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Flour massacre

Coordinates: 31°30′9.95″N 34°24′52.34″E / 31.5027639°N 34.4145389°E / 31.5027639; 34.4145389
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Flour massacre
Part of the Israel–Hamas war
Al-Nabulsi roundabout is located in the Gaza Strip
Al-Nabulsi roundabout
Al-Nabulsi roundabout
Location within the Gaza Strip
LocationGaza Strip, Palestine
Coordinates31°30′9.95″N 34°24′52.34″E / 31.5027639°N 34.4145389°E / 31.5027639; 34.4145389
Date29 February 2024
~4:30 a.m. (UTC+02:00)
Attack type
Massacre, mass shooting
Deaths112+[1][2]
Injured760+
Accused Israeli Ground Forces

On 29 February 2024, in what has been characterized as a massacre,[3][4][1] 112 Palestinian civilians were killed and at least 760 were injured when Israeli forces opened fire on civilians who were attempting to get food from aid trucks on al-Rashid street at the Al-Nabulsi roundabout to the west of Gaza City.[2]

The Gaza Health Ministry described the event as a massacre and stated that 112 people had died as a result of Israeli fire.[1][2] The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated there were two separate incidents, a stampede that killed "dozens" and an Israeli shooting at Wadi Gaza on civilians who approached an aid convoy but "did not move away" after warning shots.[5][6][7] The attack was portrayed by Al-Jazeera as part of a broader pattern of Israeli attacks on people seeking humanitarian aid.[8]

The incident occurred one day after Carl Skau, the deputy executive director of the World Food Programme, told the United Nations Security Council that more than 500,000 people were at risk of imminent famine in Gaza.[9]

Background

Main articles: Humanitarian aid during the Israel–Hamas war and 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel

On October 7, militants from Hamas in the Gaza Strip broke into Israeli territory, killing over 1,000 Israelis, civilians and soldiers. In response to this On 9 October, Israel implemented a complete blockade on Gaza, preventing the entry of any humanitarian aid.[10] By 18 October, Israel announced it would allow food, water, and medicine to be delivered to a "safe zone" in west Khan Younis in southern Gaza, distributed by the United Nations.[11] Continued issues were seen with the delivery of aid into Gaza, with allegations that Hamas leadership was stockpiling and controlling the aid's distribution, fluctuating numbers of trucks and aid parcels, destruction of convoy vehicles by the IDF, and Israeli civilians and officials blocking aid.[12][13][14]

Concerns about the sparse amount of aid being allowed into Gaza and the chaos it could generate was highlighted by Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council who described an aid delivery being looted by desperate civilians due to the low amount of aid. According to the United Nations in a report on 27 February more than half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, with the UN World Food Programme warning of a real prospect of famine by May 2024.[15] During February 2024, only 2,300 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip, about half the number that entered in January and far below the 500 hundred trucks per day before the war began.[16]

Prior to the attack, there were multiple reports of Israeli attacks on humanitarian aid convoys and aid seekers. On 25 January 2024, the Gaza Health Ministry reported an Israeli attack on aid seekers had killed 20 and wounded 150.[17] On 5 February, Israel bombed a truck loaded with food headed toward northern Gaza.[12][18] On 6 February, Israeli forces open-fired on people waiting for food aid trucks in Gaza City.[19] The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated it was the fifth report of Israel firing upon people waiting for humanitarian aid.[20][21] On 20 February, at least one Palestinian civilian was killed while waiting to receive humanitarian aid.[22] An Al Jazeera report on 27 February had found people seeking aid had faced "consistent" attacks by Israeli forces.[23][24] The day before the attack, medical sources in Gaza City had reported that three people were killed while waiting for aid on al-Rashid Street.[25]

The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated that the first convoys carrying food to northern Gaza in a month had started that week, and that 31 trucks carrying food had entered northern Gaza the previous day. The UN was not involved in organising that convoy.[26][27] Hani Mahmoud, a journalist in Gaza, said of the trucks that had reached northern Gaza: "Compared with the needs of the 600,000 people there, that is nothing."[28]

