The Israeli army affirmed on Friday March 15 that “Armed Palestinians” had fired on a crowd waiting for a food aid distribution in Gaza City the previous evening, rejecting Hamas’ accusations. During the night, the army had already refuted having fired on this crowd, but without detailing its version of the facts, while the Hamas Ministry of Health had affirmed that “Israeli fire” of this crowd left 20 dead and more than a hundred injured. Follow our live stream.
A new assessment. The Hamas Ministry of Health announced on Friday a new toll of 31,490 people killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war. Among them, 149 were killed in the last 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement, reporting a total of 73,439 injured since October 7. These figures, however, should be used with caution, as they are impossible to confirm independently.
A previous distribution had turned into a bloodbath. A few weeks ago, the Gazan Ministry of Health said that more than a hundred people had been killed during a food distribution in the north of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army had admitted to having opened fire on Palestiniansafter his soldiers felt threatened.
• A first humanitarian aid ship expected today in Gaza. Loaded with 200 tonnes of food, the boat of the Spanish NGO Open Arms is currently visible off the coast of Gaza City. On board, 300,000 meals prepared.
A commercial ship hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen. “The ship suffered some damage. The crew is safe”, reports the British Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO) which adds that the ship is heading to its next port of call. Yemeni Houthi rebels have increased attacks on merchant shipping in recent weeks.