Israeli forces shot dead three Palestinians and wounded 46 others during the distribution of humanitarian aid in Rafah, in southern Gaza, local authorities said on Tuesday.
Israeli troops fire near overwhelmed aid centre in Gaza
The Israeli army opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians who surrounded a US-backed aid distribution centre. Gaza authorities said that “the Israeli military’s plan to deliver aid has completely failed.”
The authorities accused Israel of “massacre among the starving,” stressing that the incident took place in a buffer zone where the Jewish state had previously set up aid stations. The fate of seven more people remains unknown.
At the same time, Israeli strikes killed two Palestinians in Khan Younis, the WAFA news agency reported. Israeli aircraft attacked a temporary shelter for displaced persons, killing two people and injuring several others.
Since March 2, Israel has kept all Gaza checkpoints closed to food and medical supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the sector. Since October 2023, Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Galant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for war crimes against civilians.
Germany warns Israel: Halt Gaza attacks or face consequences
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced his intention to discuss the possible consequences of Israel’s military operation in Gaza with his government. Speaking in Finland on Monday, he stressed that he takes a “very critical” view of recent events in the region.
“We are shocked by the fate and terrible suffering of the civilian population,” the AFP news agency quoted the chancellor as saying. He added that talks with the Israeli side would be “intensified,” but did not disclose any specific measures: “Decisions may be taken, but they will not be made public,” Merz said.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed a similar position. In an interview with WDR television, he said that Germany does not intend to blindly support Israel in the conflict with Hamas. “Our fight against anti-Semitism and our support for Israel’s right to exist must not be used to justify war,” he emphasised.
The minister also expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially the plight of civilians. “We have reached a point where a thorough reassessment of further steps is necessary,” Wadephul said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also joined the criticism. In a conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan, she called the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces “disgusting.” According to the head of the EC, strikes on civilian infrastructure, including a school where families were sheltering, cannot be justified.
“Peaceful civilians, including children, have been killed — this is not in line with international law,” von der Leyen stressed. At the same time, she reiterated that the European Commission supports Israel’s right to self-defence, but called for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries with the participation of the UN and other international organisations.
