Devendra Kumar
Turkey has joined the global chorus of condemnation against Israel’s brutal response to Palestinians waiting for aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip. The recent carnage has resulted in the deaths of at least 115 Palestinians and injured over 750, with the majority of the wounded bearing witness to the heavy gunfire from Israeli troops. The head of Al-Awda Hospital, Dr. Mohammed Salha, testified that an astonishing 80% of the wounded had been struck by gunfire, highlighting the disproportionate use of force by Israeli forces.
The chaos was triggered by a stampede of people attempting to retrieve goods from an aid convoy, resulting in a devastating crush that claimed many lives due to trampling. However, witnesses maintained that Israeli troops were responsible for the majority of the violence, further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The event has only added to the mounting suffering of the Palestinian people, with over 30,000 killed since the start of the conflict.
The Turkey foreign ministry issued a statement accusing Israel of employing starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, a clear breach of humanitarian law. The ministry’s condemnation echoed the sentiments of many international leaders and organizations, including the European Union, which has announced it will provide 50 million euros to the main UN provider of aid in Gaza, the UNRWA agency. This commitment comes after UNRWA agreed to allow EU-appointed experts to audit its screening process to identify extremists.
The agreement to provide funding is a crucial lifeline for the UNRWA agency, which is on the verge of financial collapse. The agency has been reeling from allegations that some of its staff participated in the October 7 Hamas attacks, leading to the suspension of funding from over a dozen countries worth around 450 million dollars. The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, had initially planned to disburse 82 million euros to UNRWA but wanted the agency to agree to an audit before doing so.
In a statement, US President Joe Biden acknowledged that the loss of life would complicate efforts to broker a ceasefire, underscoring the urgent need for diplomatic intervention in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing crisis has created a devastating humanitarian catastrophe, with a severe lack of aid entering the area, leaving thousands of Palestinians struggling to survive. As the situation continues to deteriorate, it is imperative that international leaders and organizations work together to address the root causes of the conflict and provide humanitarian aid to those in need.