German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock demanded an explanation from Israel on Friday after its military opened fire on Palestinian citizens gathered to receive humanitarian aid in Gaza.
People wanted relief supplies for themselves and their families and died. I am shocked by the reports from Gaza. The Israeli army must fully investigate how the mass panic and shooting could have happened. My thoughts are with the families of the victims.
At least 112 Palestinians were killed on Thursday, with another 760 wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for humanitarian aid south of Gaza City, the local health ministry reported.
The Israeli military stated that an initial investigation showed that Palestinians had approached a military checkpoint controlling the entry of aid trucks. Soldiers fired warning shots and aimed at the legs of Palestinians who continued to move towards the troops.
Baerbock reiterated her call for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds and urged the Israeli authorities to provide more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In Gaza, people are closer to dying than to living. More humanitarian aid must come in. Immediately. A humanitarian cease-fire is needed so that the hostages can finally be freed from the hands of Hamas, and no more people die in Gaza. And aid can be distributed safely.
Israel launched a retaliatory offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on 7 October, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people. Meanwhile, at least 30,035 Palestinians have been killed and another 70,457 injured as a result of Israeli attacks.
Israel is facing genocide charges at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure that its forces would not commit acts of genocide and would guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
