Deaths of Palestinians while trying to receive aid increase international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza | National Newspaper

Civilian deaths while delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza have led heads of state and government to demand explanations from the Israeli government

To the civilian deaths in a disturbance during a humanitarian aid delivery on Thursday (29), in Gaza Stripmade heads of state and government demand explanations from the Israeli government.

Germany said the Israeli Army needs to explain what happened. The death of dozens of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, while a desperate crowd surrounded trucks with humanitarian aidgenerated a strong reaction of the German Minister for International Affairs. On a social network, Annalena Baerbock wrote: “People wanted humanitarian aid for themselves and their families and ended up dead. The reports coming from Gaza leave me in shock“.

Also on a social network, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “Deep outrage at the images coming from Gaza, where civilians were targeted by Israeli soldiers. I express my strongest condemnation and appeal for truth, justice and respect for international law. A ceasefire must be implemented immediately to allow for the distribution of humanitarian aid”.

A UN also called for an independent and rigorous investigation. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, condemned the death of Palestinians in Gaza and said that “desperate civilians” need urgent help.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said depriving people of food aid was a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The US State Department spokesman said the United States was “urgently seeking additional information about what exactly happened” and that not all the facts were known. Washington would be “pressing for answers“, according to him.

The Israeli government and Hamas terrorists have different versions about what happened on Thursday (29) in Gaza. Hamas accuses Israel of having indiscriminately shot civilians on Thursday (29). The spokesperson for the hospital controlled by the group, which treated the victims, said this Friday (1st) that 80% of the patients had gunshot wounds.

An Israeli military spokesman initially claimed that dozens of people were killed in a crush or run over by trucks as they tried to escape and also said that defending soldiers “opened fire” after they felt threatened.

Hours later, the Army’s main spokesman released a video denying that Israeli forces had fired on the humanitarian aid convoy.

The European Commission announced that it will resume contributions to the UN agency to support Palestinian refugees. But it conditioned the release of some of the money on an investigation into the involvement of United Nations officials with Hamas. Other countries are looking for alternatives to get humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. The United States announced the shipment of food and other supplies by air.

“The aid reaching Gaza is nowhere near enough. Innocent lives are at risk, children’s lives are at risk,” said President Joe Biden.

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared, in a statement, that the crowds around the trucks demonstrate an intolerable and desperate situation for the civilian population in Gaza and the difficulties in obtaining food.

Itamaraty defended the determination of responsibility for the deaths on Thursday (29). He stated that the UN and experts have denounced the retention of trucks on the border with Gaza and that this has increased hunger, thirst and despair among civilians. Yet According to Itamaraty, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu He once again showed, through actions and statements, that military action in Gaza has no ethical or legal limits.

The Brazilian government reiterated the absolute urgency of a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid into Palestinian territory in adequate quantities, as well as the release of all hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas.