🧵THREAD: We are sharing the full English translation of Al Jazeera Mubasher’s interview with Husam Badran, head of Hamas’ National Relations Office and member of the Political Bureau:

⸻

Host:
Joining us online is Mr. Husam Badran, Head of the National Relations Office and member of the Hamas Political Bureau. Welcome, Mr. Husam. I’d like to begin with the latest from the occupation: a declaration of full occupation of Gaza, and threats of assassinations targeting Hamas leaders inside and outside the Strip. How do you respond?

Husam Badran:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful—

First of all, threats to assassinate Hamas leadership, whether inside Gaza or abroad, are nothing new. The occupation has repeatedly made such threats, and in fact, has carried them out since the beginning of this war, assassinating many political and military leaders of the movement. At the top of that list: our leader Abu al-Abed, his deputy Sheikh Saleh, and also Yahya Sinwar, the movement’s leader who succeeded Abu al-Abed.

We’ve always said that our blood as leaders of the resistance—and as Palestinian leaders—is not more valuable than the blood of our people, our children, or our women. These threats hold no value to us and do not affect our political decisions, our positions on the battlefield, or our negotiating stance. But they do indicate that we are dealing with a state—or rather, a quasi-state—run by gangs of terrorists and criminals who disregard international laws and conventions. We’ve seen this in more than one arena during this war in particular.

These threats neither frighten nor deter us, and they will not change our positions. As for the continued or expanded war in Gaza—this is already being executed. The occupation never relents from its crimes. It is our duty as Hamas and as a resistance movement to defend our people using all the capabilities and resources we possess. We are fighting and resisting for the sake of our people and their interests. At the same time, we are also engaged in negotiations and diplomatic activity for the same goal: to stop this war and this barbaric aggression against our people in Gaza. Host:
So, can we say the negotiations are over now, given the occupation’s statements about reoccupying Gaza and eliminating Hamas?

Husam Badran:
Let me remind everyone: the last round of negotiations, which lasted about 18 days, ended with the occupation walking away—not us—even after we had reached reasonable and suitable understandings and formulations. The mediators, especially our brothers in Qatar and Egypt, were fully informed and closely following developments. They were very satisfied with our response, which had been coordinated and consulted upon with many other Palestinian factions. So it wasn’t just a Hamas position—it was a Palestinian one.

Even the Americans were following the Doha talks in detail. What derailed that round was first the surprise announcement from [U.S. envoy] Witkoff, which caught everyone off guard, followed by Netanyahu’s withdrawal of the Israeli delegation from Doha.

Currently, there are no Israeli or Palestinian delegations in Doha or Cairo, but our communications with the mediators are ongoing. We are the party most eager to reach an agreement that ends this war and this aggression against our people. The ball is now entirely in the court of the occupation—and the Americans, who support Israel’s obstruction of any agreement.

Host:
What are these communications about, then? Witkoff left Gaza speaking of a “comprehensive deal,” while Israel says there’s no such deal and no delegations. So what exactly are these communications? Is there any talk of resuming negotiations on a new basis?

Husam Badran:
First, what Witkoff says in the media has not reached us through any official mediator. So it seems he’s negotiating with himself—or perhaps with the occupation. Our communications with the mediators continue without interruption, but there are no new ideas or proposals. What we reached in the recent Doha talks was logical, reasonable, and acceptable to all parties involved.

The main culprits responsible for the breakdown were two people: Witkoff and Netanyahu. Witkoff surprised everyone with his statements just as we were nearing agreement and signing. Netanyahu followed suit, announcing a completely different track that contradicted the positive atmosphere in Doha at the time.

🟪 In an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, senior Hamas official and member of the negotiating team, Dr. Ghazi Hamad accused the U.S. of echoing Israeli talking points and using ceasefire talks to prolong war and starvation in Gaza. He rejected any disarmament outside the context of a full Israeli withdrawal and the creation of a Palestinian state, calling resistance a legal and moral right. Hamad also defended the October 7 attack as a historic turning point that revealed Israel’s true face and revived global attention to the Palestinian cause.

Full translated transcript below. 👇🏼 [Start of interview]

Host:
We welcome our guest in the studio, Dr. Ghazi Hamad, senior Hamas official and member of the negotiation team.
Dr. Ghazi, welcome.

The U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, currently visiting the occupied territories and Gaza, is speaking of a “comprehensive deal” and of disarmament. Let’s begin with this so-called comprehensive deal. You were calling for one from the beginning. What has changed?

