More than 100 people were killed in the northern Gaza Strip when Israeli forces opened fire Thursday, sparking panic as hungry Palestinian civilians gathered around food aid trucks, Palestinian officials and eyewitnesses said.
CNN was unable to independently confirm the death toll, and the Israeli military gave a different account of the circumstances.
What we know: The massacre unfolded early Thursday when a group of trucks loaded with much-needed aid arrived on Harun al-Rashid Street, west of Gaza City, in the Sheikh Ajlin neighbourhood.
People crowded around the newly arrived aid trucks when Israeli forces started shooting, according to eyewitnesses. Many victims died when they were run over by trucks, according to one account.
An eyewitness told CNN that while the aid trucks were trying to escape the area, they accidentally collided with other trucks, causing more deaths and injuries.
Local journalist in Gaza, Khader Al-Zaanoun, who was at the scene and witnessed the incident, said that the chaos and confusion that led to people being hit by the trucks only began when Israeli forces opened fire.
What the IDF says: An Israeli official told CNN that IDF forces used live ammunition on people surrounding the aid truck as “the crowd approached the forces in a way that posed a threat to the forces, who responded to the threat with live ammunition. The incident is under review.”
Israeli government spokesman Avi Hayman told reporters that the incident was “clearly a tragedy, but we are not sure of the details yet.”
What does Hamas say: Izzat al-Rishq, a prominent member of Hamas, warned that Thursday’s incident could lead to the failure of the ongoing talks aimed at releasing the hostages and establishing a ceasefire.
