More than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoy

More than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoy

Israeli soldiers reportedly opened fire on Palestinian civilians trying to get to aid in Gaza, killing at least 112 and injuring 760. 

Crowds were trying to get much-needed aid from a convoy of lorries on the coastal road southwest of Gaza City. 

Israel’s military said their tanks fired warning shots but did not strike the convoy. Some Palestinians say troops fired directly at them.

A witness, speaking to the BBC, said most of those who died had been run over as lorry drivers tried to move forward.

Footage shows hundreds of people on and around the lorries, whilst graphic videos circulating online show bodies loaded onto emptied aid lorries and a donkey cart. 

The UN Security Council has scheduled a closed-door emergency meeting to discuss the incident. 

France said “fire by Israeli soldiers against civilians trying to access food” was “unjustifiable” and US President Joe Biden expressed concern the incident would complicate efforts by mediators to broker a temporary ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

The medical charity MSF said it was “horrified” and called for an “immediate and sustained ceasefire”.