International condemnation for Israeli shelling near aid convoy, renewed calls for ceasefire

International condemnation for Israeli shelling near aid convoy, renewed calls for ceasefire

The United Nations, human rights organizations and several countries have strongly condemned the Israeli shelling of Palestinians in Gaza City on Thursday morning. 112 Palestinians who wanted to receive food aid near an aid convoy were killed — according to figures from the local health ministry.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres says he is “shocked” and wants an independent investigation into the precise circumstances of what various parties are calling a “massacre”. He also spoke out against countries within the UN Security Council that have repeatedly blocked an immediate ceasefire resolution. According to him, the veto has become “an effective instrument to paralyze the action of the Security Council.”

On Thursday, Algeria convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. A collective statement drafted in Algiers blaming Israel for the attacks was blocked by the United States. The Israeli army also maintains that the victims died as a result of trampling.

Also read: Israeli shooting of Palestinians at food convoy in Gaza leads to massacre

Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, head of the European Union’s foreign policy, mentions the deaths of the 112 Palestinians who were on food aid to wait “unacceptable”. According to him, depriving civilians of food aid is a “serious violation” of international humanitarian law. Both the United Nations and human rights organizations have in recent weeks blamed Israeli authorities for deliberately obstructing food aid to Gaza, leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in acute famine. “Unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza must be granted,” Borrell said.

Portugal, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Spain and Egypt also spoke out against Thursday’s Israeli violence. Prime Minister Mark Rutte has not yet communicated about the Israeli shelling. French President Emmanuel Macron did speak his “deep indignation” about the attacks, in which “civilians are targeted by Israeli soldiers.” He called for a ceasefire and urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares did so a similar call en said the “unacceptable” Israeli attacks further underlined the urgency of a ceasefire.

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This blog will follow NRC the war in Gaza and the related tensions in the Middle East. You can read our previous blog here.