UN chief says it's time to 'truly flood' Gaza with aid and calls starvation there an outrage
Rafah Crossing (Egypt), Mar 23: UN Secretary-General Ant nio Guterres stood near a long line of waiting trucks Saturday and declared it was time to "truly flood Gaza with life-saving aid," calling the starvation inside the enclave a "moral outrage." He called for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
Guterres spoke on the Egyptian side of the border not far from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where Israel plans to launch a ground assault despite widespread warnings of a potential disaster. More than half of Gaza's population has taken refuge there.
"Any further onslaught will make things even worse for Palestinian civilians, worse for hostages and worse for all people in the region," Guterres said.
He spoke a day after the UN Security Council failed to reach consensus on the wording of a resolution supporting "an immediate and sustained cease-fire."
Guterres repeatedly noted the difficulties of getting aid into Gaza, for which international aid agencies have largely blamed Israel.
"Here from this crossing, we see the heartbreak and heartlessness a long line of blocked relief trucks on one side of the gates, the long shadow of starvation on the other," he said.
He added, "It is time for an ironclad commitment by Israel for total access for humanitarian goods to Gaza, and in the Ramadan spirit of compassion, it is also time for the immediate release of all hostages."
Hamas is believed to be holding around 100 hostages as well as the remains of 30 others taken in its Oct 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and sparked the war.
An estimated 1.5 million Palestinians now shelter in Rafah.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said an Israeli ground assault on Rafah would be "a mistake" and unnecessary in defeating Hamas. That marked a shift in the position for the United States, whose officials have concluded there is no credible way for getting sheltering civilians out of harm's way.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press forward with military-approved plans for the offensive, which he has said is crucial to achieving the stated aim of destroying Hamas. The military has said Rafah is Hamas' last major stronghold and ground forces must target four battalions remaining there.
Israel's invasion has killed more than 32,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, while leaving much of the enclave in ruins and displacing some 80% of the enclave's 2.3 million people.
Gaza's Health Ministry has said women and children make up the majority of the dead. Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths and accuses it of operating within residential areas.
Fighting raged Saturday around Gaza's largest hospital.
Israel's military said it had killed more than 170 Hamas group members in Shifa hospital since the start of their raid five days ago. Nearby Gaza City residents told The Associated Press that Israeli troops had blown up several residential buildings.
"They are emptying the whole area," said Abdel-Hay Saad, who lives on the western edge of Gaza City's Rimal neighbourhood.
Gaza's Health Ministry on Friday said the raid on the hospital complex had torched its departments treating patients with vascular disease. It said Israel's military had detained health workers, patients and relatives inside the complex.
Today I met with Palestinian civilians at the General Hospital in Al Arish, Egypt.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 23, 2024
It’s impossible not to feel heartbroken by the accounts of those injured or separated from their families.
It’s time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
It’s time to silence the guns. pic.twitter.com/y0gQijjNol
Every year, I undertake a solidarity mission during the holy month of Ramadan, a time for spreading compassion, community & peace.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 23, 2024
This year, I have come to the Rafah crossing to spotlight the hardship and pain of Palestinians in Gaza – and the obstacles to easing their plight. pic.twitter.com/EJmtL966O4
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Pizza Hut China debuts unusual bullfrog pizza, sparking mixed reactions online
Beijing : Pizza Hut China has taken a bold step into culinary experimentation by introducing a limited-edition pizza topped with deep-fried bullfrog, a move that has garnered both curiosity and criticism online. The unconventional dish was first highlighted by global food trend expert David Henke, who shared a photo of the new menu item on X (formerly Twitter), noting the diverse protein preferences in different cultures.
The pizza, known as "Goblin Pizza," features a thick crust, red sauce, a layer of parsley, and a whole deep-fried bullfrog as the centerpiece. The frog's "eyes" are created with halved hard-boiled eggs, each topped with a black olive, making for a visually striking presentation. According to Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, the unusual offering is a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons, inspired by a character from the game.
Details about the availability of this new creation are limited, with no specific information provided on Pizza Hut’s official website. However, the quirky menu item has already become a talking point on social media, drawing a mix of reactions ranging from shock to curiosity.
On Reddit, a photo of the pizza was shared, fueling further debate. Some users labeled the dish as “pure blasphemy,” while one user went so far as to say, “This pizza is a felony.” Another asked, “Why ruin a pizza like that?”
Not all feedback was negative; one commenter admitted that while the frog might be off-putting, they'd be more accepting if the pizza underneath was satisfactory. Another joked, "You can ribbet this right into the garbage."
Amidst the critique, there were voices of intrigue. One foodie defended the dish, saying, “Fried frog legs are so good! Maybe next time, shred the frog leg meat and add it to the pizza—that would be pretty good.”
