Live Updates: Top EU chiefs 'shocked', 'deeply disturbed' by aid convoy attack

Friday, March 1, 2024

12:15 GMT — The EU's two top chiefs have said they are "shocked" and "deeply disturbed" by the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians after Israeli troops opened fire during an aid delivery, and demanded an investigation.

"Shocked and repulsed by yesterday's killing of innocent civilians in Gaza while desperately waiting for humanitarian aid," European Council President Charles Michel posted on X.

"An independent investigation should be launched immediately and those responsible held accountable," he said.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was "deeply disturbed by images from Gaza" and added that "every effort must be made to investigate what happened."

Palestinian authorities in Gaza say at least 112 Palestinians were killed on Thursday after Israeli troops opened fire during an aid delivery.

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12:52 GMT — Ceasefire reached before Ramadan 'imperative': Egypt

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed that a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian resistance factions should be reached before the holy month of Ramadan.

"It is imperative to reach a ceasefire before Ramadan for the safety of the Palestinian people," the minister told Anadolu during his first participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye.

He stressed that "it would be unacceptable that military activities continue" during the holy month of Ramadan due to "the impact it will have not only on the civilian Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank but generally."

12:45 GMT — EU to release $54M for UN agency for Palestinian refugees next week

The European Commission announced that it will "proceed to paying" €50 million ($54.1 million) to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) next week.

The second and third tranches of €16 million will be released later, a commission statement said.

"Beyond its support to UNRWA, the Commission remains fully committed to addressing the humanitarian plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza but also more widely in the region," it said, adding: "For this purpose, it will allocate an additional €68 million for in 2024."

12:35 GMT — Palestinian factions say working to achieve comprehensive unity including all forces

The Palestinian factions said they would continue to work to achieve "comprehensive national unity" that includes all forces and factions in the country.

"The Palestinian factions agreed to continue upcoming rounds of dialogue to reach a comprehensive national unity that includes all Palestinian forces and factions within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," the Palestinian factions said in a statement following the conclusion of meetings held over two days in the Russian capital Moscow.

Factions expressed their agreement to "confront the criminal Israeli aggression and genocidal war against our people in Gaza and to thwart attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their homeland."

12:29 GMT — Israeli minister calls for 'wiping out' month of Ramadan

Extremist Israeli minister called to "wipe out" the month of Ramadan and disregard the tension in the occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the holy month.

"The so-called month of Ramadan must be wiped out, and our fear of this month must also be wiped out," Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu told Army Radio.

The far-right politician is a minister from the Otzma Yehudit party headed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Earlier in November last year, Eliyahu said dropping a "nuclear bomb" on Gaza is "an option."

11:05 GMT — Germany demands 'full investigation' into Gaza aid convoy killings

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has asked Israel to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of more than 100 Palestinians during an aid delivery in Gaza.

"The Israeli army must fully investigate how the mass panic and shooting could have happened," Baerbock wrote on X, formerly Twitter, also calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire".

10:58 GMT — Palestinian death toll hits 30,228 in Israel’s Gaza war

At least 193 Palestinians were killed and 920 others were injured in the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on besieged Gaza, the territory's Health Ministry has said.

“Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” the statement said.

Flouting the International Court of Justice’s provisional ruling, Israel continues its onslaught on Gaza where at least 30,228 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 71,377 injured since October 7, according to Palestinian health authorities.

10:44 GMT — EU chief 'deeply disturbed' by Gaza aid convoy killings

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has declared herself "deeply disturbed by images from Gaza," where authorities in Gaza say 112 Palestinians were killed after Israeli troops opened fire during an aid delivery.

"Every effort must be made to investigate what happened and ensure transparency," the European Commission president posted on X.

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell earlier denounced the incident as a "carnage."

10:28 GMT — Palestinian factions agreed to continue unification talks in Moscow

Palestinian factions meeting in Moscow agreed to continue talks to achieve comprehensive national unity, Russian state news agency RIA has reported, citing a joint statement.

