Hamas announced on Telegram the death of 7 Israeli hostages "following a Zionist bombing", making known for now the names of three of the seven: Haim Gershon Perri, Yoram Itach Metzger and Amiram Israel Cooper.
Hamas added that it would release the names of the other four "after having confirmed their identities".
The Islamic faction then said that "the number of enemy prisoners who were killed as a result of the enemy army's military operations in the Strip may exceed seventy."
Meanwhile, the EU condemned the massacre that occurred yesterday in Gaza, where 112 Palestinians died and another 760 were injured, when a crowd rushed towards a food aid convoy.
The two versions are divergent: Hamas claims that the Israeli army opened fire on the people, while Israel recognizes a "limited shot" by the soldiers who felt "threatened".
“Depriving people of humanitarian aid constitutes a serious violation” of international humanitarian law, Borrell said.
"Unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza must be guaranteed," added the head of European diplomacy.
The President of the EU Commission
Ursula von der Leyen
says she is "deeply disturbed by the images coming from Gaza. Every effort must be made to investigate the incident and guarantee transparency. Humanitarian aid is a lifeline for those in need and the "Access to them must be guaranteed. We are at the side of civilians, we urge their protection in line with international law", he writes on X.
"Shocked and disgusted by the killing of innocent civilians. International law does not allow double standards. An independent investigation should be launched immediately and those responsible held accountable. A ceasefire is urgently needed to allow humanitarian aid to be provided by adequately funded specialist agencies like UNRWA to reach civilians".
The President of the European Council
Charles Michel
declared this on X.
Paris calls for "independent investigation"
.
"A ceasefire must be established immediately to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid", writes the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on and respect for international law".
For further information ANSA Agency 'Firing on crowd in Gaza, 112 dead'.
No agreement at the UN on the sentencing text - News - Ansa.it PNA: 'It is a despicable massacre'.
But Israel: 'Most killed by the mob'.
Hamas: 'They were queuing for aid'.
The UN Security Council meets today.
Guterres: 'We need a ceasefire'.
Meloni: 'Deep dismay, ascertain the dynamics of the facts' (ANSA)
The head of European diplomacy
Josep Borrell
also last night on X had denounced "a new carnage" and "totally unacceptable" victims.
“I am horrified by reports of further massacres among Gaza civilians who were desperate for humanitarian aid,” the post read.
“These deaths are completely unacceptable,” the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said, adding: “Depriving people of humanitarian aid constitutes a serious violation” of international humanitarian law.
"Unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza must be guaranteed."
Video Gaza, Israel shows a video of the crowd assaulting aid trucks
Israel last night surprisingly freed around 50 Palestinian detainees
who were arrested after October 7.
The media cite a statement from the Shin Bet (internal security) and the army according to which the decision was reached following overcrowding in prisons.
But the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir wrote on X that in reality those releases were decided by the Shin Bet as a gesture of détente in view of Ramadan.
A move which in his opinion was wrong, he added, having taken place ''on the day in which two Jews were killed in an attack'' in the West Bank.
In the last 10 days, Israeli forces engaged in Gaza have killed ''450 Hamas terrorists''
: this was stated by Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari.
''Since the beginning of the war - he added - we have eliminated over 13 thousand terrorists''.
The spokesperson added that the army has ''dismantled the military structures'' of Hamas's 'Khan Yunis Brigade' (in the south of the Strip) and is completing the work in the nearby districts of Amal and Abassan.
In the north of the Strip, he added, Israeli forces are operating in the Shati refugee camp and in the Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City ''on the basis of new intelligence information''.
Tajani, stop the massacre of Palestinians, release the hostages
"Italy's position yesterday was very clear: we are distressed, worried and condemn any violence against the civilian population, both Israeli and Palestinian. We firmly ask for the release of the hostages and for the massacre of Palestinian civilians to stop. We are in favor of a ceasefire to bring humanitarian aid in quantities that will not cause what happened yesterday" and "we have asked Israel to carry out a rigorous investigation into what happened to ascertain all responsibility".
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said this in a press conference at the Farnesina.
For humanitarian aid "I intend to bring together representatives of organizations such as the Red Cross, FAO, Red Crescent to see that we can coordinate humanitarian initiatives in favor of the Palestinian population" and "continue that action in support of children who can be cared for in our country" , the minister underlined.
In an interview with QN, Tajani had asked to "convince Israel and Hamas to an immediate ceasefire to allow the arrival of humanitarian aid and the release of the hostages".
"We ask the Netanyahu government to ascertain what has happened in these hours and to protect civilians - he continues - At the same time, we plan to help the Palestinians with better coordination of aid to be sent to Gaza by humanitarian organizations: from the Red Cross to the FAO".
The United States blocks the text condemning the massacre in Gaza at the UN
During the night, at the UN Security Council meeting, the United States blocked a statement condemning the massacre of the crowd waiting for aid yesterday in Gaza.
The US, according to diplomatic sources, is opposed to Israel being mentioned but the discussions will continue.
In a text seen by AFP, Algeria presented a draft statement to the Security Council expressing the "deep concern" of its 15 members, underlining the responsibility of "Israeli forces (who) opened fire".
"Fourteen members supported this text," assured Palestine's permanent observer to the UN Riyad Mansour after the meeting.
“The parties are working on the wording to see if we can reach a statement,” Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood said, referring to the possibility of an agreement at a later date.
"The problem is that we don't have all the facts," he added, stating that he wanted to find a wording that would guarantee that "the necessary checks of guilt have been carried out."
The UN Secretary-General said he was "shocked" by these events, which he condemned, and called for an "effective independent investigation" to identify those responsible.
"The humanitarian situation of the civilian population of Gaza is worsening day by day. We are facing an unprecedented catastrophe", commented the French ambassador Nicolas de Rivière.
"It's not the first time I've said it: the Security Council must assume all its responsibilities", he added, once again calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire".
China 'strongly' condemns civilian deaths in Gaza
China said it "strongly condemns" the killing of dozens of Palestinians during an aid delivery in the northern Gaza Strip.
“China is shocked by this incident and strongly condemns it,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
"We express our sorrow for the victims and our solidarity with the injured."
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