Middle East latest: Israeli troops ‘open fire’ on crowd near aid trucks – 104 killed, says Hamas-run health ministry

Key points

Israeli troops ‘open fire’ on crowd of people waiting for aid – reports 104 dead. Here’s who has said whatAlistair Bunkall: Details aren’t clear – but a severe incident has taken place30,000 now killed in Gaza during conflictWhy death tolls are thought to be accurateLive reporting by Brad Young

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.

13:47:14 Israeli government spokesperson claims ‘tragedy’ was caused by truck drivers

An Israeli government spokesperson has described Palestinian deaths during aid distribution near Gaza City today as a tragedy and claimed the drivers of aid trucks were to blame, a claim that conflicts with various other sources.

“At some point the trucks were overwhelmed and the people driving the trucks, which were Gazan civilian drivers, ploughed into the crowds of people, ultimately killing, my understanding is, tens of people,” spokesperson Avi Hyman said, while providing no evidence for the claim.

“It’s obviously a tragedy but we’re not sure of the specifics quite yet.”

The account is at odds with a report from a Palestinian who says he was injured in the incident and with a source who told Reuters that Israeli troops opened fire on “several people” among a crowd because they felt under threat.

13:37:30 IDF release aerial images that purport to show scene of alleged massacre

Aerial shots have been released by the IDF that purport to show the scene of the alleged massacre of Palestinians as they attempted to collect food from aid trucks in Gaza City.

12:49:13 Injured man claims he was shot by IDF in aid truck crowd

More details are emerging around claims Israeli troops opened fire at a crowd surrounding aid trucks.

A man being treated for a gunshot wound at Shifa Hospital told the Associated Press he was among the crowd at the distribution point.

He said Israeli troops opened fire on the crowd, causing it to scatter, with some people hiding under cars.

After the shooting stopped, they went back to the trucks, and the soldiers opened fire again. He was shot in the leg and fell over, and then a truck ran over his leg as it sped off, he said.

Medics arriving at the scene found “dozens or hundreds” lying on the ground, according to Fares Afana, the head of the ambulance service at Kamal Adwan Hospital.

He said there were not enough ambulances to collect all the dead and wounded and that some were being brought to hospitals in donkey carts.

IDF response

An IDF statement read: “Early this morning, during the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into the northern Gaza Strip, Gazan residents surrounded the trucks, and looted the supplies being delivered. 

“During the incident, dozens of Gazans were injured as a result of pushing and trampling. The incident is under review.”

12:33:34 Analysis: Details aren’t clear – but a severe incident has taken place

A severe incident has taken place in northern Gaza, but what exactly happened remains a murky picture, says Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

Civilians were trying to get food and medicine from aid trucks to the West of Gaza City, when Palestinian sources claim they were fired upon by Israeli forces, said Bunkall.

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

Israel, on the other hand, said there was a stampede where people were trampled and there was no shelling in the area, Bunkall said.

“What I would say about that statement is firstly, yes, there is real desperation for food and basic necessities in Gaza at the moment, so it is not inconceivable that there could have been a stampede.”

But the Israeli statement “makes no mention of the possibility that Israeli forces might have fired using guns on these Palestinians”, Bunkall said.

12:22:23 Palestinian president says ‘ugly massacre’ took place at aid trucks

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned what he called “the ugly massacre” against a crowd waiting for aid near Gaza City.

Moments ago we reported conflicting accounts of an incident at aid trucks near the city.

An Israeli source told Reuters that Israeli troops opened fire on several people posing a threat, while an IDF spokesperson said people were trampled in a rush for aid, adding there was no shelling in the area.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 104 people were killed, while Hamas released a statement calling it a targeted “hideous massacre”.

Now, Mr Abbas’ office said the president “condemned the ugly massacre conducted by the Israeli occupation army this morning against the people who waited for the aid trucks at the Nabulsi roundabout”. 

Sky News cannot independently verify these reports.

11:54:48 Israeli source says IDF opened fire at crowd surrounding aid trucks

Israeli troops opened fire at “several people” among a crowd that surrounded aid trucks in Gaza, an Israeli source has told Reuters.

The soldiers began firing after feeling under threat, the source said.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 104 people were killed waiting for aid near Gaza City, and another 280 wounded.

The Israeli military said dozens of people were injured in pushing and trampling that occurred as they tried to take aid from the trucks.

There was no knowledge of shelling at that location, a military spokesperson said.

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

Sky News cannot independently verify these reports.

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