UN Reports Numerous Gunshot Injuries Post Israel’s ‘Grain Slaughter’
A team from the United Nations and medical officials have observed a significant amount of gunshot injuries among Palestinians in Gaza after Israeli forces fired near an aid convoy. This has sparked global outrage and demands for justice.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Event
- Majority of Injured Affected by Gunfire
- Eyewitness Accounts
- The Changing Narrative of Israel’s Military
- Human Rights Monitor’s Report
- A Famine in the Making
- International Court of Justice’s Verdict
- Israel’s Blockade Against Aid
- Conclusion
- References
- Further Reading
Introduction
In a shocking turn of events, Gaza witnessed a horrific scene where Israeli forces opened fire near an aid convoy. The gunfire resulted in multiple casualties, with eyewitnesses and medical teams reporting a large number of gunshot wounds among the crowds. This incident has drawn widespread condemnation and an urgent call for justice.
The Event
The horrific incident occurred when Palestinians in Gaza were seeking food aid, and Israeli forces opened fire near the aid convoy. The aftermath was devastating, with at least 117 Palestinians killed and more than 750 injured during the incident, now referred to as the “Grain Slaughter.” The Israeli forces’ initial claims that the casualties resulted from a stampede and trampling were contradicted by numerous eyewitness accounts and the high number of gunshot injuries.
Majority of Injured Affected by Gunfire
The head of a Gaza City hospital that treated some of the Palestinians wounded in the bloodshed said on Friday that more than 80 percent of the injured had been struck by gunfire, suggesting there was heavy shooting by Israeli troops.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses insisted that the stampede happened only after Israeli troops started firing at people looking for food. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor based in Gaza said Israeli forces intentionally opened fire on the crowd of aid recipients to “intimidate” anyone struggling to get a handful of food.
The Changing Narrative of Israel’s Military
The Israeli military’s version of the event underwent several modifications. Initially, they attributed the injuries to a stampede caused by the arrival of aid trucks. Later, they claimed that their troops felt threatened by the approaching crowd, which led them to open fire. However, they failed to explain how the crowd posed a threat.
Human Rights Monitor’s Report
The human rights monitor published a report on Thursday stating that evidence shows that dozens of victims suffered gunshot wounds, contrary to the Israeli army spokesman’s claims. They identified the distinct sound of 5.56 bullets coming from an automatic weapon used by the Israeli army in the footage released by the Israeli forces.
A Famine in the Making
The United Nations has particularly cited restrictions on access to northern Gaza, where residents have been reduced to eating animal fodder and even leaves. Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, on Friday said that “a famine is almost inevitable” in Gaza unless things change.
International Court of Justice’s Verdict
Israel has been accused of violating the orders of the International Court of Justice by blocking aid to Palestinians who are facing near-famine conditions after nearly five months of Israeli bombardment.
Israel’s Blockade Against Aid
The UN refugee agency, UNRWA, has also raised concerns against Israel’s blocking of aid. “The Israeli government is starving Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, putting them in even more peril than before the World Court’s binding order,” Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, said on February 26.
