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Trump’s envoy arrives in Israel as Gaza criticism mounts

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US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss ways to end the crisis in Gaza, where nearly 22 months of grinding war and dire shortages of food have drawn mounting international criticism.

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported dozens of Palestinians killed late Wednesday when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd attempting to block an aid convoy — the latest in a spate of near-daily incidents of desperate aid seekers being shot.

The Israeli military confirmed having fired “warning shots” as Gazans gathered around aid trucks, but said it had no knowledge of casualties in the incident. An AFP correspondent saw the bullet-riddled corpses of Palestinians in Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital.

Jameel Ashour, who lost a relative in the shooting, told AFP at the overflowing morgue that Israel troops had opened fire after a crowd surged towards the convoy.

“When people saw thieves stealing and dropping food, the hungry crowd rushed in hopes of getting some,” he said.

With indirect ceasefire and hostage release negotiations between Hamas and Israel at an impasse, Witkoff will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss humanitarian aid and the “next steps” on Gaza.

He may also visit a US-backed humanitarian group distributing food in Gaza, according to Israeli reports.

Witkoff has been the top US representative in indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, but the discussions broke down last week when Israel and the United States recalled their delegations from Doha.

Israel is under mounting international pressure to agree a ceasefire and allow the world to flood a hungry Gaza with food, with Canada the latest Western country to announce plans to recognise a Palestinian state.

– MAGA doubts –

Trump has been Israel’s staunchest international defender at a time when concerns about the campaign in Gaza have left Netanyahu increasingly isolated on the world stage, but the two leaders have occasionally found themselves at odds of late.

Earlier this week Trump promised to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning that the territory faces “real starvation” — directly contradicting Netanyahu’s insistence that reports of hunger were exaggerated.

UN-backed experts, meanwhile, have reported “famine is now unfolding” in Gaza, with news images of sick and emaciated children drawing outrage and powers like France, the UK and now Canada lining up to support Palestinian statehood.

Trump is now reportedly concerned that his most fervent domestic US supporters, the so-called “MAGA base”, are turning against Israel.

Israel is also under pressure to resolve the crisis from other traditional supporters.

Germany’s top diplomat Johann Wadephul was expected in Jerusalem on Thursday for talks with Netanyahu and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

– ‘Warning shots’ –

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that the worsening suffering of civilians in Gaza left “no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace”.

Israel blasted Canada’s announcement as part of a “distorted campaign of international pressure”, while Trump warned that trade negotiations with Ottawa could be hurt by what Washington regards as a premature bid to back Palestine.

The fighting in Gaza has lasted for almost 22 months, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which left 1,219 people dead, according to a tally based on official figures.

Of the 251 Israelis kidnapped that day, 49 are still held in Gaza, 27 of them declared dead by the Israeli military.

The Israeli campaign has since killed 60,249 Palestinians, according to a tally from the Hamas government’s health ministry, and this week UN aid agencies warned that deaths from starvation had begun.

In the incident Wednesday night, Gaza’s civil defence agency said gunfire killed at least 58 people in a crowd gathered around a humanitarian aid convoy in the north of the territory.

According to an AFP correspondent and witnesses, the trucks had entered Gaza through the Israeli military checkpoint at Zikim, on their way to World Central Kitchen and the World Food Programme warehouses in Gaza City.

Thousands of people rushed to stop the trucks before they continued to the warehouses, and shooting erupted.

Separately, the Hamas-led Gaza government’s health ministry issued a statement Thursday begging Palestinians not to loot a new aid convoy, warning that it contained no food but instead medical supplies for the territory’s hard-pressed hospitals.

Another 32 people were reported killed by the civil defence on Thursday in Israeli attacks across Gaza.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing many areas mean AFP cannot independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence and other parties.

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Police present ₦33.8m to families of fallen officers in Kebbi

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The Kebbi State Police Command has disbursed cheques totalling ₦33,816,610.97 to 50 families of police officers who died in active service.

