News Links - 8 - 13 June

 

June 14 – Israeli strikes on Iran kill dozens, UN slams GHF aid failure as IDF halts GHF operations, Moroccan engineer accuses UN of whitewashing role of tech giants in Israeli genocide

Iran–Israel
Israeli missile strikes on Tehran killed 60 people, including 20 children, according to Iranian media reports, in the deadliest escalation of the regional conflict so far. 

GazaAid
The UN has condemned the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—a U.S.- and Israeli-backed aid group—as a failure that endangered civilians and operated without coordination. According to The Guardian, the IDF has ordered GHF to halt food distributions amid rising regional tensions, but Gaza’s ongoing communications blackout meant Palestinians never received the notice. With GHF posting only on Facebook, desperate crowds gathered at aid sites Saturday, where Israeli troops shot and killed at least 15 people.

Morocco
Moroccan software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad, a former Microsoft employee, has accused the UN of whitewashing tech-sector complicity in Israel’s use of AI targeting systems in Gaza. She alleges the UN has failed to hold technology firms accountable for enabling the mass killing of civilians through surveillance-based warfare.

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June 13, 2025 – US pushes to reshape UN goals and UNICEF programs, GA overwhelmingly approves resolution on Gaza ceasefire, accountability in Afghanistan, UN move to Africa, private companies take more roles in aid delivery

US Push to Reshape UN Agenda
According to C-Fam, the Trump administration is continuing to pressure UNICEF’s executive board to remove references to “gender ideology” and “sexual and reproductive health and rights for children” from its strategic plan, as part of a US effort to halt what it calls the “sexualizing” of children. Meanwhile, Devex reports that U.S. negotiators have proposed hundreds of amendments to weaken or delete language on gender, sustainability, and climate action in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. European and developing countries have voiced strong objections, warning that these moves undermine long-standing consensus.

UN General Assembly demands Gaza ceasefire
In an emergency session, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. The vote reflects mounting global frustration with the ongoing violence and calls on all parties to halt hostilities and prioritize humanitarian access.  The final vote was 153 countries in favor, 10 against, and 23 abstentions.

UN Afghanistan expert renews call for accountability
The UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan has reiterated the need for an international accountability mechanism to address Taliban human rights violations. The proposal calls for a body to document abuses, identify perpetrators, and support pathways to justice for victims.

UN Africa move seen as power shift
A Devex opinion argues that the relocation of major UN offices to Nairobi signals an important step toward decentralizing global governance. While symbolic of a more inclusive approach, the move’s success will depend on whether it translates into actual power-sharing and responsiveness to African leadership.

UN80 reform: a funding crisis as reform opportunity
As the UN nears its 80th anniversary, IPI’s Global Observatory suggests that ongoing financial pressures present an opening to reshape the institution. Reform proposals include redistributing influence toward Global South nations in staffing and funding decisions, aiming to align the UN more closely with its original Charter principles.

Private firms take over aid delivery in South Sudan
As U.S. News and Reuters report, the U.S.-backed firm Fogbow has replaced WFP in parts of South Sudan, air-dropping food to 30,000 people. Critics warn this privatization of aid risks politicizing humanitarian response and eroding trust.

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June 12 - Aid access to Gaza remains deeply fractured: while trucks finally reentered the north, a US‑backed aid operation saw its workers come under deadly attack, sparking fresh humanitarian alarm.

Denial of Humanitarian Access – Children

A new UN guidance note highlights a surge in the denial of humanitarian access for children in conflict zones. It offers improved methods to monitor and respond to these violations amid rising incidents globally.

Northern Gaza
For the first time since early March, 56 World Food Programme trucks were allowed to enter northern Gaza via the Zikim (Erez West) crossing on June 11, following political and security clearance from Israeli authorities.

GHF Under Fire
The US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) reported that Hamas fighters attacked a bus carrying its Palestinian aid staff on June 11, killing at least eight people, with others injured or possibly kidnapped. The Washington Post noted the group was returning from one of GHF’s heavily secured distribution centers when ambushed. An exclusive investigation by Zeteo linked GHF to US contractors and security firms with opaque governance structures. A New Yorker feature revealed a system plagued by violence, logistical confusion, and severe hardship for civilians, with families surviving on one meal every few days and aid pickups often ending in bloodshed.

June 11 – 138 million child labourers, staff backlash at UN agencies over cuts, UNICEF silent on Iran abuses, and more deaths in Gaza as people try to reach aid.

Child Labour
According to a new UNICEF–ILO report, 138 million children globally—1 in every 10—are trapped in child labour, with over 13 million more at risk by 2025 without urgent action. The agencies call for increased investment in social protection and education to counter setbacks driven by conflict, climate change, and economic shocks.

