Gaza Convoy Injuries Had Many Bullet Wounds – UN Says

Posted by: Eninu William in world news March 2, 2024

Many of the people treated for injuries following a rush on an aid convoy in Gaza on Thursday suffered gunshot wounds, the UN has said. UN observers visited Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital and saw some of the roughly 200 people still being treated.

Hamas, which governs Gaza, has accused Israel of firing at civilians. However, Israel said most died in a stampede after its troops fired warning shots.

The incident unfolded after hundreds of people descended on an aid convoy as it moved along a coastal road. This was accompanied by the Israeli military, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The World Food Programme has warned that a famine is imminent in northern Gaza. This area has received very little aid in recent weeks. It is also where an estimated 300,000 people are living with little food or clean water.

In footage from the scene, volleys of gunfire can be heard. People are also seen scrambling over lorries and ducking behind the vehicles.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has said that at least 112 people were killed in the incident. It also added that another 760 were injured.

In a statement on social media, Danial Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said, “Dozens of Gazans were injured as a result of pushing and trampling.”

Lt Col Peter Lerner also told Channel 4 News that a “mob stormed the convoy”. He added that Israeli troops “cautiously [tried] to disperse the mob with a few warning shots”.

Mark Regev, special adviser to the Israeli prime minister, had earlier told CNN that Israel had not been involved directly in any way. The gunfire had apparently come from “Palestinian armed groups”, though he did not provide evidence.

On Friday, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN chief António Guterres, said a UN team had visited al-Shifa Hospital earlier the same day.

They had seen “a large number of gunshot wounds” among the survivors. He said he was not aware of the team having examined the bodies of any of the people who were killed.

Dr Mohamed Salha, interim hospital manager at al-Awda hospital, previously told the BBC that al-Awda had received 176 of the injured, of whom 142 had bullet wounds. He added that the others had suffered broken limbs in the stampede.

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