70 Palestinians are said to have been killed in a food queue

A large number of Palestinians in Gaza who were waiting for food were attacked on Thursday by the Israeli military.

Around 100 people are said to have been killed.

Israel claims most died because of the chaotic crowding.

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A large number of Palestinians who were waiting for aid shipments including food in southwestern Gaza City were attacked by the Israeli military (IDF) during Thursday morning.

Al Jazeera writes that over 100 people are believed to have been killed in the attacks, and around 760 injured, according to data from the Gaza Ministry of Health.

– We went there to get flour. The Israeli army fired at us, a witness told the TV channel.

Hamas: Horrible massacre

The Ministry of Health, which is controlled by the terror-labeled Hamas, describes the incident as a “horrible massacre” carried out by the Israeli military.

Israel, on the other hand, claims that most died because of the “violent crowding” that ensued.

The AP news agency reports that many of the dead and wounded were taken to al-Shifa hospital, which is Gaza’s largest.

Jadallah al-Shafei, head of the nurses at al-Shifa, says according to Al Jazeera that “the situation cannot be described in words”. He also describes that the majority of victims have gunshot wounds and shrapnel wounds to the head or upper body.

– We hope that we will be able to provide life-saving help to the injured. All are in critical condition, lying on the floor. We stand helpless in the midst of this lack of supplies and personnel.

Fares Afana, head of the ambulance service at the Kamal Adwan hospital north of Gaza City, says according to AP that paramedics who arrived at the scene found “dozens or hundreds” of people on the ground.

He also says that there are not enough ambulances for all those killed and injured, and that some have therefore been taken to hospital on donkey carts.

The head of the nearby al-Awda hospital, Mohammad Salha, told the AP that the majority of the dead and injured brought there were forwarded to the Kamal Adwan hospital because the al-Awda hospital is no longer functioning.

The hospital will soon run out of electricity, and there is no new supply for generators and the like, as a result of the strict Israeli blockade on Gaza.

Israel: Warning fire in the crowd

The IDF initially said it was investigating the details of the attack.

Later on Thursday afternoon, they published a video clip and a statement that “violent congestion” had occurred around trucks with emergency aid, and that soldiers had therefore opened warning fire for their own safety.

In several cases, the driving trucks are said to have caused the death of people.

The IDF data is reported by both Haaretz and Times of Israel.

– We did not shoot at those who sought help. We did not open fire on a humanitarian convoy, neither from the air nor from the ground, says IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari, according to the news agency AP.

However, the previously mentioned Jadallah al-Shafei on al-Shifa contradicts the IDF data:

– All damage comes from gunfire and artillery. Information about rushing masses is completely made up, he tells Al Jazeera.

Over 30,000 killed since October

The increased death toll means that another grim milestone has been passed: Over 30,000 Palestinians are now estimated to have been killed during Israel’s war against Hamas, which began after Hamas’ terrorist attacks on the country on October 7.

The Hamas government in Gaza calls the attack an “exceptional war crime” and writes as follows in a statement:

“We hold the US government, the international community, the Israeli occupation and international organizations responsible for the killing of civilians while they are being starved by the Israeli occupying power.”

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