Horror Gaza vid shows ‘huge CRUSH during aid truck looting that left 104 dead’…as Palestinians say Israel ‘opened fire’

DOZENS of Palestinian civilians have died after being crushed by humanitarian aid trucks entering northern Gaza, Israel claims.

Israel Defence Forces say the residents surrounded the trucks and looted supplies before they were run over.

But Gaza health authorities said the victims were shot dead by Israeli forces as they waited for an aid delivery on Thursday.

Chilling black and white aerial footage appears to show huge numbers of people running toward the convoy of trucks, ostensibly clambering over each other to get to what was inside.

Officials estimate at least 104 people were killed and more than 280 wounded in the tragedy near Gaza City.

The IDF's chief military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said troops started firing warning shots because they felt endangered.

He said: "We didn't open fire on those seeking aid. Contrary to the accusations, we didn't open fire on a humanitarian aid convoy, not from the air and not from land.

"We secured it so it could reach northern Gaza."

An Israeli government spokesperson initially said victims died when aid trucks driven by Palestinians ploughed into swarming crowds.

However, later today, an Israeli military official alleged the victims died in two separate incidents as a convoy of trucks passed into northern Gaza from the south using the main coastal road.

He said the first incident unfolded when aid trucks were surrounded by hundreds of people, and dozens were injured or killed in the confusion, either by being trampled or run over by the trucks.

The second incident was said to have taken place hundreds of yards north of the stampede near the north-south checkpoint crossing.

After the lorries had passed on the coastal road, people "posing a threat" allegedly approached Israeli forces - which then opened fire.

The official told a news briefing: "The soldiers fired warning shots in the air and then fired towards those who posed a threat and did not move away.

"From our perspective, this is what we understand. We're continuing to review the circumstances."

He rejected the death toll figures provided by Palestinian authorities, stating: "I don't have any figures, it was a limited response."

Earlier today Joe Biden said the US was still trying to determine what happened.

Gaza's health ministry has dismissed Israel's version of events.

Spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra said the latest comments by the Israeli military indicated that Israel "had pre-plotted intentions to carry out the new crime and massacre" and suggested the death toll could rise.

Hamas, which has run the Gaza Strip since 2007, said the events of today could jeopardise talks in Qatar and hoped to secure both a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages being held by militants.

The White House is also looking into reports of Israeli fire and described what unfolded today as a "serious incident".

A White House National Security Council spokesman said: "We mourn the loss of innocent life and recognise the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where innocent Palestinians are just trying to feed their families.

"This underscores the importance of expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including through a potential temporary ceasefire."

Israel launched its operations in Gaza following an attack by the terror group on southern Israel on October 7, when militants killed 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage.

A month-long pause in fighting has been mooted amid growing fears that only a few dozen hostages may be left to save.

At least 30 of the remaining 130 hostages have been confirmed dead but many more may have perished in appalling conditions in Hamas’ terror tunnel network.

Israel's prime minister is demanding "proof-of-life" to gauge the numbers of captive survivors.