Canada says Gaza aid crowd crush ‘a nightmare,’ calls to end fighting

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says the deaths of dozens of people waiting for an aid convoy in Gaza was “a nightmare” and called for an end to fighting in the enclave.

“When it comes to what happened in Gaza today… I must say I think this is a nightmare,” Joly told reporters in Ottawa. “We need to make sure that international aid is sent into Gaza and that people are protected when they go and get that aid.”

Hamas health authorities blamed Israel for the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians whom they claimed were shot by Israeli forces. Israel challenged the death toll and said many of the victims were run over by aid trucks.

The military said most of the casualties were caused by a stampede and being run over by the supply vehicles. Gunmen also opened fire in the area as they looted the supplies.

The army said it did not fire at the crowd rushing the main aid convoy. It acknowledged that troops opened fire on several Gazans who moved toward soldiers and a tank at an IDF checkpoint, endangering soldiers, after they had rushed the last truck in the convoy further south.