Criminally complicit and sadistically cruel face of evil:-
US pressing Israel for answers on deaths at northern Gaza aid site, State Department says
From CNN's Michael Conte and Jennifer Hansler
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller speaks at a press conference July 18, 2023, in Washington, DC. Nathan Howard/AP/File
The US State Department expressed condolences for those
killed and injured at an aid site in northern Gaza on Thursday, and said officials are pressing Israel for answers as they conduct an investigation.
"Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed over the course of this conflict, not just today, but over the past nearly five months," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing. "We have been in touch with the Israeli government since early this morning and understand that an investigation is underway."
Miller said the US is aware of
"conflicting reports" about what happened and would only say the US knows that a commercial convoy not associated with the UN was delivering the aid.
A screengrab captured from an IDF video shows Palestinians surrounding humanitarian aid trucks in Gaza City on February 29. IDF
Miller also noted that
aerial footage of the tragedy shows just "how desperate the situation on the ground is," Miller said. He called for Israel to "allow the entry of more assistance into Gaza, through as many points of access as possible, and to enable safe and secure distribution of that aid throughout Gaza."
Miller also said the deaths indicated how necessary it is to reach "a potential temporary ceasefire as part of a hostage deal" to allow more aid in. He said the US continues that work "day and night" through calls between US President Joe Biden and leaders in Egypt and Qatar.
Remember: At least 104 people were killed, and at least 760 were injured, when Israel Defense Forces troops used live fire as hungry and desperate Palestinian civilians were gathering around food aid trucks, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.
Here's what we know so far.
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