Shooting attack against Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip

The Brazilian government has learned, with deep dismay, of the gunfire by Israeli forces yesterday in the northern Gaza Strip, where Palestinians were waiting to receive humanitarian aid. On this occasion, more than 100 people were killed and over 750 were injured by gunfire, trampled or run over.

The crowds around the trucks transporting humanitarian aid demonstrate the desperate situation faced by the civilian population of Gaza and the difficulties in obtaining food in the territory.

This is an intolerable situation that goes far beyond the need to hold those accountable for yesterday's deaths and injuries.

UN authorities and experts in humanitarian aid and health assistance from various organizations and entities have been denouncing for months the systematic detention of trucks at the borders with Gaza and the growing situation of hunger, thirst and despair among the civilian population. Nevertheless, the international community's inaction in the face of this humanitarian tragedy continues to serve as tacit encouragement for the Netanyahu government to continue targeting innocent civilians and ignoring basic rules of international humanitarian law. Cynical and offensive statements to the victims of the incident, made hours later by a high authority of the Netanyahu government, should be the last straw for anyone who truly believes in the value of human life.

The Netanyahu government once again shows, through actions and statements, that military action in Gaza has no ethical or legal limits. It is up to the international community to put an end to this - and then to prevent further atrocities. With each day of hesitation, more innocents will die. Humanity is failing the civilians of Gaza. And it is time to prevent further massacres.

In expressing its solidarity with the Palestinian people, especially the families of the victims, Brazil reaffirms its firm rejection of any and all military action against civilian targets, especially those linked to the provision of humanitarian aid and medical assistance.

Today's massacre adds to the more than 30,000 deaths of Palestinian civilians, including over 12,000 children, recorded since the beginning of the conflict, in addition to the more than 1.7 million Palestinians who are victims of forced displacement. Brazil reiterates the urgent need for a ceasefire and the effective entry of adequate humanitarian aid into Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages.

The Brazilian government recalls the obligation to implement the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice on January 26 of this year, which demand that Israel take all measures within its reach to prevent the practice of all acts considered as genocide, in accordance with Article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.