Far-right Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir has stated in a post on X that the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza endangers Israeli soldiers and must stop.
This came after some Palestinians were killed while waiting for food aid in Gaza City.
The Gaza Ministry of Health disclosed that at least 104 people were killed and more than 750 wounded.
According to an Israeli military official quoted by Israeli media, Israeli troops opened fire on a group of Palestinian aid seekers in Gaza City who “dangerously” approached them.
Ben-Gvir said, “Today it was proven that the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza is not only madness while our hostages are held in the Strip … but also endangers IDF soldiers.”
He called the deliveries “oxygen to Hamas.”
He added that the incident is “another clear reason why we must stop transferring this aid.”
Ben-Gvir also said that Israel must “provide complete support to our heroic fighters operating in Gaza, who acted excellently against a Gazan mob that tried to harm them.”
Palestinian officials denounced the attack on starving civilians in the besieged and bombarded territory as a “cold-blooded massacre.”
Bassam Zaqout, Director of the Palestinian Relief Society, said that aid-seekers have repeatedly come under attack by Israeli forces in Gaza.
“This situation is happening every day, it’s not the first time,” he said.
“There is intention to increase the pressure towards Hamas by killing more civilians on the ground while the Israeli forces completely understand there is no operational health system in the Gaza Strip that can deal with such a massacre or with such a huge number of injured at this time.”
“This is intentional killing of civilians who are not involved in this situation; they are just there waiting for humanitarian aid to come, they want to have food for their children, and this is the price that civilians have to pay.”
Bassam Zaqout
Describing the incident as “serious,” the White House noted that it is looking into the reports.
“We mourn the loss of innocent life and recognize the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where innocent Palestinians are just trying to feed their families,” a White House National Security Council Spokesperson said in a statement.
“This underscores the importance of expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including through a potential temporary ceasefire,” the spokesperson added.
Palestinian Presidency Condemns Killing Of Aid Seekers
Following reports that the Israeli army opened fire on people receiving aid in Gaza City, the office of Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas condemned what it described as an “ugly massacre conducted by the Israeli occupation army.”
“The killing of this large number of innocent civilian victims who risked their livelihood is an integral part of the genocidal war committed by the occupation government against our people,” the presidential office was quoted as saying.
The office added, “Israeli occupation authorities bear full responsibility and will be held accountable before international courts.”
Additionally, Mustafa Barghouti, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, condemned the deadly attack on aid-seekers as another “horrible crime” committed by Israel.
“We are dealing with a pariah state, a structure that has become fascist, run by fascists in a government that includes fascists,” he told a news agency.
Barghouti also decried “the silence” of Western countries and blaming their governments of being “complicit with these crimes and allow them to happen.”
“This should stop immediately,” he said.
“It cannot stop without an immediate, permanent, complete and total ceasefire, without the Israeli army withdrawing from Gaza after they have destroyed it so much and after they have driven so many people, milions of people, to the edge of starvation and death from starving.”
Mustafa Barghouti
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