The presentation, held on Thursday at the Command’s Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, was made by the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Sani, as part of the Group Life Assurance and IGP Family Welfare Schemes initiated to support families of fallen heroes.

PUNCH Online reports that the Group Life Assurance and IGP Family Welfare Schemes are part of the ongoing initiatives under Egbetokun to enhance welfare and provide financial relief to families of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sani commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for his steadfast commitment to the welfare of police personnel and their families.

He described the gesture as a reflection of the IGP’s compassion and dedication to the well-being of officers, saying it had brought “immense joy and relief” to many bereaved families.

“The Inspector-General’s magnanimity continues to boost morale, enhance performance, and uplift the spirit of our officers across the country,” the Commissioner said, praying for God’s continued guidance for the police chief.

Sani urged the beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely in ventures that would ensure lasting benefits for their dependents.

Responding on behalf of the recipients, Sonnen Simeon Mome thanked the IG for his generosity, noting that the support would have a meaningful impact on their lives.

“This gesture shows that the Nigeria Police Force has not forgotten the sacrifices of our loved ones,” Mome said, assuring that the money would be put to good use.

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Tinubu congratulates minister, NLNG boss on GECF roles

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President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, on his emergence as President of the 2026 Gas Exporting Countries Forum Ministerial Meeting held in Doha, Qatar.

PUNCH Online reports that the 27th ministerial meeting was held today, Thursday, in Doha, Qatar. Key items discussed include coordination among member states to address global policies that may pose challenges to the development and trade of natural gas.

Participants also discussed organisational matters, including the election of the next GECF Secretary-General and preparations for the 8th GECF Heads of State Summit, to be held in Moscow.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also felicitated with the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, Philip Mshelbila, on his election as Secretary-General of the GECF.

The president described their new roles as a further consolidation of Nigeria’s leadership in global gas diplomacy.

Tinubu expressed confidence that both Mshelbila and Ekpo will represent Nigeria with excellence and collaborate with other member states to deepen cooperation, stability, and inclusivity in the global gas market.

“The Nigerian government is proud of Mshelbila’s election as secretary-general and Ekpo’s emergence as president of the GECF Ministerial meeting, as the two positions reflect the international community’s confidence in Nigeria’s leadership and technical expertise in the global gas sector,” the President said.

“Natural gas remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial growth, energy security, and economic transformation under our administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Our country shall remain a dependable voice in advancing equitable energy access and a cleaner energy future,” he added.

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Trailer kills Kogi varsity lecturer

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Tragedy struck in the university community of Felele, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Wednesday, as a heavy-duty truck crushed a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, Federal University, Lokoja.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Tenimu Etuku, confirmed the death of the lecturer, Mrs Kemi Emmanuel, on Thursday in a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Lokoja, describing the incident as “very sad and unfortunate.”

Etuku said the accident occurred around 3:30 pm on Wednesday when the lecturer fell off a commercial motorcycle, popularly known as an okada, after being hit by a speeding truck along the highway at Crusher, in the Lokoja metropolis.

“When the accident happened, our rescue team responded promptly and quickly rushed the victim to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

“The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.

The FRSC commander expressed shock over the conduct of the okada rider involved in the incident.

This heartrending occurrence has once again highlighted growing concerns over the increasing frequency of accidents involving heavy-duty trucks along the busy Felele axis.

PUNCH Online reports that in May 2025, 19 people, including five children, lost their lives in a tragic accident along the Obajana–Lokoja road, prompting the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to call for stricter enforcement of road traffic laws on federal highways.

Similarly, in April, six persons died in a road crash involving a passenger bus along the Lokoja–Abuja road, while on October 12, ten persons were killed in another accident along the same Obajana–Lokoja route.

Residents and students have since voiced their concerns, urging the Kogi State Government to take immediate and strategic actions to prevent further tragic loss of lives in similar incidents.

It has been strongly suggested that regulations be introduced to restrict trailers from passing through the city during the day, allowing their movement only after 9:00 pm.

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