Numerous Palestinians were murdered on Thursday while attempting to obtain food supplies in Gaza City, making it one of the biggest single disasters to occur since Israel’s battle with Hamas. As a result, calls for an inquiry are mounting.
Israel Defense Forces fired on Palestinian residents in Gaza, causing 112 fatalities and 760 injuries, according to an report, despite the fact that these figures are not independently verified.
The tragedy occurred in a besieged enclave due to widespread hunger and extreme poverty, with conflicting accounts from Israel and ground accounts. France supports the United States’ demand for an impartial inquiry to determine the facts, as food aid is scarce and panic often occurs when it arrives.
What took place?
On Haroun Al Rasheed Street in western Gaza City, where large numbers of hungry Palestinians had congregated for food supplies, the killings took place among scenes of mayhem.
At least eighteen food trucks from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE arrived in the area at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, but Israeli troops opened fire on civilians gathered around the vehicles, threatening their ability to obtain food.
The eyewitnesses said that when the relief trucks attempted to flee the scene, they unintentionally rammed other vehicles, resulting in further casualties and fatalities. One of the witnesses, Ahmad Abu Al Foul, said that rubble was obstructing the path for ambulances trying to reach the injured.
Local journalist Khader Al Za’anoun in Gaza reported that most injuries occurred when individuals were hit by relief vehicles as they tried to flee Israeli fire, leading to chaos and confusion as Israeli forces opened fire.
Al Za’anoun stated, “The majority of the people who died were rammed by the aid trucks during the chaos and while trying to escape the Israeli gunfire.”
What does Israel say?
Israel’s Israel Defense Force (IDF) initially claimed that Palestinians’ attempt to plunder humanitarian relief vehicles in the northern Gaza Strip was the starting point of the conflict. However, the IDF later clarified that dozens of Gazans were injured during the incident, highlighting the ongoing violence in the region.
Israeli military spokeswoman stated that assistance vehicles were involved in two events in Gaza on Thursday. Initially, vehicles invaded northern Gaza and were driven over by crowds. After Palestinians approached Israeli soldiers, they opened fire on them.
“First came the truckloads heading north, followed by the rush and then the action against our soldiers. That’s the way it happened this morning,” the spokesperson stated.
Israeli soldiers opened fire on individuals near trucks, causing drivers to flee. IDF spokesman Daniel Hargari refuted reports of an attack on the convoy, stating that Israeli tanks used warning rounds in Gaza to scatter the mob around an aid truck, allowing the convoy to arrive at its objective.
What state of assistance exists in Gaza?
The UN has warned that over 500,000 people in Gaza are at risk of starvation, with 576,000 facing severe deprivation and starvation. If the threat persists, famine could occur by May, putting 500,000 people at risk. Nearly all 2.2 million people require food assistance, with child malnutrition in Gaza being the highest globally.
Help has been so scarce that when it has come through, it has frequently caused fear. In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour earlier this week, Jan Egeland, the Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, issued a warning about the tumultuous scenes surrounding relief vehicles in Gaza.
He stated, “Yes, the chaos surrounding the aid queue is getting worse and worse because there isn’t much aid coming in.”
He said, “I’m actually pretty shaken by what I saw today.” “As soon as we crossed the border, you could see the aid trucks speeding down the road while gangs of young people were chasing them. They had jumped the trucks and were stealing food, blankets, mattresses, and other items to give to the people who were desperately waiting for help.”
What does this imply for the conflict ?
The tragic event in Gaza, which occurred at a critical point in the Israeli-Hamas conflict, was one of the bloodiest single events in the war, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two sides.
Hamas senior member Izzat Al-Risheq warned that the killing of aid collectors in Gaza could lead to the failure of ongoing negotiations, stating that negotiations are not an open process and will not allow the pathway to become a cover for enemy crimes.
Miller highlighted the importance of a temporary ceasefire as part of a hostage deal to allow for additional supplies. He stated that the US is working tirelessly to achieve this outcome, including calls with President Biden, Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim, and President Al Sisi, and Secretary Blinken.
Leaders agreed on ending hostage negotiations due to the horrific incident. President Biden expressed hope for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict by next Monday, but representatives from Qatar, Israel, and Hamas distanced themselves from that timeframe.
Biden confirmed that his government is investigating two different accounts of the killings, despite concerns about difficulty in discussions. He expressed hope for a resolution about the captives and a possible ceasefire soon, despite the potential for difficulties in discussions.
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