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Five killed in Gaza aid delivery chaos on Saturday – medics

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Five people were killed and dozens more injured during an aid delivery in Gaza on Saturday, according to the Red Crescent. (Said Khatib/AFP)
Five people were killed and dozens more injured during an aid delivery in Gaza on Saturday, according to the Red Crescent. (Said Khatib/AFP)
  • The Red Crescent said five people were killed during an aid delivery in Gaza on Saturday.
  • The incident took place after thousands of people gathered to wait for about 15 trucks of flour and other food.
  • The Red Crescent said three of the five people killed on Saturday had been shot dead.


The Palestine Red Crescent said five people were killed and dozens wounded by gunfire and a stampede during an aid delivery Saturday in Gaza, where famine is looming.

AFP video footage shows a convoy of trucks moving quickly past burning debris near the distribution point in the pre-dawn darkness as people shout and gunfire echoes - some of which were warning shots, witnesses said.

The Red Crescent said it happened after thousands of people gathered for the arrival of around 15 trucks of flour and other food, which were supposed to be handed out at Gaza City's Kuwait roundabout in the territory's north.

The roundabout has been the scene of several chaotic and deadly aid distribution incidents, including one on 23 March in which the Hamas-run government said 21 people were killed by Israeli fire - a charge Israel denied.

The Red Crescent said three of the five killed early Saturday had been shot.

Eyewitnesses told AFP that Gazans overseeing the aid delivery shot in the air, but Israeli troops in the area also opened fire and some moving trucks hit people trying to get the food.

AFP contacted the Israeli military for comment.

A UN-backed report warned on 19 March that half of Gazans are experiencing "catastrophic" hunger, with famine projected to hit the north of the territory unless there is urgent intervention.

The report estimated that 1.1 million people - half the population, according to UN data - were facing catastrophic conditions.

The situation is particularly dire in the north of Gaza, where the United Nations says there are about 300 000 people - and where the report said famine was "imminent... projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May".

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