Gaza rescuers say Israeli forces gunned down 21 Palestinians waiting for aid
GAZA CITY, June 24 — Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed 21 people waiting for aid near a distribution site in the centre of the Palestinian territory on Tuesday, the latest deadly incident targeting aid-seekers.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 21 people were killed and around 150 wounded 'as a result of the Israeli occupation forces' targeting of gatherings of citizens waiting for aid... in the central Gaza Strip with bullets and tank shells' in the early hours of Tuesday.
AFP has contacted the Israeli military for comment on the incident.
Israeli restrictions on media in the Gaza Strip and difficulties in accessing some areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers and authorities in the Palestinian territory.
Bassal added that five people were killed and several injured in an Israeli air strike that targeted a house in Gaza City at dawn.
Thousands of Palestinians have gathered daily in the hope of receiving food rations in Gaza, as famine looms across the territory after more than 20 months of war.
According to figures issued on Saturday by the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, at least 450 people have been killed and nearly 3,500 injured by Israeli fire while seeking aid since late May.
Many of those have been near sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to rescuers.
The privately run foundation's operations in Gaza have been marred by chaotic scenes. UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with it over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
Israel's opposition leader on Tuesday called for an end to the war in Gaza, after Israel announced it had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran.
'And now Gaza. It's time to finish it there too. Bring back the hostages, end the war,' Yair Lapid wrote on X. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Sun
Germany's Merz says ‘moment has come' for Gaza ceasefire
BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday said that 'the moment has come' for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Speaking to parliament, Merz reiterated Germany's support for Israel, which he said 'has a right to defend its existence and the safety of its citizens'. But he added that Germany reserves the right to 'critically question what Israel wants to achieve in the Gaza Strip'. He also said that Germany 'will not consider suspending or terminating' the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which has been under review by the EU as it looks to pressure Israel into allowing more aid into Gaza. However, Merz also called on Israel to ensure 'humane treatment of the people in the Gaza Strip, especially women, children and the elderly'. Merz made the comments amid hopes for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced by US President Donald Trump, even as the two sides accused each other of continuing hostilities and the US president voiced frustration with both. Israel launched strikes against Iran on June 13, hitting nuclear and military sites as well as residential areas, and prompting waves of retaliatory Iranian missile attacks. The United States has also been involved, launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has killed at least 55,908 people, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Malaysian Youth Vital To Global Islamic Discourse
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysian youth are emerging as vital contributors to global Islamic discourse through moderate da'wah, informed advocacy, and ethical cultural diplomacy, said Yemen's Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Adel Mohamed Ali BaHamid. He commended Malaysia as a unique moral voice in international Islamic affairs, citing its firm stance on Palestine, regional diplomatic leadership, and the values embedded in the MADANI framework, adding that the nation's youth are well-positioned to carry this legacy forward. 'They serve as a bridge between the Arab world and Southeast Asia—and indeed the entire world. bootstrap slideshow 'They are the solid foundations of the unity of this beautiful country, they underpin the social harmony of Malaysia itself: a multicultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic society whose strength and beauty lies in its unity. 'Their role is not only nationally significant—it may well be essential for the cohesion of the broader Muslim world,' he wrote in an article titled Muslim Youth and Ethical Diplomacy in an Era of Transformation. Adel Mohamed urged Muslim youth, especially in Malaysia, to move beyond passive consumption of media narratives and emerge as agents of ethical change. He said that the Muslim world today is grappling with crises that are not only geopolitical but fundamentally moral in nature, with communities in Gaza, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen enduring immense suffering due to prolonged conflict, marginalisation, and failed leadership. 'These are not isolated tragedies, but reflections of a deeper crisis in justice, leadership, and unity across the ummah,' he said. Adel Mohamed emphasised that true humanitarian diplomacy must go beyond the delivery of aid and relief and must instead serve to protect dignity, confront injustice, and build ethical frameworks within international relations.
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Iran open to ending conflict if sovereignty respected, Anwar says after call with Pezeshkian
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — Iran is ready to halt military action against Israel if attacks on its own and Palestinian territories stop, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today. Anwar said this after a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who outlined Tehran's conditions for peace amid the escalating conflict. Pezeshkian asked Anwar to convey Iran's stance to other Muslim nations and urged them to 'not be swayed by biased narratives, and to understand the real context of Iran's retaliatory actions.' According to Anwar, Pezeshkian said Iran would respond positively to peace if its sovereignty and that of Palestine were respected. Anwar reiterated Malaysia's strong condemnation of Israeli strikes on Gaza and Iran, which have killed civilians, military commanders, and scientists. He said the attacks went beyond humanitarian norms and international legal standards. Malaysia recognises Iran's right to defend itself, Anwar added, adding that it would be hypocritical for the world to support Israel's military actions while denying Iran the same right. Israel launched surprise strikes on major Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13, which led to retaliatory attacks from Iran. The US intervened on June 22 by bombing the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan Iranian nuclear sites.
