IDF statement on Aid Convoy Stampede

[Yellowducksandrakes]

What’s happened: Following the death of dozens of Palestinians after a stampede broke out around an aid convoy west of Gaza City, the US has blocked an Algerian-sponsored statement at the United Nations Security Council which sought to blame Israel.

• While reports conflict, it appears that:
• Before dawn yesterday morning, approximately 30 trucks containing aid entered the Gaza Strip to deliver food to the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City.
• At approximately 4.40 AM, thousands of Gazans swarmed the trucks. Drone footage of the event shows some of the trucks attempting to drive through the crowds, presumably in an effort to extract themselves and deliver the aid they were carrying.
• After a number of trucks were able to continue north, armed men opened fire on what remained of the convoy.
• While the IDF has admitted that its troops did open fire, it says that this was only “when they encountered danger, when the mob moved toward it in a manner that endangered the force”.
• The IDF also says that it “did not fire toward individuals seeking aid and we did not fire toward the humanitarian convoy from the ground nor from the air.”
• It is being reported that at least 112 Gazans were killed in this incident, with approximately 760 being injured. However, as these figures originate from within the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health, their veracity is questionable.
• The IDF’s initial inquiry into the incident has concluded its troops’ fire killed only 7 or 8 people and that the majority were killed in the chaos, not by shooting.
• “The tanks were there to provide security for the trucks. Our aircraft gave the troops on the ground a full picture from above,” the IDF said.
• “When the hundreds turned into thousands, the IDF complied with international law… Israel did not limit the quantity of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. We recognize the suffering of the Gaza residents.”
• In the aftermath of this event, much of the international community has reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire and increased aid being allowed into the Gaza Strip.
• At the United Nations Security Council, Algeria sought to issue a statement which explicitly blamed Israel for this deadly incident. While supported by 14 out of 15 council members, it was blocked by the US.
• When asked why the US had not supported this statement, Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood said: “We don’t have all the facts on the ground – that’s the problem.”
• He also said that in the face of contradictory reports, the US was trying to establish facts, including regarding the “circumstances around how people died”.
• President Biden has also discussed this incident with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. According to a White House statement, they agreed that it “underscored the urgency of bringing negotiations to a close as soon as possible”.
• The White House has also called for this event to be “thoroughly investigated”.

Context: Israel will conduct a thorough investigation into an incident which further highlights the complexity of distributing aid to the Gazan people and the urgent necessity of forming a civilian infrastructure to prevent further incidents of this kind.

Do you mean this type of ceasefire?

And if you’re going to disregard that because it’s aljazeera do you prefer this type of ceasefire ?
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/09/israel-bombs-gaza-strip-killing-three-islamic-jihad-leaders

And while you're at it folks, make sure that neither you or any of your friends and family take advantage of these medical devices pioneered by Israel:

https://www.israel21c.org/the-top-12-most-amazing-israeli-medical-advances/

That largely relates to tensions in the West Bank, not Gaza, and I have never defended Israeli handling of the West Bank issue.
It's bad enough but it is hardly comparable to what is occurring in Gaza.

The second link it’s in Gaza Strip were 9 civilians (3 children) were killed.

That is in no way equivalent to what I’ve suggested.

Mumsnetters who are more offended by a protest than a genocide blow my mind.

@QueenOfHiraeth ,

I tend to agree with what you say in that Hamas is primarily at fault, but Israel have responded at best clumsily and, at worst, used it as an excuse for ethnic cleansing.

Israel don’t seem to understand that Hamas was both an administrative and a terrorist organisation, a bit like the Ba’ath party in Iraq. If you remove them, you get anarchy unless you put something better in place.

I do think that, for Jews (like me), it is hard to see Israel slowly moving away from its decent and democratic roots and becoming increasingly extreme and, in some cases, racist. To some extent, this is the success of the enemies on their doorstep. It is hardly surprising that people become extremists when subjected to regular rocket fire. However, that doesn’t make it OK.

The U.S needs to keep her ally in check and help broker a regional peace which includes punishing Jewish extremists in the settlements as well as what remains of Hamas fighters (hopefully as little as possible).