10:43 GMT — EU to delay part of $88.5M payment to UNRWA

The European Commission will give the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) only part of a planned $88.56 million payment now due to concerns raised by Israeli accusations that 12 staff were involved in the October 7 attack on Israel, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters.

Hours later EU Commission issued a statement increasing emergency support to Palestinians by $73.5 million.

08:16 GMT — Spain calls for 'urgent ceasefire' after Israel's attacked Palestinians

Israel's killing of more than 100 Palestinians and injuring over 700 others waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza show the "urgency of ceasefire," the Spanish foreign minister has said.

"The unacceptability of what happened in Gaza, with dozens of Palestinian civilians killed while waiting for food, underlines the urgency of the ceasefire," Jose Manuel Albares said on X late Thursday.

"Humanitarian aid must be able to enter without hindrance," Albares said, and urged: "Compliance with international humanitarian law is mandatory."

08:12 GMT — France wants independent probe over Israel's aid attack

France's foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, has stated that the country is calling for an independent inquiry into the killing of numerous Palestinians during an aid delivery in northern Gaza.

"We will seek explanations, and there must be an independent probe to ascertain what transpired," Sejourne expressed to the France Inter broadcaster.

This comes in response to an incident where Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinians who were scrambling for food aid.

07:15 GMT — China 'condemns' Israel's mass murder on Palestinian food-line

China has said it "strongly condemns" the killing of scores of Palestinians during an aid delivery in northern Gaza.

"China is shocked by this incident and strongly condemns it," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

"We express our grief for the victims and our sympathies for the injured."

"China urges the relevant parties, especially Israel, to ceasefire and end the fighting immediately, earnestly protect civilians' safety, ensure that humanitarian aid can enter, and avoid an even more serious humanitarian disaster," Mao said.

5:30 GMT — Dozens of 112 Palestinians killed by Israel 'shot in head'

The Palestinian ambassador to the UN has accused Israel of "deliberately and systematically" targeting a humanitarian convoy, saying according to his information, dozens of the 112 Palestinians killed were shot in the head.

Riyad Mansour told reporters ahead of a closed emergency meeting of the UN Security Council afternoon that according to his information, every few days, trucks with humanitarian supplies, including flour, sugar and other basic necessities, travelled to the same place in northern Gaza to give desperately needed help to Palestinians in need.

He said the trucks did the same thing earlier on Thursday, and thousands of Palestinians were there.

04:45 GMT — EU slams Israel's 'carnage' that left 112 Palestinians dead

European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has denounced Israel's killing of 112 Palestinians during an aid delivery in northern besieged Gaza, calling the deaths "totally unacceptable".

"I am horrified by news of yet another carnage among civilians in Gaza desperate for humanitarian aid," he said on social media platform X.

"These deaths are totally unacceptable." Israel's firing and shelling, according to witnesses and medics, also wounded 760 besieged and starving Palestinians.

04:00 GMT — Macron calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Friday and said the situation in Gaza is "terrible".

"Deep indignation at the images coming from Gaza where civilians have been targeted by Israeli soldiers. I express my strongest condemnation of these shootings and call for truth, justice, and respect for international law," Macron said in a post on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

03:21 GMT — Colombia suspends Israel arms purchases after carnage

Accusing Israel of "genocide" in besieged Gaza, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has suspended Israeli weapons purchases after dozens of people died in a scramble for food aid in the tiny Palestinian enclave.

Petro made his announcement after Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians scrambling for food aid in a chaotic melee that the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said killed some 112 people.

"Asking for food, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. This is called genocide and recalls the Holocaust," Petro wrote on X.

03:00 GMT — Media outlets call for protection of Gaza journalists

More than 30 news organisations have signed an open letter expressing solidarity with journalists working in besieged Gaza, calling for their protection and freedom to report.

The letter, coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists, was signed by AFP, AP and Reuters news agencies, as well as other media outlets, including BBC News, Israel's Haaretz, Nawaiwaqt Group of Pakistan, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and others.

"For nearly five months, journalists and media workers in Gaza — overwhelmingly, the sole source of on-the-ground reporting from within the Palestinian territory — have been working in unprecedented conditions," the letter said.

For our live updates from Thursday, February 29, click here.