After the incident that left many dead upon the arrival of relief supplies, calls for an independent investigation are becoming louder. Because the information is contradictory: Hamas speaks of more than 100 deaths as a result of shots fired by Israeli soldiers, and the Israeli army speaks of people trampled during a panicked escape.
One thing is certain: the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic. As a result of Israel’s war against the terrorist organization Hamas, many Palestinians are suffering from hunger and aid is scarce. So when 38 trucks of food arrived in Gaza on Thursday morning, it was no wonder that hundreds of people flocked to the trucks and crowded around them to get supplies. This was seen on aerial photographs taken by the Israeli army.
Information contradicts itself
There are conflicting reports about what happened next: According to eyewitness reports, Israeli soldiers began shooting shortly after help arrived, US broadcaster CNN reported. The truck drivers then tried to escape and accidentally rammed people, causing more deaths and injuries.
Most of the people were killed when the trucks rammed into them, a Gaza journalist told CNN. Although there were large numbers of hungry people, the chaos only began when Israeli soldiers opened fire. At least 112 people were killed and 760 others injured in the incident, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.
Israel: People trampled
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also spoke of deaths, but in an initial statement on Thursday no shots were mentioned. Gaza residents surrounded the trucks and ‘looted’ the delivered goods. Dozens of people were killed and injured by being trampled or run over.
In another statement, an Israeli army official said on Thursday that there were two separate incidents involving emergency trucks. After the clash, a group of Palestinians approached Israeli forces, who then opened fire.
Army spokesman: Tanks fired warning shots
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari denied in a briefing that there had been an Israeli attack on the convoy (see video below). Israeli tanks fired warning shots to disperse the crowd after the clash began. The tanks were there “to secure the humanitarian corridor,” he emphasized. After the crowds grew and the situation got out of hand, the tank commander “decided to withdraw to avoid harming thousands of people in the Gaza Strip,” Hagari said.
Official Israeli information contradicts eyewitness accounts. The global horror over the bloody incident is accompanied by increasingly louder calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israel is being called on by many states – including the US – to fully clarify the circumstances of the deadly catastrophe.
Hamas’ position strengthened?
It was initially impossible to predict what the incident would mean for the difficult negotiations on a ceasefire. The US president told CNN on Thursday that he would certainly complicate the negotiations. Nevertheless, he was optimistic that an agreement on the release of the Hamas hostages and a ceasefire could be reached soon. Israeli media expressed fears that the incident could strengthen Hamas’s negotiating position and become a turning point in the war, which has been going on for almost five months.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
