French authorities have called for an independent investigation into the killing of more than 100 Palestinians collecting food aid in the northern Gaza Strip, as global outrage grows over Israel's attack.
At least 115 people were killed and more than 750 injured in the attack at the Nabulsi roundabout in Gaza City on Thursday.
Witnesses said Israeli soldiers opened fire as people gathered for flour, while Israeli officials said their soldiers fired because they felt threatened as people stormed the aid trucks.
Speaking to national broadcaster France Inter, Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne said France would not apply “double standards” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We will ask for explanations and there must be an independent investigation to find out what happened,” Sejourne said. “France calls a spade a spade. That is true when we label Hamas a terrorist group, but we also have to call a spade a spade when atrocities occur in Gaza.”
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Palestinian aid seekers had been “targeted by Israeli soldiers” and expressed his “strongest condemnation of these shootings.”
Global outrage is growing
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry responded in a post on the social media platform, Israel's far-right national security minister.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates// Netanyahu's disregard for the #Nabulsi The roundabout massacre proves that he is the political face of the fascist Ben Gvir.
The ministry calls for the introduction of deterrent measures #Sanctions to the Israeli government to force them to ensure that… pic.twitter.com/ZxymkFlxXB
— State of Palestine – MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) March 1, 2024
The ministry said it “calls for the imposition of deterrent sanctions against the Israeli government to force it to ensure the protection of civilians and ensure their humanitarian needs.”
US President Joe Biden did not condemn the shootings but said Washington was examining “two competing versions” of the killings and that the incident would complicate efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency closed-door meeting late Thursday night but failed to issue a statement condemning the killings after the U.S. objected to blaming Israel, diplomatic sources told reporters. U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood condemned the deaths before entering the room, but said as he left that the U.S. “does not have all the facts on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on Friday that Beijing was shocked by the incident and strongly condemned the killings.
“China calls on relevant parties, especially Israel, to cease fire and immediately end the fighting, seriously protect the safety of civilians, ensure that humanitarian assistance can arrive, and prevent an even more serious humanitarian disaster,” Mao said .
South Africa, which has filed a genocide claim against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its war on Gaza, condemned the “massacre” of people seeking help, saying: “This latest atrocity is a further violation of international law and a violation of international law.” the binding interim orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).”
“Commit Israel to respect international law”
Qatar's Foreign Ministry said it condemned “in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation's heinous massacre” and called for “urgent international action” to end the fighting in Gaza.
Doha warned that Israel's “disregard for Palestinian lives…will ultimately undermine international efforts to implement the two-state solution, paving the way for the cycle of violence to expand in the region.”
Likewise, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry condemned the deaths and reiterated “the need to reach an immediate ceasefire.”
Jeddah renewed its “calls on the international community to take a firm position to oblige Israel to respect international humanitarian law, immediately open safe humanitarian corridors, allow the evacuation of the injured and enable the delivery of aid.”
Turkey accused Israel of committing “another crime against humanity” and condemned Palestinians in Gaza to “famine” as civilians struggle to obtain the most basic food supplies.
“The fact that Israel … this time is targeting innocent civilians waiting in line for humanitarian aid is evidence of that.” [Israel] “consciously and collectively aims to destroy the Palestinian people,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
(AlJazeera)
In Iran, authorities described the incident as a “barbaric attack by the Zionist regime”, while the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said the incident was “in the context of the policy of mass starvation and extermination of the Palestinian people that it is pursuing.” Despair and pours fuel on the fire.”
Jordan and the Arab League have also denounced the killings.
The EU and Germany join calls for an investigation
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said on Friday that she was “deeply disturbed by the images from Gaza” and that “every effort must be made to investigate the events and ensure transparency.”
Previously, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, described the incident as “carnage” in a post on X.
The foreign ministers of Spain, Italy, Belgium and Portugal have also spoken out against the deaths of those seeking help. Germany, a staunch supporter of Israel, joined calls for a “declaration” from Israel.
“People wanted relief supplies for themselves and their families and found themselves dead,” wrote German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on X.
“The reports from Gaza shock me. The Israeli army must fully explain how the mass panic and shootings occurred.”
Humanitarianism is finally needed now #Firebreakso that the hostages can finally be released from the hands of Hamas and no more people die in Gaza. And help can be distributed safely. 3/3
— Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) March 1, 2024
In South America, Colombian President Gustavo Petro asked to suspend the purchase of weapons from Israel, a key supplier to his country's security forces, saying Israel's actions amounted to “genocide” against the Palestinian people.
“More than 100 Palestinians were killed by Netanyahu while asking for food. This is called genocide and is reminiscent of the Holocaust. The world must block Netanyahu,” Petro said.
Brazil also condemned the killings and said Israel's military operation had no “ethical or legal limits.”
According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, 30,228 Palestinians have died in the war since October 7. UN agencies have warned that there is a risk of “famine” in the Gaza Strip if more aid does not arrive soon.