A dark cloud of betrayal hangs over Israel today. In the early morning hours of February 29th, 2024, Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of desperate Palestinians gathering to receive much-needed food aid in Gaza City, killing at least 112 and injuring over 750 more. As more details emerge, Israel’s official account of events continues to shift and unravel, painting a damning picture of calculated deception.
The Gaza flour massacre, as it will surely be remembered, adds a bloody chapter to the ongoing feud between Israel and Hamas. It also exposes the ruthlessness of Israeli policy towards the impoverished Gaza Strip. But perhaps most disturbingly, it reveals the extent to which Israeli leaders are willing to manipulate the truth and betray public trust. Uncovering the full story of this tragedy is vital, both for justice and to prevent future atrocities.
The Morning of Bloodshed
In the predawn darkness of February 29th, crowds began gathering along Omar Al-Mukhtar Street near the Nabulsi Roundabout in northern Gaza City. Word had spread that a UN aid convoy loaded with precious flour was coming. Gaza has been suffocating under a crippling blockade since 2007, a measure Israel claims is necessary to contain Hamas. With clean water and food scarce, and unemployment sky-high, aid deliveries are a vital lifeline.
According to survivor testimony, the crowd numbered around 3,000 when the trucks arrived before dawn. Many came prepared with donkey carts to carry away the precious flour. What happened next is fiercely disputed. According to multiple Palestinian witnesses, Israeli tanks quickly opened fire on the gathered crowds as they surged toward the trucks. Al Jazeera reporter Ismail al-Ghoul was at the scene:
“After opening fire, Israeli tanks advanced and ran over many of the dead and injured bodies.”
Panic and chaos erupted. Some tried to flee while others took cover behind walls and cars. When the shooting briefly subsided, many returned to the trucks only to be met with more gunfire. Stuck at the scene, Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud recounted the trauma:
“The more people I spoke to, the clearer it became they felt it was a trap, an ambush.”
By the time the sun rose over Gaza that morning, the streets were stained with blood. Bodies were strewn everywhere, with people using carts, blankets, even doors to carry away the dead and wounded. Inside Shifa Hospital, hallways were overflowing with victims. At least 112 Palestinians died in the attack, including women and children. It was one of the single deadliest episodes since the current conflict erupted last October.
Israel Rewrites the Narrative
As the world reacted in horror, Israel moved quickly to redirect blame. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) admitted troops had fired on the crowd but claimed they felt threatened by a stampede of Palestinians surging dangerously close. They described it as an act of self-defense.
According to the original IDF statement:
“Hundreds of rioters amassed in a crowded manner near the crossing point and tried to forcibly cross the security fence into Israel…IDF troops were forced to respond with riot dispersal means.”
But eyewitness accounts disputed this version. Instead of a threatening stampede, survivors described a premeditated ambush. Indeed, video footage from the scene does not show crowds closing in on Israeli troops. Rather it shows two tanks approaching the gathering before opening fire.
As condemnation mounted, Israel continued massaging its narrative. A revised IDF statement acknowledged that Palestinians were waiting for aid trucks, not trying to breach the border. However, it still claimed troops felt threatened by the size of the crowd. The flour delivery was also now described as a humanitarian operation overseen by the IDF.
But this version also quickly unraveled. For starters, the aid was organized by the UN, not the IDF. Second, why were tanks needed to oversee a peaceful aid delivery? And how could unarmed crowds waiting for food be perceived as so threatening?
Most damning of all, newly published IDF protocols show that senior commanders ordered troops to hold their fire that morning. According to the deputy brigade commander Maj. Baruch Sabagh:
“I emphasize again, do not shoot. Even if there is unrest and throwing stones, do not shoot.”
This order was ignored in Gaza, exposing discrepancies between the truth and official explanations.
The Dangers of Impunity
The Gaza flour massacre joins a long list of violent incidents in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where initial IDF accounts were later proven false. In many cases, no one is held accountable for the killing of civilians and children. Human rights groups accuse the IDF of fostering a culture of impunity regarding such incidents.
Unfortunately, Israel’s staunch defense of its troops also fans the flames of extremism. Each violent episode leads to more anger and hostility. Without justice and accountability, real security remains elusive.
The people of Gaza burying their dead or nursing injured relatives today will not soon forget this betrayal. Nor will innocent Israelis seeking peace and security at home. The path forward is clear:
First, there must be an independent investigation of the flour massacre, free from IDF interference. All facts, documents, and eyewitness accounts must see the light of day.
Next, violations of IDF protocols must be identified and responsible parties held accountable. Justice demands it. Only when troops in the field know they will face consequences for unlawful actions will restraint be exercised.
Finally, the people of Gaza urgently need humanitarian relief. Food, water, medicine and other basics must flow freely again. Anything less betrays our shared humanity.
Israel professes that it seeks only to defend its people. Hamas claims its actions further Palestinian liberation. But civilians always suffer most amid dueling narratives of security and resistance.
True peace begins by rejecting cynical war-making that brings neither. Leaders exploiting fears and hatreds to cling to power must be rebuked. Moral clarity demands we distinguish between legitimate defense and violent betrayal.
The blood-stained streets of Gaza weigh heavy on our shared conscience today. But out of darkness, light can emerge. Choosing understanding over fear remains our most potent weapon against violence. The lives lost on February 29th cry out for it.