Ghazi Hamad:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
First, let me say that the American administration, politically and in negotiations, often speaks with an Israeli tongue. It echoes the Israeli position—on negotiations, disarmament, and many other issues.

This includes famine. Witkoff is parroting the Israeli line—even though every international body, from the UN to UNICEF to the World Food Programme and even Western governments, has confirmed there is a real famine in Gaza. Yet Witkoff, protected and escorted by the Israeli army, comes here and denies this truth. He’s lying to the world.

This alone proves the U.S. position is fully captive to Israel’s agenda. It’s not just about disarmament—Israel wants to strip Palestinians of their identity, their rights, and any sense of national existence. This isn’t just about weapons.

All Palestinian factions—Fatah, Islamic Jihad, the Popular and Democratic Fronts—have always used arms to fight for our legitimate rights.

Host:
Let’s come back to the issue of weapons later. For now, let’s focus on this “comprehensive deal” Witkoff is promoting. What’s changed?

Hamad:
Our position has always been clear: there should be a comprehensive deal that addresses all aspects of the Gaza situation.

But Israel blocked that path completely, rejected it outright. Even though we offered to hand over all captives—alive or dead—in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal. Israel refused.

They wanted to reach a partial stage, then restart the war.

We eventually accepted a partial or “bridge” deal, as a step toward the comprehensive one. But even then, Israel dragged its feet, lied, and obstructed.

Since negotiations began in February 2024 until now, Israel has used the talks as cover to continue war, famine, and massacres.

We hope there’s serious international pressure to push for a full, comprehensive agreement. Because partial deals only lead back to war.

Host:
Witkoff seems to be framing this as appeasement for the families of Israeli captives. But what is being offered to you now, and what are they demanding?

Hamad:
The talks have gone through many phases. In the most recent period, we were presented with a proposal—Witkoff’s proposal. We amended it. It went through multiple rounds.

We reached a point where four issues remained unresolved:
1. Aid delivery
2. Map and redeployment issues
3. Continuation of talks after 60 days
4. “Keys” to the prisoner files

In our last meeting with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators—whose efforts we appreciate—they saw real progress. They returned from Israel with a positive outlook.

But the very next day, the Israeli delegation withdrew. Then the U.S. began attacking Hamas publicly without explanation. This tells us these four issues still need to be resolved, and they are essential to achieving a ceasefire and an end to the war.

[1/3] Continues Below ⬇️

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🟥 BREAKING | Israeli forces have launched a series of raids across the West Bank, storming Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, Qalqilya, and Ramallah at dawn Wednesday — resulting in multiple arrests and injuries. 🧵

🎥 Moment Israeli forces arrested Muhammad Mleitat, a boy from the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus. 🎥 Israeli occupation forces raided the Cinema Roundabout area in the center of Jenin City.

🟢 NEW from @DropSiteNews

Hamas’s top political leader Khalil Al-Hayya delivered a blistering speech Sunday night, accusing the U.S. and Israel of working together to sabotage yet another potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

“We state clearly: There is no point in continuing negotiations under the siege, genocide, and starvation of our children, women, and people in the Gaza Strip,” Al-Hayya said.

“If food and medicine do not enter immediately, and in a dignified manner, for our people—then there is nothing serious or genuine about these negotiations.”

Al-Hayya, who also serves as the lead negotiator for the Palestinian delegation, condemned the collapse of negotiations as a deliberate maneuver to buy time for mass killings. He also denounced the farce of humanitarian airdrops, and issued a scathing call to Arab states and the broader Muslim world to break their silence—and the siege.

Drop Site’s @JeremyScahill and Jawa Ahmad cover Al-Hayya’s remarks in a new report, alongside exclusive internal documents detailing Hamas’s ceasefire proposals that preceded Trump and Netanyahu’s decision to withdraw their negotiators from the Doha talks.

In the thread below, we break down Al-Hayya’s full speech in four parts. Drop Site’s full story is linked in the reply. 🧵 🔗 FULL STORY

EXCLUSIVE: Internal Documents Detail Hamas Proposals That Preceded Trump’s Belligerent Rant

By @jeremyscahill and Jawa Ahmad

dropsitenews.com/p/negotiations…

🔷 A Ynet columnist joins the growing chorus deflecting blame for Gaza’s starvation crisis onto the UN— ignoring 140 days of Israeli siege and what the UN actually said about why it is unable to distribute aid piling up at the crossing.

Thread 🧵🔽

1/

UN: Israel Controls Every Aspect of Aid

➤ Israel alone decides:
 – What aid is allowed in
 – Who can deliver it
 – How much can move, and when

➤ Aid workers need multiple approvals through checkpoints, a pause in bombing, and the literal opening of iron gates to retrieve supplies.