After the incident, the IDF spokesperson raised claims that they had been delivering aid without problem for four days leading up to the incident, and that Israel has not put any limit on the amount of aid that can be delivered into Gaza.[29] Israel has stated that the UN is to blame for the lack of delivery of humanitarian aid, the UN OCHA however the has rebuked those statements.[30]

Event

Aerial footage released by the IDF
Aerial footage released by the IDF

Per an IDF spokesperson at approximately 4 a.m., eighteen[31] to thirty-eight[32] humanitarian aid trucks that had been sent from surrounding countries arrived in northern-Gaza after passing through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint.[32] At around 4:30 the trucks began to travel through a humanitarian corridor that the IDF had secured, a reported mob of Palestinians rushed toward the aid trucks.[32] The Associated Press reported that it was not clear who had organized the delivery of aid; the BBC reported that IDF tanks had escorted the trucks to the delivery location.[26][33] Per a local journalist who was also a witness to the chaos, the large crowds had gathered to wait for the aid and food to be disbursed from the trucks.[15] The trucks drivers reportedly attempted to escape the crowds but were unable to due to the rubble and crowds, and accidentally rammed one another which added to the confusion.[31]

According to an IDF spokesperson, due to the chaos IDF troops and tanks stationed along and near the aid convoy fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd surrounding the aid trucks.[29] The IDF has then alleged that after the convoy was able to clear the area some of those that had rushed the convoy, began to approach the IDF forces and tanks. In response, the IDF opened fire.[30]

Gazan doctor Yehia Al Masri, who was near the scene of the incident, said he heard shelling and gunshots at around 4 a.m., and went outside to an intersection when the shooting subsided. He described seeing dozens of dead and injured people lying on the street with gunshot wounds to the head, neck, and groin, who were soaked in flour and blood.[1] Al-Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul reported that "Israeli tanks advanced and ran over many of the dead and injured bodies."[34] Local journalist Khadeer Al Za'anoun, who witnessed the incident, said that chaos and confusion was sparked after Israeli forces opened fire, which led to people being hit by aid trucks.[35]

Victims

Initial reports of the incident said that 50 people were killed. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident and said that 70 people died and at least 250 were wounded. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza later revised the death toll to least 112, with about 760 people injured.[2][36] Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour later told reporters that the death toll rose to 122, but his statement was unable to be verified.[37]

Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City reported receiving approximately 100 people injured with gunshot wounds and the bodies of 12 people who had been killed.[1] Journalist Hussam Shabat reported that every casualty he saw at that hospital had suffered bullet wounds, "including to the chest, jaw and shoulder."[1] The head of nursing at al-Shifa Hospital, Jadallah al-Shafei, described how "the hospital was flooded with dozens of dead bodies and hundreds of injured. The majority of the victims suffered gunshots and shrapnel in the head and upper parts of their bodies. They were hit by direct artillery shelling, drone missiles and gun firing."[34]

The spokesperson of the Gaza Health Ministry said that the death toll was expected to rise as dozens of the wounded were reported to be in critical or serious condition. The injuries of patients taken to Al-Shifa Hospital varied, ranging from gunshot wounds to being trampled to being struck by artillery shells from tanks.[38] At least 160 of the wounded were taken to Al-Awda Hospital, where patients were treated for gunshot wounds and tank shell injuries. A doctor at the hospital told The Independent that 27 of the patients needed urgent surgery, but fuel shortages caused difficulty in conducting them.[39]

Investigations

International

On the same day as the attack, Amnesty International announced it was launching an investigation, stating it "is investigating this as part of its ongoing documentation of violations against Palestinian civilians".[40]

Israeli Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces attributed the casualties to chaos and stampedes triggered by the arrival of aid trucks in northern Gaza, leading to numerous injuries.[2][32]

An IDF spokesman said that the army did not fire at the crowd at the head of the main aid convoy, but at the tail of the convoy hundreds of yards south. The spokesman described them as rushing towards trucks and then approaching Israeli troops and a tank securing the road.[1] An officer in the area ordered soldiers to fire warning shots into the air and at the legs of those who continued to advance towards the checkpoint. The IDF said fewer than ten of the deaths directly resulted from Israeli fire.[41] A drone video published by the IDF showed thousands of people swarming aid trucks, surrounding them as they arrived at Al-Rashid, and a statement claimed that some were looting equipment. Trucks were seen attempting to push through the crowds. The IDF attributed most of the casualties to stampeding and being run over by the aid trucks.[42][43]

