Gaza City, Gaza Strip – In a tragic incident early Thursday morning, authorities in Gaza reported that over 100 people were killed and hundreds more injured when the Israeli military opened fire on a crowd gathered around a convoy of aid trucks in Gaza City. Conflicting reports from Gazan and Israeli officials have emerged regarding the events leading up to the chaotic scene.
According to Gaza health officials, scores of individuals were brought to hospitals with gunshot wounds, describing the incident as a “massacre.” In contrast, Israeli officials claimed that most casualties resulted from a stampede or being run over by trucks in the panicked crowd. Drone footage released by the Israeli military depicted a large group of people surrounding the trucks on Al-Rashid coast road, with sounds of gunfire audible in a video shared on social media.
The Israeli military acknowledged that soldiers opened fire in response to what they deemed as a dangerous situation, highlighting the need to protect themselves. Subsequent videos and images from the scene revealed injured individuals lying on the ground and bodies of people who appeared to have been trampled or struck by the aid trucks in the chaos.
Reports indicate that wounded and deceased Palestinians were taken to various hospitals in northern Gaza, including Al-Shifa Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital, and Al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Unfortunately, many healthcare facilities in the region have suffered extensive damage since the start of the conflict, hindering their ability to function effectively due to fuel and supply shortages.
The United Nations recently warned of an impending famine for over half a million residents in Gaza, with alarming rates of malnutrition among young children. The humanitarian crisis in the region has been exacerbated by limited aid deliveries, as relief agencies struggle to navigate Israeli restrictions and the deteriorating civil order that disrupts the distribution process.
The violence surrounding the aid convoy has drawn international attention and raised concerns about the impact on ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. President Biden expressed worry that the loss of life in this incident could impede efforts to reach a peaceful agreement, emphasizing the urgency of resolving the conflict to prevent further tragedies in the region.