According to various sources, dozens of people were killed in the northwest of the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Many Palestinians had come to the area for food aid from the United Nations.
Both the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health and local hospital personnel speak of dozens of deaths via news agencies Reuters and AP. Correspondents from, among others, Al Jazeera and the Palestinian news agency WAFA also report such numbers.
The vast majority of victims fell in the al Sudaniya area, near the Zikim crossing. Aid from international aid organizations is supplied via this border crossing, including that of the United Nations. The Israeli government gave the green light earlier this month to increase humanitarian aid to northern Gaza.
It is not clear who shot at the waiting crowd. Hamas authorities and local journalists point to the Israeli army, but it is not excluded that the fire comes from looters from armed gangs.
Local clans and influential families are increasingly calling the shots in parts of Gaza. The clans are said to be working together to escort aid convoys. However, according to The Times of Israel, there are also reports that the clans sometimes even steal aid goods.
Many deaths have already occurred at aid locations
The Israeli army has not yet reported an incident in the north of the Gaza Strip. In incidents around aid locations, the army usually says that warning shots had to be fired because hungry Palestinians came too close to Israeli troops.
But last month, some soldiers and officers were quoted as saying that the army deliberately opens fire on Palestinians near aid locations. This would also happen if it is clear that the residents do not pose a threat to the troops present. According to those surveyed, it is accepted that there will be casualties.