France, Germany, the Commission and the European Council joined international calls on Friday to carry out an independent investigation into the death of a hundred Palestinians waiting for the delivery of humanitarian aid in northern Gaza, an incident that, according to Israeli media, could weaken Israel’s international position after its troops fired into the crowd.
Israel has attributed most of the deaths to a human rush generated around aid trucks, saying victims had been trampled or run over. An Israeli official has also said that troops “in a limited response” later fired on a crowd because they were considered a threat.
The incident has highlighted the depth of the humanitarian crisis in areas of northern Gaza, occupied by Israeli forces as part of their response to the October 7 Hamas attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “deep indignation” and his “strongest condemnation of these shootings” and called for “truth, justice and respect for international law.” His Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne said Paris would support an independent investigation requested by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
For her part, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the Israeli military should “fully explain how the mass panic and shooting could have occurred.” A spokesperson for the ministry assured that Germany is already in contact with the Government of Israel and has clearly conveyed that Berlin expects a “very rapid investigation of the facts.” “The protection of civilians, especially in this tragic situation, must be an absolute priority,” she stressed.
Israel’s closest ally, the United States, has also urged a thorough investigation, saying the incident shows the need to “expand humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.”
For their part, from Brussels, the presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed dismay and disgust at the attack against civilians and urged that an independent investigation be carried out. Von der Leyen asked on the social network to “do everything possible to investigate what happened and guarantee transparency.” On the same social network, Michel expressed “shock and disgust at the massacre” and noted that “international law does not allow double standards. An independent investigation must be launched immediately and those responsible must be held accountable.”
In Israel, the press is beginning to wonder about the impact on international support after what happened. An op-ed on the N12 website said the incident underscores the lack of any civil administration or rule of law in Gaza, which “may put Israel in a difficult position in terms of legitimacy to continue fighting.”
A columnist from the country’s most important newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, stated that the image that the world will retain of what happened will be that of hundreds of “hungry and desperate” people, including women and children, pounced on for food and being shot by soldiers. Israeli soldiers. “Some think this incident will create a turning point in the war…” he reflected.
