President Biden is expected to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza later this afternoon at the White House. This follows a tragic incident where hundreds of civilians were caught in a barrage of gunfire around a convoy of aid trucks in Gaza City, reportedly resulting in over 100 deaths. The exact death toll remains unconfirmed, but the outrage over the incident is mounting, prompting calls for an independent inquiry.
The incident has the potential to impact the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, which were showing signs of progress. President Biden and senior Hamas members have expressed concerns that the negotiations could be complicated by recent events. Calls for investigations have been made by the French and German foreign ministers, as well as the United States.
The conflicting reports surrounding the events leading up to the gunfire have raised questions about why Israeli troops opened fire. The Israeli military claims it was in response to threatening behavior by individuals approaching their forces. The situation has highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, particularly in northern Gaza, where aid deliveries have decreased while the need has grown.
The World Food Program has warned that over half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine. Tragically, reports of children dying from dehydration and malnutrition are increasing, with four more children in northern Gaza reported to have died from these causes today, bringing the total to 10 in the past week alone.