➤ Civilians approaching aid trucks are “all too often shot at.”

➤ “To collect supplies safely, we must get reliable assurances that troops would not engage or be present along the routes of our convoys.” 2/

“Kerem Shalom is not a McDonald’s drive-thru where we just pull up and pick up what we’ve ordered.” — UN spokesperson

➤ The UN says hundreds of aid trucks are stuck due to “tremendous bureaucratic and security impediments” — “And, frankly, I think there’s a lack of willingness to allow us to do our work.”

➤ At Kerem Shalom, aid must be transferred from trucks to UN trucks inside a fenced zone which Israel needs to open — a process requiring military approval that is slow, complex, and dangerous.

“The state of Israel murders children—Palestine will be free!”
Hundreds of Israelis remain aboard a Mano Maritime cruise ship in the Greek port of Syros after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked them from disembarking. Residents and activist groups defied a curfew in the “Nisaki” area, to turn the port into a protest site against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. More footage:

🚨 BREAKING: Israel strikes Syria, multiples explosions reported in Damascus

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1945463075722678295

2/ The Israeli military took responsibility for the attacks and claimed they, “struck the entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters,” sharing footage of their attack on the Presidential Palace to Telegram.

https://twitter.com/idf/status/1945421069487145072

1/
NEW: UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has submitted a landmark 28-page report to the Human Rights Council titled “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide.”

It outlines how arms dealers, tech firms, insurers, and banks are no longer just profiting from occupation—they are now structurally embedded in what Albanese calls the “economic architecture” of genocide.

Albanese writes this is not mere complicity, but active participation in genocide, apartheid, and prolonged occupation.

This is the first UN report to identify specific corporations as participants in crimes against humanity in Gaza. Albanese warns executives, investors, and firms they may face prosecution for their role in the systematic erasure of Palestinian life.

🧵 A thread ⬇️ 2. From Occupation to Genocide

The report traces a structural shift: Israel’s occupation has evolved from domination and control to mass destruction and civilian erasure. That transformation, Albanese writes, is sustained by global capital.

Private corporations have long profited from illegal settlement construction. Now, many are involved in military supply chains, biometric surveillance, AI targeting systems, and infrastructure tied to siege warfare.

This evolution to mass displacement and death marks what Albanese calls an “economy of genocide.”

NEW | Senior Hamas Official: Netanyahu Refuses to End the War, We Will Not Disarm Under Occupation

In a detailed interview with AJ Mubasher, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of blocking negotiations, violating previous agreements, and leading a genocidal war under U.S. protection. Mardawi laid out Hamas’s conditions for any future deal—and warned that even debating disarmament is a red line. Below are some of the main points discussed:

⸻

▪️ Are the U.S. and Israel Resuming Negotiations?

“We’ve been hearing talk, like everyone else—statements and rumors here and there. But in reality, nothing has changed.”

Mardawi dismissed media chatter about revived diplomacy as disconnected from reality.

“The Israeli position—Netanyahu’s position specifically—hasn’t shifted. He still insists on continuing the war and has no intention of stopping it. That’s the central obstacle to any deal, now or in the past.”

⸻

▪️ Has Hamas Received Any Concrete Proposals?

“What we’re seeing in the media appears to be talks happening between the U.S. administration and the Zionist side. But none of it has reached us in any real, practical form.“

Mardawi made clear that Hamas has not received any official offers—neither from the U.S. nor any intermediaries.

He said the group is focused on three things for any agreement—“a ceasefire, guarantees for implementation, and firm commitments.” He said those were “the basics.” And, “if those basics are met, then we can move to discuss details. But even that initial stage hasn’t started yet.”

⸻

▪️ What Guarantees Does Hamas Demand?

Mardawi laid out the group’s core requirements for any agreement:

➤1. “The agreement must include a clear, explicit clause requiring the Zionist enemy to stop the war and withdraw. That clause must be absolutely unambiguous and not open to interpretation.”

➤2. “The agreement must be publicly backed by regional actors and by the United States, with clear terms for enforcement.”

➤3. “Implementation must happen in parallel. We won’t accept a structure where Israel gets everything it wants upfront, and our people’s demands are delayed or ignored.”

He added: “Netanyahu is being led by people like Smotrich and Ben Gvir, who openly promote the killing of Muslims, Arabs, and Palestinians… They believe that if killing our people brings comfort to Israelis, it’s permissible.”

⸻

▪️ Will Hamas Accept Disarmament or Exile as Part of a Deal?

