logo
At least 73 Palestinians killed as Israeli forces fire on aid seekers, Gaza civil defence agency says

At least 73 Palestinians killed as Israeli forces fire on aid seekers, Gaza civil defence agency says

First Post2 days ago
The largest number of fatalities was reported in the north, where 67 people were killed as truckloads of food arrived near Gaza City. Six others were shot dead near Rafah in the south, where dozens more had been killed the previous day read more
Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution center operated by the U.S.-backed organization in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. AP
At least 73 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of people attempting to collect humanitarian aid on Sunday, Gaza's civil defence agency said, as deaths during aid distribution continue to mount in the besieged enclave.
The largest number of fatalities was reported in the north, where 67 people were killed as truckloads of food arrived near Gaza City. Six others were shot dead near Rafah in the south, where dozens more had been killed the previous day, according to the agency.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said its 25-truck convoy carrying food supplies 'encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire' shortly after crossing from Israel into northern Gaza.
Israel's military disputed the death toll and claimed soldiers had fired warning shots to 'remove an immediate threat posed to them' as thousands gathered near Gaza City. The army also said it would be reviewing the incident.
'Like hunting animals in a forest'
In Gaza City, Qasem Abu Khater said he had gone to find flour but instead found 'deadly overcrowding and pushing'.
'The tanks were firing shells randomly at us and Israeli sniper soldiers were shooting as if they were hunting animals in a forest,' the 36-year-old told AFP. 'Dozens of people were martyred right before my eyes and no one could save anyone.'
Civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the death toll was expected to rise and attributed the southern killings to 'Israeli forces' gunfire'.
The WFP condemned the violence as 'completely unacceptable'. Media restrictions and access difficulties in Gaza have made it impossible for AFP and other organisations to independently verify the reported tolls.
The Israeli army said this month that it had issued new instructions to its ground troops 'following lessons learned' from earlier deadly incidents involving aid-seekers.
According to the UN, nearly 800 people have been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May.
Mounting pressure over civilian casualties
The ongoing war was sparked by Hamas's 7 October 2023 assault on Israel, in which 1,219 people were killed, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Militants also took 251 hostages into Gaza.
In response, Israel launched a relentless military campaign that has killed at least 58,895 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Most of Gaza's more than 2 million residents have been displaced at least once. On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered people in Deir el-Balah to move south, warning of an expanded operation in an area it has rarely entered.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X that forces were 'expanding its activities' against Hamas in the central Gaza region.
With inputs from AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

From George Clooney to James Carville, Hunter Biden is angry with the Democrats. Here's why
From George Clooney to James Carville, Hunter Biden is angry with the Democrats. Here's why

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

From George Clooney to James Carville, Hunter Biden is angry with the Democrats. Here's why

Hunter Biden, the embattled son of former President Joe Biden, appeared on a podcast with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan and discussed all the things that keep him and his family in the news. Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, attends a Hanukkah holiday reception in the East Room of the White House on December 16, 2024.(AFP) Hunter, 55, has been the subject of a major scandal involving his drug use and firearms license, which resulted in his conviction in June 2024. He was pardoned by Joe Biden towards the end of his Presidential tenure. Speaking to Callaghan, Hunter Biden spoke about the chain of events leading to his father's decision to drop out of the Presidential race in 2024, and how a section of the Blue Party forced that. He targeted actor George Clooney, a mega donor of the Democrats, who wrote an op-ed in the New York Times on July 10 urging the Democratic Party to name a new nominee for the 2024 US elections. 'F—k him and everybody around him, I don't have to be f—king nice,' Hunter Biden said. 'Number one, I agree with [director] Quentin Tarantino, George Clooney is not a f—king actor … he is a brand." "He's great friends with Barack Obama. F—k you. What do you have to do with f—king anything? Why do I have to f—king listen to you?' Here's the video: Also read: Hunter Biden turned to DNC for legal fees, ultimately his 'sugar brother' footed millions Clooney was crucial in persuading the Democratic Party to sack Biden and, subsequently, decide on former VP Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's candidate. On June 15, George Clooney held a fundraiser for the Biden campaign in Hollywood, where Joe Biden froze on the stage, sparking major concerns around his competency to serve as POTUS for another term. Hunter also took aim at several Democratic Party advisors and strategists and made a number of serious allegations against them. He said James Carville, the eminent Democrat strategist, "hasn't won a race in 40 f------ years." Hunter Biden said, David Axelrod, former Obama advisor, "had one success in his political life and that was Barack Obama and that was because of Barack Obama." Meanwhile, he said Anita Dunn "has made $40-$50 million off the Democratic Party," and Jake Tapper "has the smallest audience on cable news."

Israeli Munitions Not Hamas BLOW UP Soldier In Gaza As IDF Pushes Into Deir Al-Balah For 1st Time
Israeli Munitions Not Hamas BLOW UP Soldier In Gaza As IDF Pushes Into Deir Al-Balah For 1st Time

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Israeli Munitions Not Hamas BLOW UP Soldier In Gaza As IDF Pushes Into Deir Al-Balah For 1st Time

Israel has suffered new military losses in Gaza amid fierce battles with Hamas fighters. One soldier, Staff Sgt. Amit Cohen, 19, was killed by Israeli munitions during an operation in Khan Younis. Another officer was seriously wounded in the same blast. Earlier, five IDF soldiers died in northern Gaza after Hamas militants triggered explosive devices in Beit Hanoun. The death toll of Israeli troops in Gaza has now exceeded 875. In central Gaza, Israeli ground troops invaded Deir al-Balah for the first time during this war.#GazaWar #IDFCasualties #IsraelHamasConflict #DeirAlBalah #MiddleEastCrisis #GazaUnderFire #WarUpdates #BreakingNews #KhanYounis #BeitHanoun Read More

Kristi Noem rips ‘sanctuary' policies after CBP officer is shot in NYC, ‘How many more lives will it take?'
Kristi Noem rips ‘sanctuary' policies after CBP officer is shot in NYC, ‘How many more lives will it take?'

Hindustan Times

time12 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Kristi Noem rips ‘sanctuary' policies after CBP officer is shot in NYC, ‘How many more lives will it take?'

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has blamed 'sanctuary' policies after an illegal immigrant was accused of shooting a Customs and Border Protection officer in New York City during an attempted robbery over the weekend. Noem on Monday, July 21, visited the CBP officer who was shot. Kristi Noem rips 'sanctuary' policies after CBP officer is shot in NYC (Photo by SPENCER PLATT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP) The officer was allegedly hit in the face and forearm in Manhattan's Riverside Park Saturday night, July 19, when the suspect opened fire. Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez was later taken into custody. The suspect had previously been caught by Border Patrol in April 2023, Fox News reported. "There's absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City," Noem told reporters on Monday, referencing Nunez. "He was arrested four different times in New York City, and because of the mayor's policies and sanctuary city policies, was released back to do harm to people and to individuals living in this city." "We were able to bring the second individual in and have detained him as well, and he will face consequences and hopefully strong prosecution for his crimes and his involvement on Saturday night," she added, identifying that suspect as Christhian Aybar-Berroa, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic who "entered the country illegally in 2022 under the Biden Administration and was ordered for final removal in 2023 by an immigration judge." Nunez was previously caught at the Arizona border, but was released into the US. He still has an active deportation order. 'How many more people have to be hurt and victimized before we have public safety?' Noem said after visiting the injured officer on Monday, "I just want you all to know that we have our hearts and our prayers going out with our officer and with his family and his friends, and will be lifting him up in prayer for his quick recovery and his healing from this terrible tragedy that has befallen him." "Our officer was off-duty on Saturday evening when him and his friend were attacked. They were attacked by two individuals that were set on robbing them, and thankfully he had his service weapon with him and was able to defend himself and his friend and injured one of those individuals that was trying to do them harm. His quick action speaks to his tenacity and his excellence in training and skill. And because of that, one of the perpetrators was wounded in this interaction and was incarcerated when he came in to get medical treatment," Noem added. Noem then went on to urge every mayor and sanctuary city and sanctuary governor to change their existing policies. She said, "Their job is to take an oath to protect the public, to protect families that are out there every single day trying to provide for each other and to try to live the American dream. And they want to do so safely in their own communities. How many more lives will it take? How many more people have to be hurt and victimized before we have public safety? When I look at what Mayor Adams has done to New York City, it breaks my heart to see the families that have suffered because of his policies." 'We can look across this country at other mayors. We look at Mayor Wu in Boston and what has happened there under her watch, what's happened in LA with the riots and the violence and the protests that have gone on because of Mayor Bass and what she has perpetuated. When you look at Mayor Johnson in Chicago and how devastating it is to live in that city in some of those poorest communities, how they suffer every single day with the violence that's in front of them," Noem added. 'Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals' Border czar Tom Homan also visited the injured officer, he said. "I visited the officer last night, of course, he was heavily sedated, so I didn't have words with him," he said. "But I did talk to his family. They're devastated. It's just -- it's just a shock to the soul when you walk in and see that young man laying there." "Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals. President Trump is not going to tolerate it," he further said, adding that sanctuary cities are now 'our priority' and that they will 'flood the zone.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store