At least 115 people were killed and another 760 injured after Israeli forces opened fire as Palestinian civilians waited for food on Thursday, according to Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas.
It is one of the deadliest tragedies in Gaza since Israel's war against the group's militants began on October 7.
There are now increasing calls for an independent investigation into the case. The United Nations has said an independent investigation is needed to establish the facts, and countries including France and Germany have supported that call.
Here are the updates on the matter
What happened
A convoy of at least 18 trucks arrived in northern Gaza on Thursday morning (29), sent by several countries in the region. Palestinian civilians gathered around the newly arrived aid vehicles in hopes of getting food, and Israeli forces soon began shooting, witnesses said. Aid trucks tried to leave the area, accidentally running over others and causing more deaths and injuries, witnesses told CNN .
The Israeli military gave a different account of the circumstances. In an update on Thursday, they said Israeli tanks fired warning shots to disperse crowds around the aid convoy after seeing people being trampled.
Investigation requests
On Friday (1), the White House said that the US had asked Israel to investigate the tragedy. Germany also demanded that Israel carry out a “thorough investigation” into the deaths.
France said it would support the United Nations' call for an independent investigation. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs classified the events in Gaza as “indefensible”.
What the case could mean for the war
The deaths come at a critical time for the conflict, putting at risk negotiations between Israel and Hamas on an agreement for a temporary ceasefire and the permission for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Senior Hamas member Izzat Al-Risheq warned that the deaths of people seeking aid in trucks in Gaza could lead to the failure of ongoing negotiations.
U.S. officials said Friday there is no indication that the discussions have been significantly derailed — but much depends on an expected response from Hamas to what was discussed in Paris and Doha last week among the other countries involved: Qatar, Egypt , Israel and the United States.
Serious humanitarian situation
More than half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, United Nations agencies warned earlier this week, as the war approaches the five-month mark.
Aid has been so scarce that, when available, it often provokes panic. The UN reported on Friday that at least 10 Palestinian children have died of starvation in Gaza and that number is expected to rise.
Decrease in the flow of aid
The Rafah crossing, where most of the aid was delivered to Gaza, is now operating at a reduced pace, and the alternative Kerem Shalom crossing into Israel is blocked by protesters calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The Jordanian military carried out three aid airdrops on parts of Gaza City on Friday and US President Joe Biden announced that the US will also carry out its own supply airdrops in the coming days.
Source: CNN Brasil
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