GAZA: The health ministry in Gaza said Thursday that 112 Palestinians were killed and more than 760 injured after Israeli soldiers opened fire on civilians gathered at an aid distribution point in the Palestinian territory. The incident, described as a “massacre” by officials, unfolded in Gaza City, drawing widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.
According to Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesman for the Gaza health ministry, the death toll from the attack at the Nabulsi roundabout soared to 104, with hundreds more wounded by gunfire. Many of the critically injured await urgent medical attention in overwhelmed and under-resourced healthcare facilities in northern Gaza.
Raed al-Nims, spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, lamented the dire situation, stating that the wounded lack access to necessary treatment amidst the collapse of the healthcare system. Al-Nims highlighted the intentional targeting of PRCS crews by Israeli forces, resulting in the loss of 20 staff members.
The international community has been urged to intervene and address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where residents face dire shortages of essential resources. Al-Nims emphasized the urgent need for action to halt the ongoing violence and prevent further loss of life.
Israeli Military Responds to Gaza Aid Trucks Shooting
Israeli military officials claimed that the attack occurred after Palestinian aid-seekers approached them in a “dangerous” manner. However, Palestinian authorities and eyewitnesses have contested this narrative, asserting that civilians were targeted while waiting for much-needed food aid.
The Israeli military has announced a review of the incident, as condemnation pours in from around the world. Jordan’s foreign ministry issued a statement denouncing the “brutal targeting” of Palestinians awaiting aid, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and an end to the violence.
Earlier, the secretary general of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard, asked the European Union to continue its funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, without any delay. The Amnesty chief made the demand in a letter to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Agnes Callamard urged the EU to continue its financing for the UNRWA, without delay.
Agnes Callamard wrote that the suspension of funding to the UN agency, in a context where shocking signs of genocide exist, risks significantly worsening if not contributing to the harms that the Genocide Convention seeks to prevent.
