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On Saturday, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the African Union chief, made a grave accusation against Israel, alleging their involvement in “the mass killing of Palestinians.
This statement followed a tragic incident involving an aid convoy in Gaza that resulted in dozens of casualties. The official release, dated Friday but posted on Saturday, expressed Mahamat’s strong condemnation of the attack by Israeli forces, which claimed the lives of over 100 Palestinians seeking essential humanitarian aid.
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The statement not only condemned the actions but also called for an international investigation into the incident to ensure accountability for the perpetrators. Mahamat emphasized the need for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the region, underscoring the urgency of addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis.
The incident in question occurred on a Thursday when Israeli troops reportedly opened fire as Palestinian civilians scrambled for food supplies during a chaotic melee. Gaza’s health ministry reported more than 100 deaths in Gaza City, describing the situation as a “massacre.”
The Israeli military, however, characterized it as a “stampede,” attributing the chaos to thousands of Gazans surrounding the convoy of 38 aid trucks. This led to dozens of deaths and injuries, including individuals being run over.
Acknowledging their role in the incident, an Israeli source admitted that troops had opened fire on the crowd, justifying their actions by perceiving a threat. The conflicting narratives and the severity of the situation prompted calls from various quarters for an international investigation to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
The toll of the aid convoy tragedy contributed to the overall casualties in the Gaza conflict, pushing the number of Palestinian war dead to 30,228, with a majority being women and children, according to the latest figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
The conflict, which commenced on October 7, saw an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel. Israeli figures indicate that around 1,160 people, predominantly civilians, lost their lives in the conflict.
Additionally, militants took about 250 hostages on the same day, with 130 still in Gaza, including 31 presumed dead. Israel’s military reported 242 soldiers dead in Gaza since ground operations began in late October.
In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, world leaders, including President Joe Biden, called for a thorough investigation.
President Biden announced on Friday that the United States would commence air drops of relief supplies into Gaza, a measure already taken by some of its allies, aiming to reach areas that are challenging to access.
The international community’s attention is now focused on uncovering the truth behind the aid convoy incident and finding a path towards a sustainable and immediate resolution to the conflict.
