Israel has refuted claims it was responsible, saying instead that Palestinians were trying to loot humanitarian aid from trucks and that dozens were killed and injured in the rush.
“No [Israeli Defense Forces] strike was conducted toward the aid convoy,” said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson.
When asked about the incident Thursday, President Biden told reporters that his administration was still “checking that out.”
“There’s two competing versions of what happened,” Biden said. “I don’t have an answer yet.”
The Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said as of Thursday evening that 112 people died and hundreds more were injured.
The Palestinians were rushing to access the desperately needed humanitarian aid near the Al-Rashid street in Gaza City.
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) said the incident underscored a need to get more aid into Gaza.
“If those areas have all of the food and medicine and water and gas that folks need, you will avoid tragic, gut-wrenching events like today,“ he said.
Egypt joined Arab nations in quickly condemning Israel for what they said was the targeting of civilians in Gaza City.
“Egypt considers targeting peaceful citizens running to collect their share of humanitarian aid a shameful crime … and a disregard for the value of the human being and the sanctity of his soul,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The fighting comes as the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000 people, a grim new milestone in the war that is certain to build more pressure against the U.S. and Israel to stop the violence.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