Reactions

Palestinian

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, called the incident an "ugly massacre" that was perpetrated by the "Israeli occupation army."[30] The Palestinian National Authority condemned the event, saying the civilians were merely trying to get food and much needed supplies and the IDF opened in fire killing innocent citizens and injuring hundreds.[44] The Gaza Health Ministry said the incident was part of Israel's "genocidal war" and called for the international community to intervene to forge a ceasefire "as the only way to protect civilians".[34] Following the event, Hamas threatened to stop the hostage negotiations.[7]

Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, called on the International Criminal Court to take action, stating that being "silent is complicit".[45]

Israeli

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated the massacre was "another reason why we must stop the transfer of aid."[46] Eylon Levy, an Israeli spokesman from London, stated, "My heart goes out to the civilians who got trampled in a stampede".[47]

International

The United States Department of State expressed condolences for the people who were killed or injured, and spokesperson Matthew Miller said they were in touch with the Israeli government and pressing them for answers.[31] President Joe Biden told reporters that his administration was checking two competing versions of the incident, and added that the event would complicate ceasefire talks.[48] In separate calls on the same day with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Biden discussed what was described as the "tragic and alarming incident" in Gaza City.[49][50]

Egypt and Jordan condemned the Israeli forces' targeting of Palestinians waiting for aid, and Saudi Arabia said it rejected violations of humanitarian law by any side, under any circumstance.[51] The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying, "Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the heinous massacre committed by the Israeli occupation, against defenseless civilians who were waiting for humanitarian aid to arrive in Gaza".[52] The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a crime against humanity and "evidence of Israel’s intention to destroy the entire Palestinian population".[53] The Omani Foreign Ministry called the attack a violation of international law and "continuation of the policy of extermination".[54]

Belgian deputy prime minister Petra de Sutter said she was horrified by the news of the massacre.[51] France said that Israeli soldiers firing upon civilians attempting to access food was unjustifiable.[55] Josep Borrell, the EU's chief diplomat, said Israel's depriving food from Palestinians was a serious violation of international humanitarian law and stated, "These deaths are totally unacceptable".[56] The Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated, "The tragic deaths in Gaza demand an immediate ceasefire... We strongly urge Israel to protect the people in Gaza and to rigorously ascertain facts and responsibilities".[57]

Colombian president Gustavo Petro announced the country would cease importing Israeli weapons after the massacre, and described the Israeli treatment of Palestinians as a genocide.[58]

Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell described the incident as "totally unacceptable carnage".[33]

Aid organizations

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the incident, and said that the desperate citizens in Gaza need urgent help, including those in the north where the UN had been unable to provide aid in over a week.[2] Doctors Without Borders released a statement: "We consider Israel responsible for the situation of extreme deprivation and despair which prevails in Gaza — particularly in the north — which led to today’s tragic events."[59] Mercy Corps criticized the "deliberate denial of humanitarian access into Gaza City" and expressed "horror at the unnecessary loss of life in Gaza as at least a hundred people are reportedly killed and many more injured at a food distribution in Gaza City".[60] Catherine M. Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, stated she was "horrified" and called for "safe access to humanitarian aid".[61]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Yazbek, Hiba; Boxerman, Aaron (29 February 2024). "A witness said he saw people with gunshot wounds and sacks of flour covered in blood". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Marsi, Federica; Siddiqui, Usaid; Harb, Ali; Osgood, Brian. "'Life draining out of Gaza': UN on aid shooting as death toll hits 30,000". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  3. ^ "'Pity us': Desperate Gazans reel from aid trucks 'massacre'". France 24. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  4. ^ Staff, Al Jazeera (1 March 2024). "Flour massacre: How Gaza food killings unfolded, and Israel's story changed". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  5. ^ Srivastava, Mehul; Saleh, Heba; Ivanova, Polina. "Dozens killed as chaos hits Gaza food convoy and Israeli troops open fire". Financial Times. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Gaza health authorities say Israeli fire kills 104 waiting for aid". AP News. 29 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Dozens dead in Gaza after stampede over humanitarian aid, IDF reports". ynetnews. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
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