Gaza Civil Defence: Israeli Fire Kills 67 Aid Seekers

Gaza’s Civil Defence agency has reported that Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians attempting to collect humanitarian aid in the northern part of the territory on Sunday, resulting in 67 deaths and leaving dozens more injured.

The attack occurred just after a 25-truck convoy from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) crossed into Gaza from Israel, encountering massive crowds of civilians in dire need of food. These crowds were subjected to gunfire from Israeli forces.

Details of the Incident

The WFP stated that its convoy, carrying vital food supplies, “encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians, which came under gunfire” as soon as it cleared the Israeli checkpoints. According to the WFP, the situation was exacerbated by the high levels of hunger and desperation among Gaza’s population.

The Israeli military has disputed the reported death toll, claiming that soldiers fired warning shots in response to what they described as an “immediate threat” posed by the large gatherings near Gaza City.

Violence Against Civilians Seeking Aid

The authorities in Gaza have frequently reported civilian deaths resulting from Israeli gunfire as desperate crowds flock to aid centres in search of essential supplies. This has become a regular occurrence amid chronic shortages of food and other necessities in the region.

The UN stated earlier this month that nearly 800 aid-seekers had been killed since the end of May, many of them in incidents involving aid convoys.

Southern Gaza Strip Casualties

The Civil Defence agency also reported six additional deaths in southern Gaza on Sunday, near an aid distribution centre located northwest of Rafah. These casualties followed a similar incident the previous day, where dozens of people lost their lives.

Eyewitness Accounts

Qasem Abu Khater, 36, from Gaza City, shared his account with AFP, explaining that he rushed to the scene to obtain a bag of flour but was met by a chaotic, overcrowded situation.

“The tanks were firing shells randomly at us, and Israeli sniper soldiers were shooting as if they were hunting animals in a forest,” he said. “Dozens of people were martyred right before my eyes, and no one could save anyone.”

Civil Defence’s Toll and International Condemnation

The Gaza Civil Defence agency confirmed that 67 people were killed and many more were injured in the incident. The WFP condemned the violence, calling it “completely unacceptable” to target civilians seeking humanitarian aid.

Due to strict media restrictions in Gaza and the difficulty in accessing many affected areas, AFP has been unable to independently verify the reported toll or the details provided by various parties.

Israeli Military’s Stance

In response to similar incidents, the Israeli military has stated that it works to minimise harm to civilians. Earlier this month, the army issued new instructions to its troops following a series of similar incidents, aiming to prevent further loss of life.

International Reactions

The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which erupted following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of 58,895 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

The Pope condemned the “barbarity” of the ongoing war in Gaza, particularly after an Israeli strike hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, killing three people sheltering there. In his call for peace, the Pope urged the international community to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians from collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and forced displacement.

Ongoing Military Operations and Evacuations

Most of Gaza’s population, which exceeds two million people, has been displaced at least once during the war. Repeated evacuation calls have been issued in various parts of the coastal enclave.

On Sunday morning, the Israeli military informed residents of the Deir el-Balah area and displaced Palestinians sheltering there to move south immediately. The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, confirmed that Israel was “expanding its activities” around the Deir el-Balah region, where military operations had not been previously conducted.

This announcement has raised concerns among families with hostages held by Hamas since the October 7 attack, as the ongoing Israeli offensive might endanger their loved ones.

Ceasefire Talks

Negotiations have been ongoing over the past two weeks between Israel and Hamas, aiming for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. Discussions have also focused on the potential release of 10 hostages.

Since the October attack, 251 hostages were taken by Hamas, of which 49 remain in captivity in Gaza. According to Israeli authorities, 27 hostages have been confirmed dead.

Summary of Key Events

This escalation highlights the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. The international community’s response and the continued efforts for a ceasefire remain critical in addressing the region’s plight.