Israel opens fire on starving Palestinians in Gaza; 25 killed
What's the story
Israeli forces opened fire on hundreds of starving Palestinians in Gaza, killing at least 25 people on Tuesday. The incident took place on Salah al-Din Road south of Wadi Gaza. Eyewitnesses and hospitals reported that the victims were waiting for aid trucks when Israeli forces and drones started firing. As many as 146 Palestinians were also injured in the firing. The injured were taken to Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza.
Eyewitness accounts
Witnesses describe the scene as 'massacre'
Eyewitnesses reported that drones were over the area where hundreds were awaiting food. Israeli forces fired as people moved closer to the incoming trucks. Some have described the incident as a "massacre," with one witness, Ahmed Halawa, saying tanks and drones fired at people even as they were fleeing. Another witness, Hossam Abu Shahada, called it a "chaotic and bloody" scene. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah also received six bodies from the firing incident.
Ongoing conflict
Incident comes amid conflict betwen Isreal and Iran
According to Hamas-run civil defense officials, Israel has launched a wave of fatal air attacks on Gaza in recent days, following a brief break in air operations that coincided with the escalation between Israel and Iran. They reported on Thursday that at least 77 Palestinians had been killed in the attacks. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people.