Middle East latest: Biden says reports of Gazans shot by Israeli troops at aid trucks will complicate ceasefire talks

Key points

Israeli troops ‘open fire’ on crowd of people waiting for aid – reports 104 dead. Here’s who has said whatUS President Biden says the reports will complicate ceasefire talksAlistair Bunkall: Details aren’t clear – but a severe incident has taken placeUS defence secretary says 25,000 Palestinian women and children killed since 7 Oct with 21,000 guided munitions supplied by AmericaWhy death tolls are thought to be accurateLive reporting by Bhvishya Patel and (earlier) Brad Young

17:58:27 In pictures: Israeli right-wing settlers try to cross into Gaza Strip

Images have emerged purporting to show Israeli right-wing settlers trying to cross into the Gaza Strip in order to build a settlement. 

In 2005, Israel withdrew its military and settlers from Gaza after a 38-year occupation and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since said Israel does not intend to maintain a permanent presence again.

But following the attacks by Hamas on 7 October, Israel’s longer-term intentions remain unclear.

The US have said that Gaza should be governed by Palestinians.

17:39:13 Austin admission that over 25,000 women and children killed in Gaza an ‘extraordinary revelation’

We brought you reports from Reuters news agency earlier that during a congressional hearing US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said “over 25,000” women and children had been killed since 7 October (see post at 4.38pm).

Our US correspondent Mark Stone says “this is a truly staggering revelation by the US”.

“Over the course of the last five months, the US government have actively cast doubt over the figures that have come out of Gaza,” he says.

“Joe Biden at one point said they should not be trusted.

“Western governments have repeatedly pointed to the fact that the health ministry in Gaza is run by Hamas and therefore you should not take the numbers they release at face value.”

Stone says “fast forward to today” and one of the most senior US officials has admitted that over 25,000 of the people who have died are women and children.

“This is an extraordinary revelation,” he adds.

17:11:30 Footage shows aid convoy incident took place over large area

By Sam Doak, OSINT producer 

To better understand what occurred, we have located three pieces of footage recorded during the event.  

The first piece of aerial footage geolocated by Sky News was released by the IDF in a compilation. 

Filmed from above, it shows an area adjacent to the intersection of Gaza City’s Al Rashid Street and No 10 Street. 

Around 20 people in this clip appear to be not moving, the video is filmed from the sky so it’s not clear if they are dead, wounded or sheltering. 

The second clip located was filmed just over 400 metres northeast along Al Rashid Street from the first. Also released by the IDF, it shows large crowds surrounding several trucks.  

The third, released by Al Jazeera, was filmed on a section of open ground just off Al Rashid Street a further 200 metres northeast up the road. It shows a crowd appearing to flee and duck amid audible gunfire.  

These pieces of footage, filmed over roughly 600 metres, show that the events unfolded over a large area.  

The location of this is notable due to its proximity to a newly established Israeli checkpoint and outpost, located around 400 metres south of the first video.

16:38:24 Pentagon chief: More than 25,000 women and children killed in Gaza

Reuters news agency has reported that during a congressional hearing, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin was asked how many Palestinian women and children had been killed by Israel since 7 October.

“It is over 25,000,” the Pentagon chief replied.

He said Israel can and should do more to protect civilians.

Approximately 21,000 precision guided munitions had been provided to Israel since the start of its war in Gaza, he added.

16:29:48 Two dead in West Bank shooting

Two men have been killed in a shooting attack in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israeli emergency services say.

The Israeli military said a gunman opened fire at a gas station and was “neutralised” by security forces. 

15:48:43 Biden says reports of gunfire at aid truck crowd will complicate talks

Joe Biden has rowed back on his optimism that a ceasefire would happen by Monday.

The president said reports of Israeli fire on Palestinians crowding around aid trucks would complicate talks.

He had previously hoped a deal could be struck between Israel and Hamas by the end of the weekend.

He added that a temporary ceasefire probably will not now happen by Monday.

Talks had been taking place in Cairo and Paris, with mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US in attendance.

A six-week pause in fighting was proposed, including an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

15:27:07 Houthis say they will introduce military ‘surprises’ in Red Sea

Moving away from Gaza for a moment, and Yemen’s Houthis have threatened they will introduce military “surprises” in their Red Sea operations.

Iran-aligned group’s leader Abdul Malik al Houthi said the group had plans “our enemies will not expect at all”.

Houthi militants have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against international commercial shipping since mid-November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. 

14:55:04 White House investigating aid trucks incident

The White House is looking into reports of Israeli fire on Palestinians waiting for aid near Gaza City, describing it as a “serious incident.” 

“We mourn the loss of innocent life and recognise the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where innocent Palestinians are just trying to feed their families,” a National Security Council spokesperson said.

“This underscores the importance of expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including through a potential temporary ceasefire.”

14:42:04 Explained: What we know about deadly aid truck incident in northern Gaza

Conflicting reports have been emerging over a purportedly deadly incident during aid distribution west of Gaza City this morning.

Civilians were gathering to try to get food and medicine from aid trucks, but from there reports began to clash.

Here is everything that has been said about the incident so far.

Gaza health ministry: The Hamas-run ministry claimed 104 people were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for aid at Nabulsi roundabout.

Palestinian president: Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank, said there was an “ugly massacre conducted by the Israeli occupation army”.

Medical facilities: Some in the area reported receiving bodies and severely wounded people with gunshots in the upper part of their bodies.

Hospital chiefs: The head of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza City, Hussam Abu Safieyah, said it had received 10 bodies and dozens of injured patients. 

Head of the hospital’s ambulance service, Fares Afana, told the Associated Press that medics arriving at the scene found “dozens or hundreds” lying on the ground.

‘Casualty’ speaks: A man being treated for a gunshot wound at Shifa Hospital, Kamel Abu Nahel, told the Associated Press he was shot in the leg by the IDF after they opened fire on the crowd twice.

IDF: The Israel Defence Forces said Gazan residents were injured as a result of pushing and trampling as they surrounded the aid trucks and looted them.

Israeli government: An Israeli government spokesperson said the aid truck drivers “ploughed” into the crowd, killing “tens of people”.

Israel released footage it said showed crowds surrounding the trucks, in which one truck moved forward slightly while people were either side of it, before stopping again (see our 14.21 post).

Hamas: Hamas released a statement accusing Israel of a targeted “hideous massacre”.

14:21:16 Watch: Israel releases footage it says shows crowds surrounding aid trucks

Moments ago, Israeli spokesperson Avi Hyman claimed aid truck drivers had driven into a crowd of people near Gaza City, killing “tens” of them.

The IDF has released footage it says shows crowds at the aid trucks.

An Israeli source earlier told Reuters that Israeli soldiers had opened fire on several people in the crowd after feeling threatened, while the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 104 people were killed.

Asked by Sky News if live fire was used by the IDF, Mr Hyman said he could not confirm whether it had.

This content is provided by , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
Source