UN observes high number of gunshot wounds amid Gaza aid chaos

A United Nations investigative team has documented “a large number” of gunshot injuries among Gazans following an incident involving Israeli troops near an aid convoy. This occurrence has drawn attention to the dire conditions prevailing in the region, characterized by near-famine circumstances after nearly five months of intense conflict.

US President Joe Biden has announced plans for his military to commence air-dropping relief provisions into the Palestinian territory, where Israel is engaged in combat against fighters aligned with the Iran-backed Hamas movement.

The health ministry in Gaza, under Hamas control, has issued alarming statements indicating that thousands of individuals in north Gaza face severe dehydration and malnutrition, posing a significant risk of fatalities. The World Health Organization has intervened, providing treatment for 50 acutely malnourished children in the northern region.

In a chaotic turn of events on Thursday in Gaza City, Israeli troops opened fire as Palestinian civilians sought access to food supplies. The resulting mayhem led to the reported deaths of 115 individuals and injuries to over 750, as per the health ministry’s account.

Israeli military officials have asserted that a “stampede” occurred when a large crowd surrounded the aid convoy, resulting in numerous casualties, including individuals being trampled. Acknowledging the use of force, an Israeli source stated that troops perceived the crowd as a potential threat.

The devastating toll of the aid convoy incident has contributed to the mounting Palestinian casualties, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting a total of 30,320 deaths, primarily women and children, since the conflict’s inception on October 7. Amid international calls for accountability, the United Nations has dispatched a team to assess the situation, observing a significant number of gunshot wounds among the injured receiving treatment at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital.