
Israeli troops 'shot Gazans with hands raised' in worst aid massacre yet
One witness told The National that 'gunfire erupted from all directions' as thousands of people surrounded a convoy bringing flour into Gaza on Sunday. Officials in the strip said 93 people were killed.
The witness, Musab Abu Omer, said his family and friends 'rushed out from our home' after hearing that lorries carrying flour had arrived as food supplies ran low during an Israeli blockade.
'We hadn't had white bread in more than 14 days. Imagine what it means to go that long without even basic food,' he said.
When his relatives arrived, thousands of people were waiting, Mr Abu Omer said. But, as people approached the lorries, gunfire began and shells fell on the crowd, he said. He was shot in the leg and fell to the ground, unable to see his companions.
Later, he learnt that four of the young men who had come with him, his cousin and three friends, all under 30, had been killed. 'They went out just to feed their families. This is what happened to them,' he said. 'The world has been watching us starve for months.'
Israel disputed the death toll and said its troops fired warning shots to 'remove an immediate threat'. The World Food Programme said the convoy had entered through the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza after assurances from Israel that armed forces would not be present.
Rami Abdo, director of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, described the incident as 'a deliberate act of murder.' According to his organisation's documentation, Israeli forces ordered civilians to approach with their hands raised in a clear gesture of surrender, then opened fire as they moved forward.
'This was not crossfire. This was a massacre,' Mr Abdo told The National. 'It reveals the true face of the occupation, a calculated attempt to eliminate a population through starvation, killing, and forced displacement.'
Witnesses report that others are missing at the scene, their bodies inaccessible as the threat of gunfire remains in the area. The testimonies come as Israel widens its offensive in Gaza into the Deir Al Balah area.
Hunger in Gaza
Palestinian aid agency UNRWA reports that all residents of Gaza are now suffering from malnutrition, with widespread food insecurity and starvation. Ismail Al Thawabta, the director of the Government Media Office in Hamas -run Gaza, said the strip 'has entered dangerous levels of deliberate famine, with no intervention from the international community'.
Since October 7, 2023, when the war began with Hamas's attack on Israel, dozens of children have died due to malnutrition, with a total of 620 people confirmed dead from starvation and lack of medicine, according to Gaza officials.
'In Gaza, food is no longer a right. It's a distant dream,' Mr Al Thawabta said. 'People search all day for something to eat and return empty-handed.'
Omar Hijazi, a 33-year-old father of five, spoke about the daily struggle for survival. 'We can't even find a single loaf of bread in a day,' he said.
'People are collapsing in the streets. We're not talking about nutritious food any more, we're just trying not to die.'
Like many others, Mr Hijazi said the war itself has faded into the background. 'We don't talk about bombs or martyrs. We talk about bread and hunger. Because hunger is killing us faster than anything else,' he told The National.
Human rights organisations have accused Israel of inflicting conditions that amount to war crimes under international law, including deliberate starvation of civilians. Israel blames Hamas for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Yet the international response remains paralysed, with little movement towards a ceasefire or emergency intervention.
'The entire world is watching the slaughter of Gaza and its killing through starvation and genocide, without moving a muscle or batting an eye, as if the people there are not human, and not covered by international agreements and conventions.' Mr Al Thawabta said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
44 minutes ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia announces $6.4bln in Syria investments
Saudi Arabia announced $6.4 billion of investments in Syria on Thursday, reflecting the kingdom's deepening ties with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government as it seeks to rebuild Syria after a 14-year civil war. The deals, unveiled by Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih at a Damascus forum, are a major financial boost for Sharaa. Al-Falih said his visit to Syria had been ordered by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and de-facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, calling the trip "confirmation of the kingdom's firm and supportive stance towards sisterly Syria". The investment deals included $2.93 billion for real estate and infrastructure projects and about $1.07 billion for the telecommunications and information technology sector, Al-Falih said. Businesses involved in the plans include telecommunications firms the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and GO Telecom, digital security company Elm, cybersecurity firm Cipher, and Classera, an education technology company. Al-Falih said 47 agreements would be signed over the course of the conference, with more than 100 companies participating. Al-Falih also announced the establishment of a Saudi-Syrian Business Council at the event, which had been scheduled for June but was delayed due to the conflict between Iran and Israel. Riyadh has been a key ally of Sharaa's government, which came to power after longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December, using its diplomatic influence to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to lift sanctions. Companies, many from Gulf states and Turkey, have expressed interest in rebuilding Syria's power generation capacity, roads, ports and other damaged infrastructure. Syria has signed a $7-billion power deal with Qatar and an $800-million agreement with UAE-based port company DP World in recent months. U.S. energy firms are also set to draw up a master plan for the country's energy sector. In April, Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced they would pay off Syria's World Bank arrears, opening up the possibility of new lending. ($1 = 3.7514 riyals) (Reporting by Ahmed Elimam and Tala Ramadan; Writing by Pesha Magid; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Tom Perry and Helen Popper)


Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Brazil to formally join South Africa's ICJ case against Israel
Brazil has said it is in the "final stages" of formally joining South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The government announced its formal intervention on Wednesday, citing "massacres of civilians, most of them women and children, which have become commonplace during the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza". In a statement, Brazil's foreign ministry expressed "deep indignation" at 'recurring episodes of violence' perpetrated by Israel against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and the "shameless use of starvation as a weapon of war". It said the international community "cannot remain inactive" in the face of "ongoing atrocities", and that the move is based on the 'plausibility that the rights of Palestinians to protection against acts of genocide are being irreversibly impaired'. 'Brazil believes there is no longer room for moral ambiguity or political omission. Impunity undermines international legality and undermines the credibility of the multilateral system," the statement read. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The lawsuit, which was initially filed by South Africa in December 2023, accuses Israel of committing "genocidal acts" against Palestinians in Gaza. In an 84-page submission to the ICJ, Pretoria alleged Israel was in breach of its obligations under the Genocide Convention. Other countries, including Spain, Turkey and the Republic of Ireland, have also sought to intervene in the case. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has emerged as an increasingly vocal critic of Israel, repeatedly condemning its actions in Gaza as a genocide. The country was one of more than 30 states that attended an "emergency summit" in the Colombian capital Bogota last week. It was organised by The Hague Group, and participants agreed to implement six measures to stop Israel's onslaught on Gaza and prevent violations of international law. However, campaigners have pointed to Brazil's crude oil exports to Israel - 2.7m barrels were shipped in 2024 alone - prompting calls from Brazilian oil worker unions for the government to implement an energy embargo against Israel. Brazil's formal intervention in the case comes as Gaza's hospitals recorded over 115 deaths related to 'famine and malnutrition' as Israel's blockade continues to choke the flow of food, clean water and medicine into the enclave. Authorities warn the death toll could rise, with aid access still severely restricted and entire families reportedly going days without food. In response to Brazil's announcement, the Israeli embassy said the South American country did not "fully portray the reality of what is currently happening in Gaza" and "completely ignored" the role of Hamas.


Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Lebanon's Hezbollah rejects US roadmap as ‘surrender'
Hezbollah's first response to the US roadmap for Lebanon came in a speech earlier this month by the group's leader, Naim Qassem, who declared: 'We are a people who do not surrender.' US Special Envoy Tom Barrack has proposed a plan to Lebanon's top officials that would see the full disarmament of Hezbollah within four months. In return, Israel would halt its strikes and withdraw its forces from positions it still occupies in southern Lebanon. In his address, Qassem reiterated Hezbollah's readiness to discuss all matters, including its weapons, but only within the context of a Lebanese national dialogue, and not under American pressure or threats. Last week, Hezbollah MPs said that recent parliamentary hearings have shown there is room for national consensus on key sovereignty-related issues. One of the main concerns increasingly raised by the international community has been the deepening crisis of trust between foreign powers and the Lebanese leadership, particularly the president and the prime minister. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Western diplomatic sources told Middle East Eye that foreign governments remain sceptical about the Lebanese state's ability to implement weapons containment and broader reforms. According to sources close to Hezbollah, the group's recent messaging has been intentional and clear: it rejects the US proposal outright, viewing it not as a basis for negotiation but as a surrender document - and therefore unacceptable. 'Total surrender' Barrack, who is also special envoy for Syria, returned to Beirut this week for his third visit in just over a month, continuing discussions around the US-backed roadmap for Lebanon. The plan includes the disarmament of non-state armed groups, long-overdue economic reforms, and improved relations with Damascus. From Hezbollah's perspective, the flurry of visits, meetings, and press conferences led by Barrack "carries no blessing". Sources close to the group say Hezbollah rejects the idea of disarmament while Israeli occupation and threats persist. Nawaf Salam is failing to rebuild Lebanon - while bending to US-Israeli interests Read More » However, it remains open to negotiating the transfer of its weapons to the Lebanese army within the framework of a national defence strategy. For months, Lebanon has requested that the US serve as a security guarantor, ensuring that Israel fully withdraws its forces and stops targeting Hezbollah members - strikes that have persisted despite the ceasefire - should the group begin surrendering its weapons. However, when asked on Monday whether Washington would guarantee the Israeli withdrawal, Barrack responded that the US "has no business in trying to compel Israel to do anything". Barrack also told reporters that the US was not going to force Hezbollah to disarm, or sanction the country if progress is not achieved. While Hezbollah has handed in some weapons from depots in the country's south to the Lebanese army, Israel says the group is violating the ceasefire by attempting to re-establish itself. Hezbollah has opposed Israeli pressure on the Lebanese army to destroy any weapons it receives from the group, viewing it as an attempt to prevent their integration into Lebanon's national defence strategy. The sources cited one incident in which the Lebanese army took possession of a rocket launcher from a Hezbollah depot but did not destroy it. This prompted an immediate warning from the international monitoring committee established after the ceasefire, chaired by a US general. The same sources said an earlier US proposal had been more reasonable than what they described as Barrack's offer of 'total surrender'. Pressure and preconditions Washington has set firm conditions: a clear, written timeline for implementation starting in south Lebanon and expanding northward, swift execution within weeks, and full weapons containment by the end of the year. It also calls for direct international monitoring of every step, including documented access to Hezbollah's weapons depots, photographic evidence of the arms, and a public acknowledgment from Hezbollah endorsing the disarmament mechanism. Can the US push Lebanon to normalise with Israel? Read More » In parallel, Lebanon has outlined its own set of demands: full Israeli compliance with the ceasefire, the activation of the international monitoring committee, and the continued presence and role of the United Nations Interim Force, Unifil, in Lebanon. Beirut has also requested assurances regarding the situation in Syria, reflecting growing concern among Lebanese factions about the fallout from recent developments, particularly in the Druze-majority Sweida province. The sectarian violence in Syria has further complicated the Lebanese security landscape. Observers say that the ongoing violence and Israeli attacks on Syria has reinforced Hezbollah's argument for holding onto its weapons as a means of protecting vulnerable communities. During his previous visit to Beirut earlier in July, Barrack said he was satisfied with the Lebanese government's response to the US proposal. Still, he warned that without a serious commitment from Lebanon, neither the West nor the Gulf appear ready to provide support for the country's recovery. 'Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and now the UAE are coming in and saying, 'If we can get to where everybody can just calm down, we will help redevelop that portion of Lebanon,' which is huge,' Barrack told reporters. 'They are ready to provide [funding]' once Hezbollah is disarmed, he said.