Gaza Genocideupdated 18m ago3 min read
MapUS Blocks UN Resolution Blaming Israel After Gaza Aid Deaths, White House Urges Investigation
“Hamas rejected Israel's account, saying there was ‘undeniable’ evidence of ‘direct firing at citizens’.”
“Israel blamed the deaths on crowds that surrounded aid trucks, saying victims had been trampled or run over.”
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
US blocked UN Security Council resolution blaming Israel for the Gaza aid deaths. Over 100 Palestinians killed at Gaza City aid convoy, with disputes over shots versus crush.
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Aid incident triggers UN veto
The United States blocked consideration of a United Nations Security Council resolution blaming Israel for dozens of deaths during the delivery of humanitarian assistance in northern Gaza on Thursday, after a White House spokeswoman called the mass death incident “alarming” and urged Israel to investigate. The Associated Press reported that 14 of the 15 Security Council members favored approving the resolution drafted by Algeria, but the United States blocked it, with deputy US ambassador Robert Wood saying, “We don’t have all the facts on the ground – that’s the problem.” Israeli officials said troops were escorting trucks delivering aid to Gaza City on Thursday when hundreds of Palestinians rushed toward the aid, while Hamas officials said more than 100 Palestinians were killed and blamed Israeli gunfire.
Israeli officials said “scant gunfire” caused 10 Palestinian casualties as warnings, and they said the vast majority of deaths happened because of a chaotic stampede that troops could not easily control. World leaders stepped up calls for a ceasefire after the incident, and Olivia Dalton, a White House spokeswoman, said, “Too many civilian lives have been lost as a consequence of military operations in Gaza.”
UN team sees gunshot wounds
A UN team visiting Al-Shifa hospital reported “a large number of gunshot wounds” among dozens of Palestinians being treated for injuries sustained on Thursday during what Israel says was a crowd crush during an aid delivery in Gaza City. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said the UN staff spent just over two hours at Al-Shifa hospital delivering medication and fuel, and he said they also received the bodies of more than 70 people killed in the incident. The UN team reported “there was a large number of gunshot wounds,” while Israel said the military did not fire at the crowd rushing the main aid convoy and said it acknowledged troops opened fire on several Gazans who moved toward soldiers and a tank at an IDF checkpoint.
Hamas blamed the IDF for the deaths and claimed troops opened fire, and the military said most casualties were caused by a stampede and being run over by the supply vehicles. Israel said the incident underscored the collapse of orderly aid distribution, and the UN team’s findings added to the competing accounts of what happened around the convoy.
Competing death tolls and next steps
Gaza health ministry said the death toll stood at 115, with some 760 injured, while Israel said the casualties were in the dozens and disputed the Hamas figures. The BBC said at least 112 Palestinians were killed and 760 injured trying to get desperately needed aid in Gaza, and it reported that Israel’s military say tanks fired warning shots but did not strike the lorries, adding many of the dead were trampled or run over. The BBC also reported that Algeria put forward a draft statement blaming Israeli forces for “opening fire,” while the US blocked it, citing Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour, who spoke to reporters afterwards.
Reuters reported that Gaza health authorities said Israeli forces shot dead more than 100 Palestinians as they waited for an aid delivery, and Reuters said Israel blamed the deaths on crowds that surrounded aid trucks, saying victims had been trampled or run over. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the incident and called again for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages,” as the BBC said the UN had not been able to deliver aid in more than a week.