“That’s complete fantasy. This is our land—our homeland. We will not accept a single condition, not even a single word, that compromises our sovereignty or our right to be here.”

On Israeli conditions to disarm or relocate fighters abroad, Mardawi was unequivocal: “We picked up arms not out of desire, but necessity—because the Zionist enemy violated our rights and occupied our land.”

“Our weapons are not up for negotiation. They are tied to our right. If an independent Palestinian state is established on our land, then that state will decide what to do with the weapons. But anything short of that would mean giving up our rights and our sovereignty. And I don’t believe a single Palestinian would accept that.”

⸻

▪️ Will Hamas Make Concession Now That Iran Is Under Attack?

“Strategically, we are actually stronger today than we were before. Everything Netanyahu and his allies are claiming will soon be exposed, and we’re talking about months, not years.”

Mardawi rejected the idea that setbacks for Iran or Hezbollah full receipt had weakened Hamas. “Yes, Netanyahu can still invade, can still kill, but he cannot sustain it this time. He’s under pressure on every front. His talk of total victory is a lie, and that lie will soon unravel.”

“We are confident—absolutely confident—that the path we are on will take us to the goals we’ve set. Whether Netanyahu accepts that or not, whether Trump accepts it or not—God willing, we will achieve them.”

Full transcript in replies. Full Translation – Mahmoud Mardawi Interview

Q: Mr. Mardawi, is there anything new regarding a return to negotiations or any proposed deals—especially now that the United States and Israel appear to be bringing the war back to the negotiating table?

A: We’ve been hearing talk, like everyone else—statements and reports here and there. But in reality, nothing has changed. The Israeli position—Netanyahu’s position specifically—hasn’t shifted. He still insists on continuing the war and has no intention of stopping it. That’s the central obstacle to any deal, now or in the past.

We had already tried moving forward under the assumption that even a temporary pause might lead to deeper change and help bring this cursed war to an end. This is a war being led by a criminal who is killing children and women. The blood being spilled is pure and innocent—taken by tanks, warplanes, and under the cover of American diplomacy. It must stop.

And so far, we’ve received no indication that Netanyahu is willing to end this criminal war.

⸻

Q: So there are no new proposals on the table—neither from the U.S. nor anyone else?

A: No. What we’re seeing in the media appears to be talks happening between the U.S. administration and the Zionist side. But none of it has reached us in any real, practical form.

We’ve made our position clear: we are focused on three things—ceasefire, guarantees for implementation, and firm commitments. These are the basics. If those are met, then we can move to discuss details. But even that stage hasn’t started yet.

So what’s said in public, in the media, is one thing—what’s actually happening behind the scenes is something else entirely.

⸻

Q: Are you still holding to the same red lines you previously stated? After 631 days of siege—more than two million Palestinians suffering in Gaza—are you ready to show any flexibility or make any concessions in future negotiations?

A: What the Palestinian people and their political leadership are calling for is completely reasonable: end this criminal aggression.

This war is targeting hospitals, public institutions, and infrastructure. Every day, people are being told to show up at aid distribution points—only to be humiliated and killed. That must end.

We want things to return to a framework we had already agreed to—one that Netanyahu violated back in January. We want that agreement honored, and we want the humanitarian aid, especially from Arab and Muslim nations, to be allowed in. We also call on those countries to pressure their governments to take a real stand on what’s happening.

This bloodshed cannot be allowed to continue. We will not agree to any deal that simply gives Israel a break, allowing it to regroup and return to killing our children and women. That will not happen.

We are asking for real guarantees—stronger than anything that has come before.

(Part 1 of 3)

🧵THREAD:

The State Department spokesman was repeatedly pressed today about the effectiveness of the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, following the Trump administration’s pledge of $30 million in new funding over the next month.

A CBS reporter questioned whether the aid effort is working at all, citing widespread hunger and a firsthand report from @zeteo_news, written by a GHF contractor, describing a failing mission.

The spokesman repeated the talking point that 46 million meals have entered Gaza—a figure local sources say is wildly inflated. Much of the aid that does get distributed, sources have told Drop Site, is looted—in many cases by armed gangs operating with Israeli support. Asked why Israeli forces are using lethal force against starving Palestinian children trying to access food, the State Department spokesman replied:

“It is important to remember, though, that, as I said again, Hamas bears sole responsibility for this conflict. That is fundamental.”

He offered no explanation for the killings, pointed to “creative solutions” via the administration’s $30 million boost to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—an initiative that has been widely condemned for failing to protect aid seekers or ensure safe delivery.

