The tragedy, which occurred on Feb. 29 at Haroun Al Rasheed Street in western Gaza, resulted in at least 112 deaths and 760 injuries among Palestinian civilians who were gathering around newly arrived aid trucks in the hopes of receiving much-needed food. (Related: War on Gaza: Israeli 'massacre' kills over 100 Palestinians seeking food in Gaza City.)
Khader Al Za'anoun, a local journalist and eyewitness to the tragedy, claims that civilians only became chaotic and confused when the IDF started shooting among the crowd. Za'anoun also stated that the trucks hit civilians in panic after hearing the shots, which eventually led to their deaths.
However, the IDF denied the accusations in three separate interviews and blamed the Palestinians for the tragedy.
Initially, the IDF stated that dozens of Gazans were injured from pushing and trampling when they surrounded aid trucks and looted supplies. Later, an IDF spokesperson explained that two incidents occurred on that day – aid trucks ran over people after they were swarmed, and then a group of Palestinians allegedly used the chaos to approach Israeli forces, who feared for their lives and opened fire.
"The truckloads went into the north, then there was the stampede, and then afterward, there was the event against our forces. That’s how things transpired this morning," the spokesman said.
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In a separate press conference, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hargari denied an IDF strike on the aid convoy but acknowledged that Israeli tanks fired warning shots to disperse the crowd. He insisted that the tanks were present to secure a humanitarian corridor for the aid convoy to reach its destination.
"The IDF has concluded an initial review of the unfortunate incident where Gazan civilians were trampled to death and injured as they charged to the aid convoy. Our initial review has confirmed that no strike was carried out by the IDF toward the aid convoy. The majority of Palestinians were killed or injured as a result of the stampede. Several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them. According to the initial review, the soldiers responded toward several individuals," said Hargari.
International community enraged by the massacre
After the tragedy, the international community has united against the "outrageous massacre" in Gaza.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the public for immediate assistance for the civilians affected, particularly in the besieged north, where aid delivery has been impeded for over a week.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also joined the chorus of condemnation. Saudi officials urged the international community "to take a firm stance by obliging Israel to respect international humanitarian law," while the U.A.E. called for "an independent and transparent investigation."
Meanwhile, Colombia suspended the purchase of weapons from Israel after the incident.
"This is called genocide and is reminiscent of the Holocaust, even if the world powers do not like to recognize it," posted Columbian President Gustavo Petro.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Bushra Khalidi, the policy lead for the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel of the global humanitarian organization Oxfam, are worried that the tragedy would "exacerbate an already critical humanitarian crisis" and complicate hostage and truce talks.
But despite the international outcry, neither the IDF nor Hamas are willing to negotiate.
IDF Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari insisted that their "war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza." On the other hand, senior Hamas member Ezzat Al-Risheq said in a statement published on Telegram that negotiations are not an open process. "We will not allow for the pathway of the negotiations ... [to become] a cover for the enemy’s continued crimes against our people in the Gaza Strip," he added.
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United Nations accuses Israel of BLOCKING humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza Strip.
Israel refusing to allow HUMANITARIAN AID to reach the 2 million civilians trapped in Gaza.
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