6:29 p.m
Meloni: “Israel must recognize dynamism and responsibility”
“It is with deep shock and concern that I learned of the dramatic news of what happened in Gaza today. There is an urgent need for Israel to determine the dynamics of the facts and the responsibilities involved. The new and numerous civilian casualties require an immediate intensification of our efforts in the ongoing negotiations to create the conditions for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media.
4:56 p.m
Biden: Let's look at the conflicting versions on Gaza
The United States is examining various “conflicting” versions of the Gaza shooting. Joe said it Biden.
4:39 p.m
Israel: Most casualties are due to crowds
Israel denies being responsible for most of the casualties reported in Gaza today. Military spokesman Peter Lerner said two separate incidents occurred hundreds of meters apart. “At 4 a.m. a convoy of 30 aid trucks passed through the army checkpoint in Wadi Gaza and was later surrounded by thousands of people. The crowd got out of control and dozens of people were injured or killed in the crush, others were run over by trucks.” It was only in the second episode that the soldiers opened fire “as they felt threatened by dozens of civilians”.
3:53 p.m
The White House: serious accident
The shootings in Gaza were a “serious incident”. This was stated by a spokesman for the White House National Security Council. “We mourn the loss of innocent lives and are aware of the difficult humanitarian situation in Gaza, where innocent Palestinians are just trying to feed their families,” the spokesman continued.
3:35 p.m
The number rises to 104 deaths
The death toll among Palestinians killed by Israeli forces while waiting for food aid in Gaza has risen to 104: This was announced by the Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip, adding that at least 760 Palestinians were injured.
3:35 p.m
Egypt: Inhumane attack on civilians
“Egypt strongly condemns Israel’s inhumane attack on defenseless Palestinian civilians who were waiting for the arrival of trucks carrying humanitarian aid in the north of the Gaza Strip, which resulted in a large number of casualties and injuries.”. This was stated in a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, in which the action was defined as a “clear violation of the provisions of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as a complete disregard for the value of the human person.”
“The Arab Republic of Egypt,” the Foreign Ministry statement said, “has called on the main international parties and the Security Council, especially those countries that impede the Council's ability to call for a ceasefire, to assume humanitarian moral and legal responsibility “to stop the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, to provide protection for the Palestinians, to put pressure on Israel to respect the provisions of international law and assume its responsibilities as an occupying power.” He also demands that “those who commit these violations , be held accountable.” Egypt – concludes the note – “recalled and reiterated its firm position calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the need to remove all obstacles that prevent the full and sustainable flow of humanitarian assistance and supplies to the Gaza Strip, and the . “Rejecting any attempt to evacuate Palestinians from their territories.”
3:34 p.m
Israel, army shows video of crowd around truck
The Israeli army has released aerial surveillance video of the aid distribution incident in northern Gaza this morning. “The video shows how many people surrounded the trucks and dozens were killed and injured as they were pushed, trampled and run over by the trucks.” The army said it would continue to help transport humanitarian aid.
3:33 p.m
Hamas: Shooting in Gaza threatens to ruin negotiations
Hamas warned against shooting Palestinians queuing for help Gaza This could lead to the collapse of talks on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. “The negotiations conducted by the movement's leadership are not an open process at the cost of the blood of our people,” said the statement, reported by Portal on its website, saying Israel was responsible for any failure in the talks.
3:32 p.m
IDF admits shooting those who surrounded the trucks in Gaza
“During the entry of the aid trucks into the northern Gaza Strip, local residents surrounded the trucks,” whose passage was ensured by Israeli soldiers, and “looted the supplies.” This is what the military spokesman said about the accident, which, according to health sources cited by AFP, left at least 50 dead and over 100 people were injured (according to Hamas, 70 dead and 250 injured). “In the accident – according to the army – dozens of people in the crowd were trampled.” Military sources report that the soldiers “shot at those who had surrounded the trucks” and that the crowd “crowded together in such a way that it posed a threat to represented the troops”.
3:31 p.m
CNN: The US is concerned about possible Israeli action in Lebanon
The administration of Joe Biden is concerned that Israel is making preparations for ground operations in Lebanon in late spring or early summer. This was reported by CNN and by Israeli media, explaining that the possibility would arise if diplomatic negotiations failed to force Hezbollah to withdraw from the border with Israel, as provided for in UN Resolution 1701. Israel has repeatedly denounced the situation following sustained rocket fire from Lebanon that began on October 8.