Dozens of Gaza Strip residents allegedly died on Thursday in a crowd crush and under the wheels of trucks that delivered humanitarian aid to the northern part of the enclave, the Israel Defense Forces said.
"This morning humanitarian aid trucks entered northern Gaza, residents surrounded the trucks and looted the supplies being delivered. As a result of the pushing, trampling and being run over by the trucks, dozens of Gazans were killed and injured," the IDF said in a statement on X.
The IDF video footage taken from a drone shows large crowds of people running to the aid trucks and quickly surrounding them. Some Palestinians began moving toward positions of Israeli forces, who opened fire when the approaching people allegedly endangered their safety, Israeli broadcaster I24News reported, citing the IDF.
Over 104 people were killed and 760 were injured in the crowd crush, the enclave's health ministry said.
The United Nations is horrified by the incident, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said on Thursday.
"I’m appalled at the reported killing and injury of hundreds of people during a transfer of aid supplies west of Gaza City today," Griffiths posted on his X profile, formerly Twitter. "This comes as the death toll across Gaza since October 7 hits the 30,000-mark."
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 30,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.