Gaza war: 19 Palestinians ‘killed by IDF’ while waiting for aid; Israel denies claims

At least 19 Palestinians were killed Saturday (Mar 23) in an attack by Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) as they were waiting for aid near Al-Kuwait roundabout, Gaza’s health authority claimed. The Israelis were quick to dismiss the allegation, saying the claims were incorrect and an investigation was underway.

“The Israeli occupation commits a massacre, killing 19 and injuring 23 civilians while thousands of citizens were waiting for flour and aid near Al-Kuwait roundabout,” Gaza’s media office said. It added that the Israeli army and tanks opened fire with machine guns “towards the hungry people who were waiting for bags of flour and aid in a place far from posing any danger to the occupation”.

Al-Kuwait roundabout is an area where food is often distributed by aid groups as crowds of desperate people descend upon it to get hold of essentials.

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CNN quoted local journalist Khader Al-Za’anoun as reporting that all those dead and injured in the attack were taken to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, east of Gaza City.

Israel denies claims

The IDF in a statement said no attack happened at all and the aid convoy was instead looted by locals.

“This morning at 11am [local time], the IDF facilitated an aid convoy to deliver food to people in Northern Gaza. Upon its approach to the designated distribution point, the convoy was intercepted and looted by hundreds of Gazans, north of the humanitarian corridor,” the IDF said.

“Preliminary findings have determined that there was no aerial strike against the convoy, nor were there incidents found of IDF forces firing at the people at the aid convoy,” the IDF claimed.

In recent weeks, several reports and claims have surfaced regarding deadly assaults by Israeli soldiers targeting civilians waiting in lines for aid. According to the Gaza-based Government Media Office, at least 400 individuals have been killed in various similar incidents since the onset of the conflict.

Last week, the Palestinian Internal Security Forces in Gaza City announced that such gatherings at the Kuwait roundabout would be prohibited to protect lives due to the "frequent massacres" perpetrated there by Israeli forces. The reason for the distribution of aid in the vicinity of the Kuwait roundabout on Saturday remains unclear.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)