Global outrage as Israelis massacre over 110 Palestinians lined up for food in Gaza

Impromptu sit-ins and a massive outrage are being reported from different parts of the world after the Israeli Occupation Forces Thursday Feb 29, 2024 opened fire on the Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid near Gaza City killing over 110 Palestinians. Read More

Friday March 1, 2024 10:10 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Gaza Strip: Impromptu sit-ins and a massive outrage are being reported from different parts of the world after the Israeli Occupation Forces Thursday Feb 29, 2024 opened fire on the Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid near Gaza City killing over 110 Palestinians.

In one of the deadliest and brutal attack on civilians in recent history, Israeli snipers and tanks fired at the Palestinians who were already being starved, whilst they were trying to get food.

“As many as 112 civilians have been killed and more than 760 others have been injured in the Israeli attack on the people waiting for aid”, the Health Ministry of Palestine said.

The Ministry said the death toll could be more as continuous bombardment by the Israeli Occupation Forces is making rescue operation difficult.

The attack has sparked global outrage and protests in different parts of the world including the United States of America.

‘Horrified’

Expressing her anger over the brutal incident, Petra De Sutter said that she was “horrified” by the news of Palestinians in Gaza having been shot at while waiting to receive aid.

“Murdering people queueing for essential humanitarian aid?” she wrote on social media platform X.

“This is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and fully goes against the [International Court of Justice’s] provisional measures.”

The ICJ issued a set of provisional measures in January asking Israel to comply with the 1948 Genocide Convention, allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and act against those who issue genocidal statements.

‘Serious incident’

The United States said it is looking into the reports of Israeli gunfire on Palestinians waiting for aid near Gaza City, describing it as a “serious incident”.

“We mourn the loss of innocent life and recognize the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where innocent Palestinians are just trying to feed their families,” a White House National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.

“This underscores the importance of expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including through a potential temporary ceasefire,” the spokesperson added.

The United States however Friday, in open support for the killing of civilians in Gaza, blocked a statement put forward by Algeria and supported by 14 of the 15 members to the UN Security Council that would have assigned blame to Israel for the incident.

‘Intentional killing of civilians’

Bassam Zaqout, Director of the Palestinian Relief Society, while condemning the massacre of Palestinians called it “intentional killing of civilians”.

“This situation is happening every day, it’s not the first time,” he told Al Jazeera from Rafah, in southern Gaza.

“This is intentional killing of civilians who are not involved in this situation. They are just there waiting for humanitarian aid to come. They want to have food for their children, and this is the price that civilians have to pay”, he added.

'Apalling'

Reacting on the incident which occurred on al-Rashid Street in northern Gaza, US President Joe Biden said that the attack on Palestinians waiting for aid in northern Gaza, where humanitarian groups say Israel has severely restricted food assistance over the last several months, will complicate efforts to reach an agreement between Hamas and Israel.

“I know it will,” Biden told reporters when asked if the attack which killed over 100 starving Palestinians will make a ceasefire more difficult to reach.

Speaking in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ahead of a regional summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was “shocked” by the latest loss of life in Israel’s war on Gaza.

When asked about the failure of the UN Security Council to agree on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, he said that geopolitical divides have “transformed the veto power into an effective instrument of paralysis of the action of the Security Council”.

Martin Griffiths, UN Relief Chief, said the attack on civilians waiting for food is "appalling".

"I am appalled at the reported killing and injury of hundreds of people during a transfer of aid supplies west of Gaza City today. This comes as the death toll across Gaza since Oct 7 hits the 30,000 mark. Life is draining out of Gaza at terrifying speed", the UN aid chief said.

Joining the rising international condemnation of Israel for the attack on the starving Palestinians awaiting food relief, Portuguese Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho said:

“Deeply shocked by the death in Gaza of over 100 people while waiting to receive aid. Civilians and humanitarian operations must be safe under IHL [international humanitarian law]. We call again for an urgent immediate ceasefire [and] for safe access to humanitarian aid, in compliance with ICJ provisional measures."

At Liverpool Street station in the United States, hundreds of activists performed a sit-in in solidarity with Palestine.

Meanwhile, Israel has hailed the conduct of the occupation forces.

"We must stand by our heroic fighters operating in Gaza and applaud their exceptional conduct against a group of thugs who attempted to harm them", Israeli Minister of National Security Ben Gvir said.

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