Tragedy in Gaza: Over 100 Aid Seekers Killed in Israeli Fire
In a heart-wrenching incident that has shocked the international community, over 100 Palestinians were killed and approximately 700 others injured after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for food aid in Gaza. This devastating event took place southwest of Gaza City, marking one of the deadliest days in the region's recent history.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that at least 112 people lost their lives, with more than 750 wounded in the attack. Among the victims were individuals who had been waiting since the early hours of the morning, hoping to receive food aid amidst an unprecedented hunger crisis gripping the besieged enclave. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the attack, labeling it a "cold-blooded massacre" and part of Israel's "genocidal war" against the Palestinian people.
Witnesses at the scene described the chaos and horror as Israeli tanks advanced, reportedly running over many of the dead and injured bodies. One witness recounted the moment the violence erupted, saying, "We went to get flour. The Israeli army shot at us. There are many martyrs on the ground and until this moment we are withdrawing them. There is no first aid."
The situation in Gaza has been dire, with reports of children working as street sellers and six children starving to death as the hunger crisis worsens. The attack on aid seekers has prompted calls from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the international community to urgently intervene and push for a ceasefire as the only viable means to protect civilians.
Al Jazeera's Ismail al-Ghoul, reporting from the scene, described the incident as a "massacre" compounded by the starvation threatening citizens in Gaza. The sentiment was echoed by another witness who questioned the delivery of aid under such dangerous conditions, stating, "To the Arab states I say, if you want to have us killed, why are you sending relief aid? If this continues, we do not want any aid delivered at all. Every convoy coming means another massacre."
This latest tragedy underscores the severe and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where systematic attacks on civilians waiting for food have become a grim reality. The international community's response to this incident and the broader conflict will be closely watched as calls for peace and protection of civilians grow louder.
