Over 60 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 injured when Israeli soldiers fired on crowds seeking humanitarian aid in northern Gaza, marking a tragic escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Tragic Gunfire Erupts During Aid Distribution in Gaza
Tragic Gunfire Erupts During Aid Distribution in Gaza
Israeli forces reportedly opened fire during a UN aid convoy distribution, resulting in significant casualties among Palestinians.
In a distressing escalation of violence in Gaza, Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on a gathering of Palestinians who were awaiting humanitarian aid from U.N. trucks. According to officials from the Gaza health ministry and various health workers, this tragic incident resulted in over 60 fatalities and left more than 100 individuals wounded near the Zikim crossing between Gaza and Israel.
The health ministry and on-site hospital representatives reported that victims flooded the nearest medical facility, illustrating the chaos following the shooting. While Israel's military insisted that warning shots were fired before they engaged what they claimed was an “immediate threat,” details regarding this alleged threat remain unclear. The military characterized the reported death toll as inconsistent with their assessment of the situation.
Compounding the dire humanitarian crisis, the U.N. World Food Program noted that its convoy, consisting of 25 trucks loaded with crucial supplies, encountered overwhelming crowds of desperate civilians upon entering northern Gaza, which quickly turned into chaos as gunfire erupted.
In light of this violence, the Israeli military has issued warnings for Palestinians to evacuate densely populated areas in northern Gaza and parts of Gaza City, referring to them as “combat zones.” This tragic event highlights the desperation as civilians continue to face severe food shortages and limited access to aid amidst ongoing hostilities, raising pressing concerns over the humanitarian situation in the region.
