Tragedy in Gaza: Israeli Military Strikes Claim Lives of 19 Palestinians Seeking Aid
A devastating incident unfolded in Gaza City as 19 individuals lost their lives and 23 were wounded in an Israeli military attack on civilians gathering for humanitarian assistance at the Kuwait roundabout. Reports from the Government Media Office in Gaza shed light on the heartbreaking events that transpired on Saturday.
At the Kuwait roundabout in Gaza City on Saturday, Israeli fire resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people and left 23 others injured, as reported by the Government Media Office in Gaza.
According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, the Israeli army and tanks fired machine guns at civilians who were simply waiting for humanitarian aid, including bags of flour, in a location that posed no threat to the occupying forces.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that reports of them attacking numerous Gazans at an aid convoy are inaccurate. They are currently conducting a review of the incident.
The Kuwait roundabout in Gaza City has gained recognition as a location where aid trucks provide food to those in need, drawing in crowds of people who are in desperate need of supplies.
The dead and injured individuals were brought to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, located east of Gaza City. This information was confirmed by both Gazan authorities and local journalist Khader Al-Za’anoun, who is reporting for CNN from the scene.
According to Captain Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defense Directorate, he stated that the casualties occurred because the Israeli forces targeted residents who were searching for food to support their families and children.
The IDF reported that they helped an aid convoy deliver food to people in Northern Gaza at 11am local time. However, the convoy was stopped and robbed by hundreds of Gazans before reaching the distribution point.
The IDF stated that their initial investigation showed no evidence of an airstrike on the convoy or any IDF forces shooting at the people in the aid convoy.
In a video by CNN at the hospital following the incident, family members of the victims mentioned that their loved ones were shot at by Israeli forces while waiting to buy flour and food.
Ahmad Al-Ghoul, featured in the video, shared that his cousin was among those who lost their lives in the attack. He expressed his frustration, questioning, “Why wasn't there any international protection? He was simply trying to provide for his 15 family members by buying food for them.”
Social media videos captured scenes of multiple injured individuals and one person who seemed to have died being transported away on improvised stretchers.
In recent weeks, there have been several reports of deadly assaults by Israeli soldiers on crowds of civilians waiting for aid. The Government Media Office in Gaza disclosed that approximately 400 individuals have lost their lives in various similar incidents since the war began.
CNN is unable to verify the numbers provided by the Gaza government because of limited access to international media in the region.
The Palestinian Internal Security Forces in Gaza City recently announced a ban on gatherings at the Kuwait roundabout to protect lives following what they described as "frequent massacres" by Israeli forces in the area. It remains unclear why aid distribution was taking place at the Kuwait roundabout on Saturday.
From CNN’s Kareem Khadder in Jerusalem, journalist Khader Al-Za’anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, and Lauren Kent in London
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Editor's P/S:
The incident at the Kuwait roundabout in Gaza City is a tragic reminder of the ongoing violence and human suffering in the region. The reports of Israeli fire resulting in the deaths of at least 19 civilians, including those waiting for humanitarian aid, are deeply disturbing. It is essential that a thorough investigation be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding these deaths and to ensure accountability for any wrongdoing.
The ongoing violence in Gaza has had a devastating impact on the civilian population, with numerous reports of deadly assaults by Israeli soldiers on crowds of civilians waiting for aid. The ban on gatherings at the Kuwait roundabout highlights the concerns over the safety of civilians in the area. It is imperative that all parties involved prioritize the protection of civilians and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The international community must demand an impartial investigation into this incident and take concrete steps to prevent further bloodshed.
