Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza's civil defense, said on 6/8 that Israeli security forces on the night of 5/8 directed an aid truck onto an "unsafe" road leading to the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The road had been previously bombed and was unsuitable for large vehicles.
As the truck neared the camp, it overturned, crushing people waiting for aid. "At the time, hundreds of civilians were surrounding the truck. 20 people died and dozens were injured", Bassal reported.
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Civilians surround an aid truck in Gaza on 29/7. Photo: AFP |
Civilians surround an aid truck in Gaza on 29/7. Photo: AFP
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they are investigating the incident.
Hamas's media office criticized the Israeli military for allegedly creating famine and chaos in Gaza, putting civilians in danger.
"Israel forced the driver to take a route through a densely populated area of hungry people who had been waiting for essential supplies for weeks. Desperate crowds would naturally surround the aid truck", Hamas commented, warning that the situation in Gaza has "crossed all red lines".
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), from the start of the conflict on 7/10/2023 to 31/7, more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.
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Location of the Nuseirat refugee camp and densely populated areas in Gaza. Graphic: BBC |
Location of the Nuseirat refugee camp and densely populated areas in Gaza. Graphic: BBC
The UN estimates that since the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) began operating in May, over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in shootings near the organization's aid distribution points. Most of the fatal incidents involved the Israeli military, along with the activities of armed groups in the area.
Israeli officials blamed Hamas and humanitarian organizations in Gaza for a lack of cooperation, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated that over 1,200 trucks carrying 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid were cleared into Gaza last week, but UN and international organization staff did not collect the supplies.
Thanh Danh (According to AFP, Al Jazeera)
