After deadly incident in Gaza: US wants answers

The delivery of aid supplies to northern Gaza, with several deaths, has drawn heavy criticism and raised many questions. Egypt speaks of a “horrific crime” and the UN Security Council convenes.

The US government is demanding answers from the Israeli government after several people died near an aid convoy in the northern Gaza Strip. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the investigation into what happened was being closely monitored and “will continue to be pressed for answers”.

Miller said there was no reliable information about what happened. Aerial footage shows people in the Gaza Strip looking incredibly desperate. “Many Palestinians died today, and that has been true for several days since October 7.”

Miller stressed that the incident shows why a swift agreement on a ceasefire and the release of Hamas hostages is necessary. This “tragedy” will further complicate negotiations. But we will continue to work to reach an agreement. “If Hamas lays down its weapons, this will all be over today,” Miller insisted.

A “tragic and dangerous incident”

According to the White House, US President Joe Biden also spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. In phone calls, all involved expressed regret for the loss of civilian life, the White House said. It was a “sad and dangerous incident”. It was agreed that the incident underscored the need for an early conclusion of negotiations and expansion of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Egypt described the killing of scores of Palestinians as a crime. “Attacks on peaceful civilians rushing to receive their share of humanitarian aid is a grave crime,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “This is a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law and shows disregard for the sanctity of human life.”

Germany also announced humanitarian aid

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Berbach called on Israel to “immediately allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid” amid the desperate public situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military “needs to ensure that the delivery of humanitarian aid can be successful following the breakdown of public order in large parts of the Gaza Strip,” Baerbach said. Words cannot describe the plight of the people in the Gaza Strip.

The minister announced that Germany intends to increase its humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by another 20 million euros. If necessary, Germany would like to participate with other countries, especially Jordan, in air-dropping humanitarian aid.

Northern Gaza suspends UN aid

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the incident in clear terms. “Desperate citizens in Gaza urgently need help, including those in the besieged north, and the United Nations has been unable to provide aid for more than a week,” it said.

The spokesperson of the UN Secretary General said that the United Nations has called for an investigation. “There will be a time for accountability,” said Stephane Dujarric. United Nations staff were not present at the incident, do not know all the facts and are aware that there are differing accounts. “As far as we're concerned, we don't know exactly what happened and whether people died under Israeli fire, whether they were crushed by the crowd or run over by trucks,” UN spokesman Dujarric continued.

Considering these incidents, the UN An emergency meeting of the Security Council was called. According to diplomatic sources, the meeting was requested by Algeria and will be held behind closed doors.

More than 100 people were killed and hundreds injured in the incident in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army said a large number of residents had gathered to loot trucks carrying relief supplies. Dozens were killed and injured as a result of the commotion and mobbing. Information cannot be independently verified.