⚡️NEW: Gazan Communities Coordinate Aid Delivery Without Israeli Involvement

In a notable development, local communities across Gaza today successfully organized the safe delivery of aid—without Israeli oversight—by using grassroots protection mechanisms to shield convoys from looting, chaos, and Israeli fire.

➤ Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed that trucks carrying desperately needed medicine and medical supplies entered through the Kissufim crossing (also known as al‑Karara, the border crossing point between Israel and southern Gaza located east of Khan Younis and Deir al‑Balah) and reached warehouses and Nasser Hospital, marking one of few successful deliveries in months.

➤ In southern Gaza, the Supreme Council for Tribal Affairs praised tribal leaders and families for “standing as a shield that protects people before their place,” imposing short curfews to ensure safe passage of aid convoys. In a public message, the council called this protection a “historic stance recorded in the purest pages of loyalty and manliness.”

➤ In northern Gaza, community leaders and mukhtars blocked civilian access to the main aid route on al-Rashid Street to prevent stampedes and theft. The path—often crowded with starving civilians—was guarded by volunteers, allowing trucks to safely reach UN warehouses in Gaza City for the first time in days.

➤ A local source told Drop Site: “This is being done with the help of popular protection from Gazan families in the face of armed gangs and hungry looters to allow a more fair and dignified distribution mechanism.”

➤ Journalist Abd Sabbah and @translatingpal reported that around 10 trucks arrived safely today. A video by @amer_elsultan shows the peaceful arrival. The local journalist noted: “There is absolutely no need for Israel to be involved in any kind of aid distribution.”

🔴 At least 14 people were killed near GHF aid distribution sites this morning as Israel continues to block established UN/NGO channels for distribution. Since launch, GHF massacres have killed 549, injured 4066, and left 39 Palestinians missing.


Aid arrived securely at medical warehouses.

Also Nasser Hospital announced: “Hundreds of blood units have arrived at Nasser Medical Complex through the Karm Abu Salim (Kerem Shalom) crossing, donated by residents of the West Bank.

THREAD:

Over 450 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3500 injured while trying to access food at the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) since May 27, when it began operating in Gaza. Survivors describe being shelled, sniped, robbed, and crushed.

In the last week, Drop Site News and +972 Magazine have published separate reports documenting harrowing firsthand accounts from those who made the journey to Israel’s so-called aid ‘death traps.’ Below are some of their testimonies: 🧵 1. Hatem Shaldan (19, killed)

➤ In the early hours of June 11, Hatem and his brother Hamza left their shelter to find flour. Their family had been surviving without food for weeks.
➤ Along with dozens of others, they gathered on Al-Rashid Street near Gaza’s coastline after hearing aid trucks were on the way.
➤ Around 3:30 a.m., the trucks appeared—followed almost immediately by Israeli artillery fire.
➤ Hatem ran and tried to hide in tall grass. But Israeli tanks opened fire again.
➤ “Hatem was hit by shrapnel in his legs,” a wounded survivor told +972. “He bled for hours. Dogs circled them.”
➤ His body was later found at Al-Aqsa Hospital, identified from a photo circulating in WhatsApp groups.
➤ “Eventually, when more aid trucks arrived, people helped move the bodies onto one of them.”

In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces have turned almost 50 towns and tens of thousands of homes to rubble.

Despite the "ceasefire" with Lebanon—and while actively committing genocide in Gaza and launching near-daily attacks on Iran—Israel continues to bomb southern Lebanese communities.

Thread: Drop Site contributor @loffredojeremy reports from the ground🧵 In the town of Kfarkila—once home to more than 9,000—only a few dozen residents remain. Nearly every home has been reduced to ruins, not by combat but through systematic demolition. Israeli forces occupied the town, methodically detonated homes, and torched every car.

🏥 Medical Sources Confirm Full Evacuation of Indonesian Hospital in Gaza

Medical sources confirmed to Drop Site that all remaining patients and staff have been successfully evacuated from the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. The hospital - like all other hospitals in North Gaza - is now completely empty after months of siege and bombardment.

The nearest available medical facility for residents of northern Gaza is now Gaza City’s al-Ahli Arab (Baptist) Hospital - located further south and already struggling under the weight of Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system.

Images shared by aid workers involved in the evacuation show the devastation left behind: destroyed hospital infrastructure, abandoned blood supplies, and teams racing to salvage what medical equipment they could. The evacuation marks another grim milestone as Gaza’s healthcare network continues to disintegrate under relentless attacks.

