2024-03-02 18:16:00
More countries call for investigation into Gaza food site tragedy
An injured Palestinian receives medical treatment at Al-Shifa hospital following Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid trucks on Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City, Gaza, on February 29. Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu/Getty Images
At least 115 people were killed and at least 760 wounded following Israeli forces opened fire while Palestinian civilians waited for food on Thursday, according to Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.
It is one of the deadliest tragedies in Gaza since Israel’s war once morest Hamas began on October 7.
There are now growing calls for an independent investigation into the incident. The United Nations has said an independent investigation is required to establish the facts, and nations such as France have backed that call.
What happened: A convoy of at least 18 food trucks arrived in northern Gaza on Thursday morning, sent by several countries in the region. Palestinian civilians gathered around the newly arrived aid trucks hoping to get food, and Israeli forces soon began shooting, witnesses said. Aid trucks attempted to leave the area, accidentally ramming others and causing more deaths and injuries, witnesses told CNN. The Israeli military has given a different version of the circumstances. In an update on Thursday, the Israeli military said Israeli tanks had fired warning shots to disperse the crowd around the aid convoy, following seeing people being trampled.
Global calls for an investigation: This Friday, the White House said that the United States asked Israel to investigate the tragedy. Germany also called on Israel to “thoroughly investigate” the deaths. France said it would support the United Nations’ call for an independent investigation, and the French Foreign Minister called events on the ground “indefensible”.
What it might mean for war: The deaths come at a critical time in the conflict, with negotiations between Israel and Hamas on an agreement to stop the fighting and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza are reaching a potentially crucial moment. Senior Hamas member Izzat Al-Risheq warned that the killing of people collecting aid from trucks in Gaza might lead to the failure of ongoing talks. U.S. officials said Friday there is no indication the discussions have been significantly derailed, but much depends on Hamas’ expected response to what was discussed in Paris and Doha last week among the other countries involved: Qatar, Egypt, Israel. and the United Kingdom. US.
In the context of a terrible humanitarian situation: More than half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, United Nations agencies warned earlier this week, as the war approaches five months. Aid has been so scarce that, when available, it has often caused panic. The UN reported Friday that at least 10 Palestinian children have died of hunger in Gaza and that number can be expected to rise.
Aid flow has slowed: The Rafah crossing, where most aid to Gaza had been delivered, is now operating at a reduced pace, and the alternative Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel is blocked by protesters calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas . . The Jordanian military conducted three aid airdrops in parts of Gaza City on Friday, and US President Joe Biden announced that the United States will also conduct its own supply airdrops in the coming days.
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