphony are complicit in genocide” and signs that said, “Jewish artists for Palestine”.
The pro-Palestinian activists also shared a letter on social media and said they were calling out the MSO for “silencing pianist Jayson Gillham for dedicating his performance to murdered journalists in Gaza”.
Prior to a performance for the MSO last August, Mr Gillham spoke of his support for Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza and his comments resulted in the MSO cancelling his next performance and the pianist taking legal action.
It comes as anti-immigration marches are planned for the Brisbane CBD and other major cities on Sunday.
March for Australia organisers say “Australia’s unity and shared values have been eroded by policies and movements that divide us” and “our streets have seen growing displays of anti-Australian hatred, foreign conflicts and disintegrating trust”.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Australians have a right to protest – but it must be done in a “respectful” manner.
“In Australia, we protect the right to an opinion and the right to protest – but that must be done peacefully and respectfully,” she said in a statement on Saturday.
Ms Ley reminded those attending that there was no place for violence, racism or intimidation in Australia.
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Israel to halt aid to Gaza’s north, offensive ramps up
Canberra Times / AAP | Julia Frankel & Wafaa Shurafa | 31 August 2025
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9053943/israel-to-halt-aid-to-gazas-north-offensive-ramps-up/
Israel will soon halt or slow humanitarian aid into parts of northern Gaza as it expands its military offensive against Hamas, an official says, a day after Gaza City was declared a combat zone.
The decision will likely bring more international condemnation of Israel’s government as frustration grows over the dire conditions for both Palestinians and remaining hostages in Gaza after nearly 23 months of war.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Israel will stop airdrops over Gaza City in the coming days and reduce the number of aid trucks arriving in the territory’s north as it prepares to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people south.
Israel on Friday ended recently imposed daytime pauses in fighting to allow aid delivery, describing Gaza City as a Hamas stronghold and alleging that a tunnel network remains in use, despite previous large-scale raids on the area.
The United Nations and partners have said the pauses, airdrops and other recent measures fell far short of the 600 trucks of aid needed daily in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the remains of a hostage that Israel said Friday had been recovered in Gaza were of Idan Shtivi.
He was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that sparked the war.
Forty-eight hostages now remain in Gaza of the over 250 seized. Israel believes 20 are still alive.
Their loved ones fear the expanding military offensive will put them in even more danger, and they were rallying again Saturday to demand a ceasefire deal to bring everyone home.
“Netanyahu, if another living hostage comes back in a bag, it will not only be the hostages and their families who pay the price. You will bear responsibility for premeditated murder,” Zahiro Shahar Mor, nephew of hostage Avraham Munder, said in Tel Aviv.
In recent days, Israel’s military has increased strikes on the outskirts of Gaza City, where famine was recently documented and declared by global food security experts.
It was not clear when the pause or halt in aid deliveries would begin.
By Saturday, there had been no airdrops for several days across Gaza, a break from the almost daily drops over the past few weeks.
Israel’s army didn’t respond to a request for comment about the airdrops or say how it would provide aid to Palestinians during another major shift in Gaza’s population of over two million people.
The Red Cross has warned against Israel’s evacuation of Palestinians.
“Such an evacuation would trigger a massive population movement that no area in the Gaza Strip can absorb, given the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and the extreme shortages of food, water, shelter and medical care,” said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Hundreds of residents have begun leaving Gaza City, piling their few remaining possessions onto pickup trucks or donkey carts.
Many have been forced to leave their homes more than once.
Also Saturday, Israeli gunfire killed four people trying to get aid in central Gaza, according to health officials at Al-Awda Hospital, where the bodies were taken.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said 15 people were killed and at least 206 others wounded seeking aid over the past 24 hours.
The Health Ministry also said 10 people died as a result of starvation and malnutrition over the past 24 hours, including three children.
At least 63,371 Palestinians have died in Gaza during the war, said the ministry, which does not say how many of the dead are fighters or civilians but says around half have been women and children.
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A fanciful claim
Canberra Times | Letters | 31 August 2025
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9053597/anu-urged-to-invest-in-canberra-school-of-music/
David Bate’s letter (August 26) alleging Hamas is engaged in “industrial-scale theft of food” is fanciful: he might as well allege the Earth is flat.
There have even been numerous media reports discrediting the allegation, including from the Israeli paper Haaretz.
Paul Magarey, O’Connor
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Gaza famine likely to worsen as Israel ends pauses for aid deliveries
The Guardian | William Christou & Emma Graham-Harrison | 30 August 2025
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US senators demand ‘massive surge’ of baby formula and aid to be sent to Gaza
The Guardian | Joseph Gedeon | 30 August 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/30/senators-demand-baby-formula-aid-gaza
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These pro-Palestine activists spoke up. A ‘nefarious’ website is now after them
ABC | Chantelle Al-Khouri | 31 August 2025