(More photos below(


The heavily damaged exterior of the Indonesian Hospital, its facade blackened by strikes, with shattered hospital signage scattered in the rubble.

New report for @DropSiteNews by @MariamBarghouti 🧵🔽

1/ After October 7, 2023, the Israeli prison system entered its deadliest period in history.

At least 70 Palestinian detainees have been confirmed killed through torture, systemic starvation, or the deliberate denial of medical care. Significant numbers have been forcibly disappeared, their whereabouts unknown. 2/ Wael Jaghoub, a leader in the Palestinian prisoners’ movement, spent 30 years in Israeli prisons. Released earlier this year, he was rearrested in May.

“Israel is intentionally starving detainees,” he told Drop Site. “Within months, detainees were losing 20 to 25 kilos.”

BREAKING: Israeli forces today demolished the Noura Al-Kaabi Dialysis Center, part of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza.

The center was a vital lifeline for kidney patients in northern Gaza with Dr. Marwan Sultan of the Indonesian Hospital saying more than 180 patients in northern Gaza depended on regular dialysis there three times a week.

The center had completely ceased operations after being destroyed earlier in the war, but relaunched in August 2024 following a reconstruction project supported by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS).

In April 2025, the World Health Organization reported that six out of seven dialysis centers in Gaza had already been destroyed. The demolition of the Noura Al-Kaabi Center now makes it all seven.

Today, only a handful of partially functioning hospitals are able to provide limited dialysis services for the over 1,000 kidney failure patients across Gaza requiring ongoing care. The chart attached shows their names, the number of working machines, and the weekly dialysis sessions.

Treatments have been drastically reduced, with patients receiving fewer and shorter sessions — sharply increasing the risk of severe complications and death.

According to Dr. Yousef Abu Rish of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 400 kidney failure patients have died due to the destruction of dialysis machines and the collapse of treatment capacity. Images from reconstruction project before the center re-launched in August 2024.

🚨 BREAKING at @DropSiteNews: 15 Killed, 50 Injured at GHF Aid Site Where Israel Had Previously Massacred 15 Rescue Workers

Israeli forces opened fire today near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site in Tal al-Sultan, west of Rafah, killing at least 15 Palestinians and injuring more than 50 others, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) had announced the opening of the new distribution center earlier today — its fourth heavily militarized “Secure Distribution Site.”

Three sites have been set up in Rafah in southern Gaza, and one in central Gaza. None have been established in the north (including Gaza City), where, according to the IDF’s own estimates, around one million Palestinians still reside. (Times of Israel)

In a statement published on Facebook just hours ago, the GHF said that on Saturday, June 1, “it will have only one active distribution site, which is the Tel al-Sultan site…. located west of Rafah, near the Sultan roundabout. All other sites will be closed.”

The statement continues: “We invite only the residents of the Al-Barouk neighborhood to come to the site starting at 5:00 AM.

The safe passage leading to the Tel al-Sultan site will be via Al-Rashid Street. The Israeli Defense Forces will be present in the area to secure the passage.

It is forbidden to use the passage before 5:00 AM, as we have been informed by the army that it will be active in the area before and after the designated safe hours.

We remind all residents to stay on the road — leaving the road poses a great danger.

We remind everyone to be patient and note that only one box is allowed per family.

If anyone tries to take more than one box or steal boxes from others, the site will be closed. If people try to storm the site, it will also be closed.”

This new site was established in the same neighborhood where Israeli forces killed 15 Palestinian paramedics and emergency workers in late March, bulldozing their bodies and ambulances into a mass grave while they were on a rescue mission.

Jonathan Whittall (@_jwhittall), Head of Office a.i. for UN OCHA oPt, who had accompanied Palestinian Red Crescent teams on a mission to retrieve the bodies of some of the paramedics, described it a “grotesque symbol of how life, and that which sustains it, is being both erased and controlled in Gaza.”

Drop Site will be following this breaking story and sharing updates as they come in. More context on Gaza’s engineered humanitarian collapse in the thread below. 🧵⬇️

I. Surviving the “Gaza Inhumanitarian Foundation”

GHF claims the new center distributed 28,800 food parcels today, amounting to more than 1.6 million meals. It also claims to have delivered a total of 3.8 million meals since launching operations on May 26, 2025. No independent organizations have been able to verify GHF’s claims and locals say those numbers are simply not true.

But even going by GHF’s own count, the U.S.-Israeli replacement for established UN and NGO channels has provided less than two meals per person over the course of a week to each of the two million Palestinians in Gaza. 80 days after the United States and Israel began starving them under a total siege.

