A food aid distribution in Gaza has again turned tragic, with Hamas claiming that 19 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, an accusation denied by the army.
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UN boss Antonio Guterres went to the gates of the Gaza Strip on Saturday March 23, where he called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. The same day, a distribution of food aid in Gaza turned tragic again, with Hamas claiming that 19 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, an accusation denied by the army. Franceinfo takes stock of the main information relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel denies shooting at Gazans waiting for help, Hamas deplores 19 deaths
A food aid distribution in Gaza has again turned tragic, with Hamas claiming that 19 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, an accusation denied by the army.
The Hamas health ministry initially announced that nine people had been killed by “tank and shell fire from the Israeli occupying army” during a planned aid distribution at the Kuwait roundabout on the outskirts of Gaza City, before the press service of the Palestinian Islamist movement reported a new toll of 19 dead and 23 injured.
The Israeli army denied shooting at Palestinians awaiting this distribution. “Reports claiming Israeli forces attacked dozens of Gazans near aid convoy are incorrect”, the army said in a statement. According to “first elements”, “there was no air strike against the convoy, nor shooting by forces [israéliennes] on people near the aid convoy”, she said. The army added that soldiers accompanied the same aid convoy which it said was intercepted and then “looted by hundreds of Gazans”.
Israel says it will continue operation at al-Chifa hospital until ‘last terrorist’ captured
The Israeli army assured that it intended to continue its operations carried out since Monday at al-Chifa hospital in Gaza until the capture “of the last terrorist”. “We will finish this operation only when the last terrorist is in our hands – alive or dead”said the commander in chief of the Southern region, Yaron Finkelman, on the spot, in a statement published by the Israeli armed forces.
“The operation here in al-Chifa is important” And “complicated”he commented, adding that it had made it possible to “hit hundreds of terrorists” And “to apprehend hundreds” others. Earlier on Saturday, the army said it had killed a total of more than 170 Palestinian fighters and arrested hundreds of suspects during these raids.
UN chief calls for end to Gaza ‘nightmare’
UN chief Antonio Guterres visited the Gaza Strip devastated by war and on the brink of famine, where he called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas to end the “nightmare”.
“Nothing justifies the horrific attacks by Hamas on October 7. And nothing justifies the collective punishment suffered by the Palestinian people. Now more than ever, it is time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire”he said in Rafah, also calling on Hamas to “immediately release all hostages” removed on October 7.
In the last 24 hours, incessant Israeli bombings have left more than 70 dead across the small Palestinian territory where most of the 2.4 million inhabitants are threatened with famine according to the UN.
Israel’s top diplomat calls UN ‘anti-Israeli organization’
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz described the UN as“anti-Israeli organization”after the visit to the edge of the Gaza Strip by Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
“Under his leadership, the UN has become an anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli organization that harbors and encourages terrorism”wrote on his account X Israel Katz, adding that “Antonio Guterres today came to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing and blamed Israel for the humanitarian situation in Gaza (…).”
Hamas cites ‘deep differences’ during truce talks
A Hamas official reported “deep differences” with Israel in discussions on a truce in Gaza, particularly on the ceasefire and humanitarian aid.
“The enemy has taken the flexibility of our movement for weakness. The occupier is trying to use the negotiations as a means to continue its crimes and aggression,” declared this official familiar with the ongoing negotiations in Doha, on condition of anonymity.