French President Emmanuel Macron condemns Israel’s military for firing on civilians in connection with an aid shipment reaching Gaza City.
“Another bloodbath among civilians in Gaza in desperate need of humanitarian aid,” commented EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.
“Deep indignation at the images coming from Gaza where civilians have been fired upon by Israeli soldiers,” Macron wrote in a statement on X.
“I express my strongest condemnation of these shootings and call for truth, justice and respect for international law,” the French president continues.
He calls for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to arrive.
“Serious Breach”
Chaos erupted as a convoy of emergency aid, coordinated by Israel’s military, arrived in Gaza City early Thursday morning. More than 100 people have been confirmed dead and more than 750 injured, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza.
“These deaths are completely unacceptable,” EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on X.
“Depriving people of assistance in the form of food constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
Unclear circumstances
Thousands of starving people rushed towards the 38 trucks. Accounts differ on what happened next.
According to Palestinian testimonies, Israeli soldiers opened fire into the crowd.
Israel’s military (IDF) admits that shots were fired, but claims, according to Israeli media, that many of the victims were injured in the chaos that ensued and that the military is responsible for fewer than ten of the deaths.
Extraordinary meeting
The aid convoy came from private actors in Egypt and was coordinated by Israel, according to the IDF.
The UN Security Council was called to an emergency meeting on Thursday night over the incident, which was also condemned by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Spain’s Ditto José Manuel Albares have also appealed for a ceasefire after the incident to enable aid shipments.