Archive photo: every time trucks with humanitarian aid arrive, hundreds or even thousands of Palestinians are waiting. The shooting happened under those circumstances. — © AP
At least 104 Palestinians were killed near Gaza City when the Israeli army fired on people waiting for aid convoys with humanitarian supplies. More than 700 others were injured. Hamas threatens to end negotiations on a temporary ceasefire.
The tragedy occurred as thousands of Palestinians stood near Gaza City waiting for 30 trucks to deliver aid to those in need. According to the Israeli army, the trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom border crossing. As they approached an intersection in Gaza City, the aid convoys were stormed by local residents. As the trucks then continued north, the crowd approached an Israeli army unit, the army said on X. The soldiers, again according to the Israeli army, fired warning shots before shooting the Gazans’ legs. According to the Palestinian government, at least 104 people were killed and at least 700 people were injured.
The offices of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, condemned “the terrible massacre carried out by the Israeli occupying forces this morning among people waiting for aid trucks at the Nabulsi roundabout.” The Palestinian group Hamas is even threatening to end negotiations on a temporary ceasefire after the massacre.
Helicopters
The UN estimates that 2.2 million Gazans, virtually the entire population of the Gaza Strip, are at risk of famine. According to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), some 2,300 trucks carrying aid arrived in the Gaza Strip in February. That is a decrease of half compared to the previous month. Before the outbreak of the war with Israel, around 500 trucks arrived every day.
The British government has announced that it will supply parachutes to enable more airborne aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. The parachutes are supplied at the request of Jordan and Bahrain. “Together with our international partners, we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those who need it most,” the British ministry said.
