Background on Key Players and Context
Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement controlling the Gaza Strip, has urged the United Nations to establish an international commission to investigate civilian deaths caused by Israeli forces during humanitarian aid deliveries. This plea comes after 570 civilian fatalities in the past month due to such incidents, with approximately 4,000 injuries reported under the pretext of aid distribution.
Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF), a prominent non-governmental organization, has denounced these aid deliveries as “a disguised massacre.” The situation intensified when Israeli military personnel confessed to ‘Haaretz’ about deliberately shooting at unarmed civilians waiting for aid, revealing a mass execution near Israeli-US-backed distribution centers.
Hamas’ Demands and Allegations
Hamas has called for resuming aid delivery through the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) and international humanitarian organizations to end the injustice and oppression faced by Palestinians in Gaza due to occupation and starvation policies.
Gaza’s authorities, controlled by Hamas, have emphasized that military confessions to ‘Haaretz’ about deliberate shootings at thousands of starving civilians reveal mass executions near Israeli-US distribution centers. These testimonies, they argue, constitute documented admissions of war crimes against Gaza’s residents under siege and starvation.
Complicity and Calls for Justice
Gaza’s authorities have requested the initiation of legal proceedings against occupation leaders and soldiers, asserting that global silence on these massacres equates to effective complicity. They firmly condemn the ongoing genocide against starving civilians in Gaza, holding Israel, the US, the UK, France, and Germany fully responsible for these systematic crimes.
NGOs’ Concerns and Reports
MSF has echoed Hamas’ concerns, stating that the current aid delivery plan in Gaza is a “masked massacre” and demanding an end to these operations, advocating for UN-channelled aid instead.
Save the Children reported that over half of violent incidents under the new aid distribution formula in Gaza have affected children, either through injury or death. The organization claims the current system is a “deadly trap” rather than a genuine humanitarian operation.
UN’s Stance
The United Nations has repeatedly called for immediate and independent investigations into Palestinian deaths caused by Israeli military fire during humanitarian aid deliveries in Gaza to ensure accountability. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq deemed it “unacceptable” to shoot at civilians seeking food.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the issue? Hamas and other organizations are concerned about civilian deaths caused by Israeli forces during humanitarian aid deliveries in Gaza.
- Who is involved? Key players include Hamas, the Gaza authorities, Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF), Save the Children, and the United Nations.
- What are Hamas’ demands? Hamas calls for an international commission to investigate civilian deaths and resume aid delivery through UNRWA and international humanitarian organizations.
- What have NGOs reported? MSF and Save the Children have denounced the current aid delivery plan as a “masked massacre” and a “deadly trap,” respectively, with children being disproportionately affected.
- What is the UN’s position? The UN has called for immediate and independent investigations into civilian deaths caused by Israeli forces during aid deliveries in Gaza to ensure accountability.
