RAMALLAH, Friday, March 1, 2024 (WAFA) – The Israeli occupation is facing increasing global condemnation following the massacre its forces perpetrated yesterday against hundreds of starving Palestinians who were waiting for desperately needed aid southwest of Gaza City.
China and Turkey, joining Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, denounced the Israeli occupation forces for firing on civilians seeking aid, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry labeling the massacre “yet another crime against humanity.” Germany has called for an independent investigation into the tragedy.
France:
France’s Foreign Ministry deemed the actions of Israeli soldiers targeting civilians seeking access to food “unjustifiable.” President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “strongest condemnation” and called for an independent inquiry into the killings.
“Deep indignation at the images coming from Gaza where civilians have been targeted by Israeli soldiers,” he said on social media platform X.
“I express my strongest condemnation of these shootings and call for truth, justice, and respect for international law.”
Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne emphasized the importance of addressing atrocities without double standards.
Turkiye:
Turkiye accused Israel of committing another crime against humanity, condemning the Israeli occupation forces for pushing Gazans toward “famine” as they struggle to find dwindling supplies of food amid a crippling blockade imposed on northern Gaza.
“Israel has added another crime to its crimes against humanity,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
“The fact that Israel, which has condemned Gazans to famine, this time targets innocent civilians in a queue for humanitarian aid, is evidence that (Israel) aims consciously and collectively to destroy the Palestinian people”, it added.
Qatar:
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the “heinous massacre” and urged “urgent international action” to halt the fighting in Gaza. It called on the international community to intervene and address Israel’s war crimes in the war-torn region.
The ministry stressed that “the continuation of the occupation’s brutal crimes as part of its brutal war on Gaza Strip, proves day after day the pressing need for urgent international action to immediately end this unprecedented aggression in recent history.”
“This should be in preparation for addressing the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Strip, threatening of a real famine in northern Gaza as a result of the siege, bombing, and failure,” it added.
Germany:
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has urged Israel to conduct a thorough investigation into the killings, stating that the Israeli army must fully investigate how the mass panic and shooting could have occurred. Baerbock also called for a “humanitarian ceasefire.”
“People risk their lives fighting over food parcels dropped from the air because not enough trucks are coming into Gaza. Children collect weeds to give their siblings something to eat. Babies are dying of dehydration and malnutrition in barely functioning hospitals,” Baerbock said in a statement.
China:
China strongly condemned the killing of scores of Palestinians during the aid delivery, expressing shock and grief for the victims. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that China strongly condemns the Israeli assault, urging a swift resolution to the ongoing aggression.