Iran
UNICEF has not responded to demands by Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi that it speak out against Iran's abuses of children’s rights. In an open letter, she condemned the agency’s silence on the systemic mistreatment of detained children, drawing growing criticism from rights advocates.

UN Cuts
UNICEF is facing internal staff backlash over deep budget cuts made without consultation, with unions accusing leadership of prioritizing optics over program integrity. A broader article outlines how layoffs, suspended operations, and financial strain are spreading across UN agencies, prompting fears that the system can no longer fulfill its mandates.

Trump & the UN
A Bloomberg commentary warns that Donald Trump’s proposed UN funding cuts and disdain for multilateralism could render the institution as powerless as the defunct League of Nations. The piece cautions that a U.S. withdrawal from global cooperation would leave a dangerous leadership vacuum.

Gaza Aid Access
According to the UN, Israel has denied 11 of 18 humanitarian coordination requests in Gaza over the past two weeks. The rejections are obstructing life-saving aid, especially in southern areas around Rafah where needs are most severe.

Gaza Deaths
Thirty-six Palestinians were killed yesterday while trying to retrieve food aid in Gaza, as crowds gathered around stalled trucks and Israeli forces opened fire. In recent days, at least 163 people have been killed and 1,495 wounded while attempting to reach distribution sites.

June 10 — UN reform, refugee protection, fertility rights, digital governance, and aid accountability all feature in today’s news, spotlighting global struggles over power, participation, and protection.

UNHCR–IOM A PassBlue opinion piece warns that merging the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration, as proposed in the UN80 reform agenda, could dilute legal protections for refugees. While UNHCR is rights-based and grounded in treaty obligations, IOM’s project-driven model often serves donor priorities. Critics argue such a merger should only happen within a broader restructuring of the UN system.

Niger – Over 7,000 migrants, including more than 700 children, are stranded in northern Niger’s desert near Assamaka, according to Médecins du Monde. Many were deported from Algeria and are living without shelter, food, or medical care in extreme heat. The NGO warns of worsening conditions and calls on IOM and UNHCR to respond urgently.

Italy A UNICEF study finds that foster care for unaccompanied migrant children in Italy is more cost-effective and beneficial than residential care, but remains underused, with only 4% of children placed in families. Nicola Dell’Arciprete, UNICEF Italy’s coordinator, calls for simplified procedures and greater public awareness to expand this model and build more inclusive child protection systems.

Lebanon A UNIFIL patrol was attacked by civilians in southern Lebanon, prompting concern over escalating hostility toward peacekeepers and speculation about the mission’s future. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed efforts to restore sovereignty, while UNIFIL stressed that its freedom of movement is essential to its mandate amid rising tensions with Hezbollah-aligned groups.

Internet A Tech Policy Press analysis warns that U.S. withdrawal from key UN bodies has opened the door for China and Russia to reshape global digital governance toward authoritarian models. With the UN’s Global Digital Compact advancing, the piece urges democratic states to re-engage to defend an open and rights-based Internet.

NGOs A NYU study examining Haiti’s post-earthquake aid response finds that many NGOs fail to practice “downward accountability,” resulting in ineffective programs. Researchers call for deeper community involvement in decision-making and better alignment with local priorities to rebuild trust and achieve meaningful impact.

June 9 – US joins Israel in push to end UNIFIL, will expanding the SC really end its dysfunction? 

Lebanon – The US and Israel are pushing to terminate UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, arguing that it has failed to curtail Hezbollah’s presence and imposes unjustified costs. Israeli officials believe the Lebanese army can now manage security along the border. A Security Council decision is expected by August.

UN Reform – A new commentary argues that expanding the UN Security Council alone won't address its dysfunction. The analysis highlights how veto power and regional rivalries will continue to paralyze decision-making unless deeper governance reforms are undertaken.

June 8 – Gaza's families, Germany takes on global aid leadership, African experts call for self-reliance in health, and insurgency in western Sahel impacts children .

Gaza Families in Gaza are increasingly unable to feed their children, as this New York Times report documents widespread malnutrition and hunger-related deaths. Aid remains minimal despite partial easing of an Israeli blockade, and the new distribution system has failed to reach most in need.

Germany With U.S. aid spending in sharp decline, Germany may soon become the world’s top bilateral donor, according to this Devex report. At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil called for a revival of multilateralism and announced a North-South Commission to reshape global development partnerships.

Africa African health experts at a major Nairobi conference urged governments to reduce reliance on foreign aid and boost local investment in health systems, as reported by Devex. They promoted sustainable financing, local manufacturing, and regional cooperation as key to future resilience.

Sahel The UN warns that escalating violence in the western Sahel is having devastating effects on children, displacing 2.7 million and shutting down over 12,000 schools, according to this UN News report. Gilles Fagninou of UNICEF said the region's children are at risk of becoming a “lost generation,” facing hunger, trauma, and lack of education amid growing instability.