Amjad Shawa, Director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, told Al Jazeera that no GHF parcels have made their way to Gaza City or the northern governorate. On Al Jazeera’s broadcast earlier today, Shawa derisively referred to GHF as the “Gaza Inhumanitarian Foundation” and said the organization is “misleading the international community” about its numbers.” The parcels, Shawa said, are only enough for a family of five for 2–3 days — not 5.5 days, as GHF has claimed publicly.

Al Jazeera, citing local sources, reported that at least two Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded this morning while trying to access aid at the GHF site in Rafah. One man, speaking to Sahat English, described the violence at the GHF distribution hub:

“The same people who distributed aid opened fire on us. A bite of food soaked in blood. It’s either you die or your child dies.”

Another man said he managed only to “scrape together leftovers off the ground” to feed his family. “The strong take everything and the weak are left with nothing,” he added.

A woman, describing the crowd of an estimated 50,000 people, said it felt “like judgment day — chaos everywhere,” and added that “there’s no flour, no rice, no aid, no organization.”

For many, the process was one of humiliation and desperation — not humanitarian relief, with the scale of deprivation clear on the ground.

Twelve-year-old Rahaf Abu Arar returned empty-handed after being crushed in the crowd at a GHF aid site. Her 19-year-old brother was killed in an Israeli bombing earlier in the genocide, and her 3-month-old baby brother, she said, died recently of malnutrition.

“I’m the oldest now. I provide for the household. I came back with nothing but cartons,” she told journalist Samer Alboji. “We came today because of extreme hunger.”

Recipients of GHF parcels have reported that the boxes contain dry goods such as rice, flour, canned beans, pasta, olive oil, biscuits, and sugar — but no clean water and no fuel to cook with.

A very limited amount of aid has entered through established channels (more on that below). But, Eri Kaneko, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian affairs office, told Reuters that COGAT (the Israeli Ministry of Defense body that handles all Israeli control over humanitarian access, aid deliveries, and civilian affairs in Gaza) has severely restricted the entry of food:

“Israeli authorities have not allowed us to bring in a single ready-to-eat meal. The only food permitted has been flour for bakeries. Even if allowed in unlimited quantities, which it hasn’t been, it wouldn’t amount to a complete diet for anyone.”

GHF notes that each of its food parcels contains 1,750 calories — which is well below the World Health Organization’s standard of 2,100 calories per person per day.

On Friday, only one of GHF’s four aid sites in Gaza opened for distribution. It operated for less than an hour before GHF announced on Facebook that it had closed because all its supplies had been “fully distributed.”

Sarajevo | Gaza Tribunal
Public Assembly – Day 3 Highlights 🧵

Day 3 in Sarajevo featured testimony on genocide, dehumanization, cultural erasure, and resistance—presented by scholars, legal experts, and activists including Ilan Pappé, Omar Barghouti, Raz Segal, Maya Wind, Sami Al-Arian, Ussama and Sari Makdisi, @AssalRad, and others.

Here’s a thread of key moments and testimony from the day, starting with Dr. Ilan Pappé, Israeli historian and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, who addressed Europe’s complicity, and potential power, in halting Israel’s genocidal campaign.

🎤 Ilan Pappé: “Even if American policy doesn't change tomorrow, a dramatic change in the position of the EU and of Britain can bring an immediate stop to the genocide in Gaza. It's not going to bring the liberation of Palestine… but if we are looking for urgent measure to stop the killing, the massive killing... Europe can play a far more active and decisive role.”

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The Gaza Tribunal is a civil society-led people’s tribunal to investigate and document Israel’s genocide in Gaza, modeled after tribunals like the Russell Tribunal on Vietnam and Palestine. It aims to hold states accountable where international institutions have failed. “The Palestinians became invisible to the Europeans… Their suffering is very well known, but it’s not leading to any serious contemplation.”

“Without rethinking the Zionist project as a whole, Europe will not take a tough action against Israel.”

“I don’t remember a time in history when Western European politicians were of such low caliber—totally self-centered, totally committed to one mission in life: to be re-elected.”

Dr. Ilan Pappé argues that Europe is not a bystander to Israel’s war on Gaza—it is a pillar upholding it. He says Israel must be seen as part of the Western European political order, not outside of it, and judged by the same standards. And Palestinians remain invisible in Europe, not because their suffering is hidden, but because elites refuse to confront Zionism itself.

Sarajevo Gaza Tribunal
Public Assembly Day 1 – Highlights

The Gaza Tribunal, a civil society-led “people’s tribunal,” opened its first public session in Sarajevo on May 26, 2025. It seeks to document Israeli war crimes in Gaza and address the failures of international institutions to deliver justice.

