The information from the Israeli army
According to the Israeli army, the incident occurred during the arrival of a convoy with 38 aid trucks. The army coordinated the convoy, said army spokesman Hagari. Numerous people stormed onto the trucks and there was a chaotic crowd. “Some started violently pushing and trampling others to death and looted humanitarian supplies,” Hagari said.
Another military spokesman admitted on the US television channel CNN that shots had been fired. According to initial findings, a group of people approached Israeli soldiers. The military then fired warning shots into the air. However, the group continued to approach the soldiers and posed a threat, whereupon the soldiers opened fire. A handful of people were injured in the incident. The incident is being investigated.
The representation of the Palestinians
The information spread by the Hamas-controlled health authorities in the Gaza Strip is completely different. According to this, more than a hundred people were killed and over 750 people were injured in the incident. The authorities speak of a “massacre”.
According to Palestinian UN Ambassador Mansour, thousands of people gathered in northern Gaza as relief supplies arrived. Then the Israeli army suddenly started shooting at people. According to the information he has, “dozens of them have bullets in their heads.” It was deliberately targeted and killed, said Mansur in New York.
Warring parties as a source
The information provided by the warring parties could not be independently verified. There are therefore international calls for an investigation into the incident in Gaza City, including from the United Nations. No UN employees were present when the aid arrived, spokesman Dujarric emphasized. You don’t know all the facts and you are aware that there are different representations. It was not clear whether people were hit by Israeli gunfire and died or whether they were “pressed down by a crowd or whether they were run over by trucks.” But there will be a time of responsibility.
This message was sent on March 1st, 2024 on the Deutschlandfunk program.