Israel, Gaza, and the World
Did Israeli Forces Open Fire on a Crowd of Starving Palestinians Fueling Chaos?
Countries answer with outrage, demanding answers, and eyes cease-fire
Palestinians accuse Israeli forces of opening fire on a crowd in Gaza City. The Palestinians gathered in desperation hoping to get food from aid trucks. Starvation fueled a chaotic scene. The drivers delivering the humanitarian aid wanted safe passage.
Inference — Israel created this situation. They drove Palestinians together and packed them. With no food, water, and medical care. Now they blame the Palestinians when all they wanted was not to starve to death.
The casualties. More than a hundred people were killed and 750 wounded.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is trying to salvage cease-fire negotiations.
Is seeking humanitarian aid now a death sentence? Will Israel face more criticism?
Conflicting stories fired on or trampled in a stampede
The Israeli military [IDF] said they were there to help. The IDF said that its forces used live rounds. But later denied it. They admit tanks issued “warning shots” and attempted to retreat. Tanks?They say Gazans approached soldiers. They felt threatened by a “mob” and fired nonlethal shots.
They contend many of the deaths were the result of stampeding crowds. Also, run over by retreating aid trucks.
People were killed in a crush or run over by trucks as they tried to escape. He also said Israel Defense Forces troops had later “opened fire” in self-defense after feeling under threat, but that they did not target the convoy or the crowd — Israeli military spokesperson
A Palestinian described panic in the crowd and among the drivers. Most of those who died were run over.
Shocking! If it’s true. A bunch of starving people acting desperate. Is Israel weaponizing starvation?
Hamas says there was undeniable evidence of direct firing at citizens.
All or most of the casualties being treated at two hospitals, Kamal Adwan and al-Awda have bullet or shrapnel wounds — hospital officials Dr. Mohammed Salha, acting director of the Al-Awda Hospital, said they received 161 wounded patients, most of whom appeared to have been shot.
Israel comes out with a story to justify their aggression and the public must swallow it. Because you can’t believe anything coming from Palestinians or Hamas.
Is Israel violating international law?
The world responds
Various emotional responses.
EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, expressed horror. “Yet another carnage among civilians in Gaza desperate for humanitarian aid.”
President Biden called the deaths “tragic and alarming.” He added that the “loss of life is heartbreaking.”
Finally, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called it a “heinous massacre.”
Leaders not only reacted to the deaths but wanted an end to the carnage.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire. He said civilians had been “targeted by Israeli soldiers.”
Spain’s foreign minister echoed the French president’s sentiments.
The “unacceptable” events underlined the “urgency of a ceasefire — José Manuel Albares
Did this latest incident jeopardize any hope for a cease-fire? Is a de-escalation, something Americans want, even possible now?
Other leaders wanted answers demanding an investigation.
The UK called for an “urgent investigation and accountability.”
In a statement, Foreign Secretary David Cameron, The deaths of people in Gaza waiting for an aid convoy were horrific … this must not happen again.
The German foreign minister wants answers from the IDF.
The Israeli army must fully explain how the mass panic and shooting could have happened.
The United Nations Secretary-General was “shocked” by the incident. Antonio Guterres required an effective independent investigation.
Effective and independent? Could that happen with Israel seemingly investigating themselves?
The president of the European Commission also wanted clarity. “Every effort must be made to investigate what happened and ensure transparency.”
Can there be transparency if you are only getting one side of the story or only believing in one side? Discrediting anything Hamas or the Palestinians say.
Did Israeli Forces Open Fire on a Crowd of Starving Palestinians?
U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matt Miller said he understood an investigation by the Israeli government was underway amidst “conflicting reports” from Israel and local Palestinians.
A one-sided investigation? Will everyone have to swallow an Israeli justification for the chaos that day? Will this finally push a cease-fire?