The event began with remarks from Richard Falk, former UN Special Rapporteur and professor emeritus of international law at Princeton.

Falk said:
“It has become obvious that the UN lacks the capacity to override the genocidal support provided by the United States. The @gazatribunal draws on the legacy of the Russell Tribunal and the Iraq War Tribunal.” Falk called the tribunal “a response to the failure of organized international society to enforce international law and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The UN has been blocked by the complicity of North American and European democracies,” he added.

🚨Hamas and U.S. Reach Gaza Ceasefire “Understanding”—Israel Rejects It, U.S. Envoy Publicly Blames Hamas

Overnight, Hamas and U.S. officials reached a verbal “understanding” on the framework of a Gaza ceasefire, sources involved with the negotiations told Drop Site’s @JeremyScahill. Drop Site has been shown the full text of the document outlining the terms to which Hamas agreed. Some of these details have also been confirmed by sources interviewed by Al Jazeera and Al-Mayadeen

Scahill reports that the understanding was communicated to Hamas through Palestinian-American intermediary Bishara Bahbah in coordination with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas accepted the terms in the document and was told the U.S. believed the framework could work—pending Israeli approval.

A senior source from Hamas told Drop Site’s Jeremy Scahill: "We have accepted the Witkoff proposal, 60 day temporary cease fire for releasing 10 living Israeli prisoners (5 at the beginning and 5 [at the end]), President Trump will personally announce the agreement."

But before the deal could advance, Israeli officials rushed to the media to kill it. Soon after, Witkoff publicly accused Hamas of misrepresenting the proposal—directly contradicting what sources told Drop Site had been agreed to in private discussions.

Here are the details: 🧵⬇️ 1. What Hamas Believed It Had Secured

The 13-point document shown to Drop Site, based on Hamas’s direct talks with the U.S. through intermediary Bishara Bahbah, included the following:

➤⁠ A 70-day ceasefire.

➤⁠ The release of 10 living Israeli captives in two batches, half on the first day and the other on the last day. Hamas would also release the bodies of 16 deceased captives. Hamas said it needed a two-week window to locate all burial sites.

➤⁠ A personal, public guarantee from Trump, committing to the ceasefire and the pull back of Israeli forces to their March 2 positions.

➤⁠ The resumption of unrestricted aid, including food, fuel, medicine, housing materials and construction equipment.

➤⁠ A cessation of all Israeli military operations, including surveillance activities. A cessation of all armed activities by Palestinian resistance groups.

➤⁠ Witkoff would personally, as a guarantor, sign a ceasefire deal in Doha and shake hands with Hamas’s lead negotiator, Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya.

➤⁠ Witkoff would head the U.S. delegation, which would also include Adam Boehler and Bahbah.

➤⁠ Trump would publicly thank all parties, including Hamas, reaffirming his commitment to the ceasefire and a lasting resolution between Israel and Palestine.

➤⁠ Upon signing of the ceasefire, an independent, technocratic committee of Palestinians would immediately take charge of Gaza’s governance, and reconstruction efforts would commence.

➤⁠ The U.S. and regional mediators would guarantee continued ceasefire negotiations and aid entry after 70 days, until a permanent ceasefire is reached.

➤⁠ As long as negotiations continue, the U.S. would remain committed to a ceasefire and facilitating aid entry until a permanent peace agreement is reached.

Hamas initially proposed a 90-day ceasefire, then said it would accept a 70-day version to align with the U.S. position. Israel wanted a shorter window. Hamas subsequently told Scahill it had agreed to an intial 60 day truce.

Sources told Drop Site that Qatar, particularly in the wake of Edan Alexander’s release, applied pressure on Trump to secure this agreement. As Drop Site previously reported, Witkoff promised Hamas that aid would resume to Gaza two days after Alexander’s release and Trump would call for a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war. Neither of those happened.

Trump, according to sources, has been telling regional leaders that he had given Israel two months to accomplish its objectives after Israel abandoned the January ceasefire deal, and now is the time to bring the war to an end.

THREAD:
Israel claims the strike that burned alive nine children from the Al-Najjar family in Khan Yunis yesterday was carried out in an “evacuation zone.”

The home (location circled in black below) is in Block 87—nearly 400 meters outside the latest zone the army designated for evacuation (forced displacement) in an order issued a week ago. 2/
According to Haaretz journalist Nir Hasson, the IDF claims the Al-Najjar home was covered by a “warning” issued over a month ago on April 13.

Block 87 does indeed fall in the zone specified below.