Srinagar, Feb 29, 2024: The Gaza health ministry has reported 112 Palestinians lost their lives while waiting for aid in northern Gaza. According to the ministry, Israeli forces are to blame for the fatalities, with Palestinian media citing medical sources indicating that Israeli forces opened fire on the crowd.
Dr Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the ministry, disclosed that an additional 760 individuals sustained injuries in the incident. Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes, suggesting that some victims’ bodies remain unrecovered from the Nabulsi roundabout, located on the southwestern outskirts of Gaza City. This grim detail implies that the casualty count may escalate further.
In response, an Israeli military source informed BBC that Israeli troops did indeed fire upon the crowd as some individuals approached them in a manner deemed threatening to the soldiers’ safety. Another report suggests that a military truck ran over people.
A spokesperson from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that Israeli soldiers resorted to firing upon civilians only in a “limited response” when civilians approached a checkpoint.
The United Nations aid chief, Martin Griffiths, expressed profound dismay at the tragic loss of life, stating that he is “appalled” by reports of over 100 people being killed in Gaza while awaiting life-saving aid.
In a statement, he emphasised the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressing that even after months of intense conflict, the region continues to witness shocking levels of suffering.
Griffiths underscored the dire situation in Gaza, noting that the death toll since October 7th has now surpassed 30,000, painting a grim picture of life rapidly slipping away from the beleaguered region