In the decimated Gaza Strip, Israeli forces unleashed gunfire on starving Palestinians scrambling for food aid on Thursday. The health ministry in the Palestinian territory reported that 150 people were killed in the melee. This now brings the death toll within Gaza over 30,000.
The Gaza health ministry decried the massacre, occurring before dawn in Gaza City, with over 750 others injured. According to a witness who spoke to AFP, the turmoil erupted when thousands of desperate individuals surged toward aid trucks at Nabulsi roundabout in the city’s west.
The witness, preferring anonymity for safety, recounted, “Trucks carrying aid came dangerously close to army tanks in the vicinity, prompting thousands in the crowd to swarm the vehicles.” They added, “As people approached the tanks, soldiers opened fire on the crowd.”
Witnesses report snipers aiming at aid responders. Hospital officials have stated that the snipers were targeting the upper body, which indicates there was lethal intent.
Responding to inquiries about whether the death toll might complicate mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire, Biden acknowledged, “I know it will.”
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths expressed shock at the reported casualties during the aid distribution near Gaza City, lamenting the rapid deterioration of life in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia condemned the “targeting” of unarmed civilians by the occupying forces, denouncing the bombing of humanitarian aid lines in Gaza.
This tragic event unfolded amidst escalating warnings from aid agencies regarding Gaza’s dire humanitarian situation, particularly the looming threat of famine, especially in the northern region.
The incident in Gaza City adds to the mounting Palestinian casualties from the conflict, with the health ministry earlier reporting a death toll surpassing 30,000.
Efforts to reach a truce between Israel and Hamas fighters appeared to be on the horizon, with mediators suggesting a possible agreement within days.
In a sign of heightened concern, the White House is considering air-dropping aid into Gaza, according to reports.
However, Biden later stated that a ceasefire by Monday, as previously anticipated, seemed unlikely.
Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been striving to secure a six-week pause in the conflict, aiming for a truce coinciding with the start of Ramadan.
Proposed terms include the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed Biden’s commitment to achieving an agreement, emphasizing efforts to finalize the deal.
The UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA highlighted the critical food security situation in Gaza, particularly in the north, where access has been obstructed for over a month, exacerbating the risk of famine.
While Israeli officials denied impeding aid supplies, the situation remains dire, with nearly 1.5 million people in southern Gaza enduring food shortages amidst the threat of military escalation.
Against the backdrop of ongoing fighting, civilians in Gaza endure dire conditions, with one resident describing the struggle to secure basic provisions like flour amid the conflict’s chaos.
Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity, 150 Israelis embarked on a four-day march from Reim to Jerusalem, urging the government to prioritize reaching a peaceful resolution.
