GAZA - The latest Israeli attack targeting Palestinian civilians last night once again sparked outrage and strong condemnation from the world.
The direct firing by Israeli forces at a gathering of civilians desperate for humanitarian aid resulted in over 100 fatalities and hundreds more injured, according to WAFA.
Secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres, condemned the action targeting Palestinian civilians during the delivery of aid in northern Gaza.
His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, describing the incident as "horrific," stated that the desperate civilians in Gaza need immediate aid, including those besieged in the north who have been inaccessible by the UN for over a week.
He added that Guterres also expressed his concern over the tragic loss of lives due to the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip, while repeating the call for an immediate ceasefire.
The Arab Parliament also condemned the mass killing, stating it as a "cruel and horrifying aim" carried out by Israel against Palestinian civilians.
In its statement quoted by WAFA, the Arab Parliament condemned the international community's silence on Israel's atrocities and the failure to hold the regime accountable for its crimes against Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
"It is clearly shameful and immoral," read the statement, emphasising that it is a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.
It also called on international, regional, and European parliaments to pressure their governments to immediately defend the Palestinian people undergoing the most heinous crimes, besides bringing Israel to trial at the International Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the stance of Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who praised his soldiers' actions in carrying out mass killings on Al-Rashid Street in Gaza.
"It is a clear signal to the intent and official policy of Israel to eliminate the Palestinian people and openly opposes the International Court of Justice, in addition to insulting the international stance and demands to protect civilians," according to WAFA.
Egypt regarded Israel's action as disgraceful and a disregard for humanitarian values and the sanctity of life.
It reaffirmed its strong position demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the need to remove all barriers to the flow of humanitarian aid to the region.
Egypt also rejected any attempts aimed at displacing Palestinian residents from their original territories.
In Jordan, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Sufyan Al-Qudah reaffirmed the government's absolute rejection of the ongoing Israeli occupation targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip.
He reiterated Jordan's call to the international community "to provide protection for the Palestinian people and to intensify efforts to realise an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as ensuring the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip."
The government of Saudi Arabia shared the same stance, confirming its rejection of Israel's actions which it said clearly violate international humanitarian law.
It also renewed its call to the international community to take a firm stance, obliging Israel to respect international humanitarian law, immediately open safe humanitarian corridors, allow the transfer of injured people, and enable the delivery of humanitarian aid without restrictions.
According to WAFA journalists, Israeli soldiers and tanks stationed on Haroun Al-Rashid Street in the west of Gaza City last night fired at thousands of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people and hundreds more injured.
As of noon yesterday, dozens of martyred bodies and injured were still at the site, and no ambulance access was allowed, according to Palestinian medical sources.
Since the Israeli incursion on Oct 7, 2023, 31 of 36 hospitals as well as 152 health institutions targeted have been unable to operate due to bombing, destruction, and lack of medical supplies, fuel, and electricity.
Israel continues to block humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip, especially to the northern region, while the aid reaching the southern part of the Strip is insufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population, particularly in Rafah, which is considered the last refuge.
Rafah, covering an area of about 65 square kilometres, is now home to over 1.3 million Palestinian people, the majority of whom live in tents made of plastic and fabric without basic facilities and the minimum necessities for survival. - BERNAMA