Shots during aid delivery
US wants answers from Israel
March 1, 2024, 2:08 a.m
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Dramatic scenes are taking place in Gaza City: Thousands of people are trying to get food during a delivery of humanitarian aid. A panicked crowd ensues and shots are fired. The incident sparked international outrage.
After dozens of people died in the city of Gaza when food aid arrived, the US is demanding “answers” from Israel and a guarantee of safe aid deliveries. “We urgently need additional information about exactly what happened,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington.
The US government is in contact with the Israeli government and is informed about the ongoing investigation. “We will closely monitor this investigation and push for answers,” Miller said.
According to the Israeli army, a “crowd” occurred as thousands of people gathered around a convoy of 30 aid trucks. There were dozens of deaths and injuries, some of whom were run over by trucks.
Scenes of pure despair
An Israeli army official acknowledged a “limited” number of shots fired by Israeli soldiers who felt “threatened.” Spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a news conference that soldiers fired warning shots as scores of people rushed toward the trucks. “Some started violently pushing and trampling others to death and looted humanitarian supplies,” Hagari said. But there was no attack by the Israeli military on the aid convoy, said Hagari.
The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health spoke of a “massacre” in which 104 people were killed and more than 750 others were injured.
Ministry spokesman Miller called on Israel to allow “as many access points as possible” to the Gaza Strip “to enable the safe distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip.” Washington is making it clear in all discussions with the Israeli government that all possible measures must be taken to allow more aid to enter the Gaza Strip. The rush for aid deliveries shows that the situation is “incredibly desperate”. “People are flocking to these trucks because they’re hungry, because they need food, because they need medicine and other help,” Miller said.
The reports also caused outrage in Europe. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell spoke on X of a “bloodbath among civilians in Gaza who desperately need humanitarian assistance.” Withholding food aid from people is “a serious violation” of international humanitarian law, Borrell wrote. “Unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza must be guaranteed.” French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the shooting of X and called for “truth, justice and respect for international law.”
Biden advocates for a ceasefire
US President Joe Biden, meanwhile, discussed an “immediate” and at least six-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim ben Hamad al-Thani, and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in return for the release of hostages, as the White House announced. In both phone calls, the US President also addressed the “tragic and alarming” events in the distribution of food aid.
According to the local health ministry, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war between Israel and the radical Islamist Hamas began. According to initial Pentagon estimates, there are at least 25,000 women and children among them.
In response to the Hamas attack on October 7th, Israel is taking massive military action in the Gaza Strip. The goal is the destruction of Hamas. During the major attack on Israel, the terrorist organization committed atrocities primarily against civilians, killing around 1,160 people and abducting around 250 hostages to the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli information. According to Israel, Hamas is still holding 130 hostages in the Gaza Strip, although 31 of them are now believed to be dead.