Civilians killed in aid distribution in Gaza: what happened ? Macron demands the “truth”

Israel and Hamas put forward two different versions to explain the tragedy that occurred during a distribution of humanitarian aid in Israel. Gaza, Thursday, February 29. The community The international community reacts and denounces the deaths of several civilians.

The delivery of food aid has become a scene of chaos. A big stampede and gunshots disrupted the scene. a food distribution in the north of the Gaza Strip and caused between ten and a hundred deaths according to testimonies, on Thursday February 29. Hamas and Israel oppose two different versions to explain what led to the drama that Palestinians call the "flour massacre" according to the details of franceinfo.

According to the Islamist group in power in the Gaza Strip, a crowd of hungry people rushed onto a convoy of trucks filled with # 39;food aid and secured by Israeli forces. The latter would have, according to Hamas and various testimonies from Palestinians, opened fire on civilians. several times causing numerous deaths and injuries. But for its part, the Israeli army assures, drone images broadcast on social networks é agrave; support, that the tragedy occurred while Gazans were reportedly surrounded by the convoy and pillaged humanitarian aid. IDF recognizes "limited shooting" soldiers, who would have felt “threatened", with the aim of dispersing the crowd without causing casualties.

The very heavy toll drawn up by Hamas as the circumstances of the tragedy remain uncertain, but the incident caused numerous and strong reactions to this internationally. Emmanuel Macron expressed his “deep indignation at the images reaching us from Gaza whereù civilians were killed targeted by Israeli soldiers" on X, former Twitter. "I express my strongest disapproval of these shots and demand truth, justice and respect for international law" added the President of the Republic recalling that “all civilian populations must be protected" and that a "ceasefire must be put in place immediately to allow & humanitarian aid to be distributed. "What is happening is indefensible and unjustifiable. This situation must end" added the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, on France Inter. The minister also demanded; "explanations and estimatesé “There will need to be an independent investigation to determine what happened.” . 

"112 dead and 750 injured" according to Hamas

Only the Ministry of Health Hamas has advanced a quantified assessment after the shots during the distribution of food aid. He speaks of a "massacre" which left "112 dead and 750 injured". The American news agency Associated Press also counts more than 100 dead, but the number of victims still remains uncertain. Several hospitals in Gaza have indicated having received more than ten bodies and dozens of wounded, ' like the director of the Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza City, Hussam Abu Safieyah. "We do not know how many other victims were killed" taken to other hospitals he saidé The Red Crescent humanitarian organization in Palestine said: Al-Jazeera reported that 25 of its employees were allegedly killed. you were killed in the attack this Thursday.

Strong condemnations à international

The drama sparked strong reactions around the world. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said he condemned the ' event. In France, the Quai d'Orsay expressed, in a press release, its "very strong émotion". "Firing by Israeli soldiers against civilians trying to gain access to “foodstuffs are unjustifiable”, condemned Paris, which demanded let "all light be shed”. On X, the head of Italian diplomacy, Antonio Tajani, deplored the situation. "the tragic deaths à Gaza" and called "à an immediate ceasefire to allow more humanitarian aid. For its part, Turkey qualified; the tragedy of a new crime against humanity, judging that this tragedy is proof that [Israel] aims à consciously and collectively destroy the Palestinian people. Unanimous condemnation also from the Arab countries of the Gulf. Finally, Washington declaredé wait for "answers" from his great ally Israelël.

The premises of a famine Gaza ?

The shootings observed this Thursday came after the announcement of a new report by the Ministry of Health. of Hamas, according to which “more than 30,000” people were killed. killed in Israeli military operations Gaza since the start of the war, which broke out last October 7. US intelligence reports "more than 25,000 Palestinian women and children" killed since the start of the conflict, as announced the head of the Pentagon this Thursday, February 29. A figure which therefore does not take into account male victims, including Hamas fighters.

This new drama in the war between Israel and Hamas reflects the situation of famine which threatens the Gaza Strip and against which the UN has been warning for several months. The United Nations estimates that 2.2 million Gazans, almost all of them, live in Gaza. of the population, are threatened by famine. The humanitarian aid delivered is not sufficient to compensate for the damage caused by the war. According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, some 2,300 aid trucks are arriving ;s in the Gaza Strip at least from February, on average 82 trucks per day, or half of the total number of trucks per day. less than those transported to the enclave in January. The same agency explains that before the war, 500 humanitarian trucks entered daily from Gaza.