I think there is either a heavy level of cognitive dissonance going on for them, or they know exactly what they are doing and are purposefully seeking to control the narrative.

and now the inevitable consequence has occurred.
Inevitable? Inevitable that Israel were going to murder, starve and displace thousands of people? Deny medical supplies to premature babies and children? Allow children to undergo amputation's without anesthetic? Wow you don't hold much regard for Israel if you think this response was inevitable. Frankly I would expect better from my government.
The Israeli government and the IDF have shown themselves to be barbaric, cruel murderers. There is absolutely no justification for what has gone on in Gaza over the past few months. The tide is finally tuning with Kamala Harris and the US government calling for an immediate ceasefire. It has been said already on this thread that it is staggering that people are still trying to justify the unjustifiable.

To what aim?
Military experts don't seem to agree that this is what Hamas wanted, the IDF response seems to have been way beyond what Hamas expected, then there has been increased anti Palestinian activities in the West Bank too.

But even if Hamas did want this, that doesn't justify the 25k deaths of women and children or the lack of aid.

I suspect the Israeli aim now is to drive the Gazans into Egypt, failing that, to make the Gaza Strip a lot smaller.

Of course Hamas should release anyone still alive but they won't.

Hmm, seems you can post well for someone who's mind is 'blown'.

We can do something about the first but not the second. Neither can we do anything about the genocide in Yemen or Darfur.

I work on the principle of not fighting battles I can't win - I get more sleep that way.

BTW don't buy a Schaeffer pen, they were invented by a Jewish jeweller
The consumer boycotts are to do with Israeli products not Jewish, but you know that you are just being goady and trying to suggest boycotting Israeli goods is antisemitic

@Dulra ,

I don’t think that boycotting Israeli products is antisemitic but the comment about Jewish Schaefer pens is, and I have reported it.

I think OP should at least be warned if not banned over blatant anti semitism. The least she should do is apologise.

Maybe google the phrase if you don't understand it.

Who's "we"? If you're talking about the government then absolutely they could do something about the genocide if they gave a shit.

You can put your head in the sand and choose apathy about this. As an activist I know that activism can change things so I'll continue to do what I do. I'd imagine if you are in any way supportive of what Israel is doing you have to do all you can to help yourself sleep.

@ConnieCounter imho Govts and populations will look back on what we have collectively allowed to happen in Gaza with absolute shame.

It will also be seen as a trigger point for even worse violence against Israel, as groups even more vile than Hamas are formed.

It is possible to feel appalled at the suffering in Gaza but also feel concerned that the protests in this country might increase tension and division in our communities here.
It’s also an acceptable position to focus one’s efforts on issues close to home.
I don’t agree with your comment “If you're talking about the government then absolutely they could do something about the genocide if they gave a shit.”

I work on the principle of not fighting battles I can't win - I get more sleep that way.
I call this turning a blind eye, but whatever.
I also find it quite ironic that the posters who are so very annoyed by the marches, seem to disregard the simple fact that every right they have, in this country, has been achieved by protesting: women right to vote, paid holidays and so on.
If protesting didn't work, us French wouldn't be doing it, would we?

Military experts don't seem to agree that this is what Hamas wanted, the IDF response seems to have been way beyond what Hamas expected, then there has been increased anti Palestinian activities in the West Bank too.

Hamas are idiots then. It should have been obvious to them that Israel would not leave them in administrative control of Gaza after what they did (I say administrative control as I appreciate you can't destroy an ideology militarily). It was entirely clear to me on 7 October when the images and footage started appearing on my X feed what was going to happen. But no, they and their supporters were happily celebrating in Gaza and then acted shocked when Israel retaliated.

Indeed.

Hezbollah have form for this too, they attacked and IDF responded with overwhelming force, which why they haven't launched such attacks again.

However, none of this justifies Israel and the seemingly indiscriminate attacks on civilians, which is just seen as Collateral Damage as one poster recently put it.

VP Harris is now calling for an immediate cease fire, no conditions attached & increase aid.

What is increasing tensions is a Govt and opposition that support Israel 100% against the wishes of the vast majority of the population.

@Yellowducksandrakes I don’t know why you’re posting here if you aren’t interested in fighting any battles you can’t win, because the public and many governments around the world can see how unjust the Israeli response has been.

In the age of social media it’s more difficult to convince people that genocide is Ok, and no not because of unverified posts, because everybody, including journalists and reputable media outlets, have more insight into what is going on.

Even with the steps taken by the Israeli government to stop information coming out, by banning international journalists and killing Palestinian ones, the world can see what is happening here.

So go get some sleep and stop fighting this battle you won’t win.

@Limesodaagain It’s also an acceptable position to focus one’s efforts on issues close to home.
Who ever said it wasn't?