On Thursday, the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health claimed that at least 20 Palestinians were killed and over 150 injured by Israeli forces as crowds gathered to receive humanitarian aid in Gaza City.
Al Jazeera reported that witnesses said “Israeli forces had used helicopters, tanks and drones to target thousands of people waiting on food trucks.”
In a Facebook post, Hamas accused Israel of having “hidden intentions” to “commit a new, horrible massacre.”
Even U.S. lawmakers chimed in.
Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois posted, “Palestinians are starving and waiting in agony for help. Once again, instead of receiving humanitarian aid, they are being met with bombs and bullets. ENOUGH!”
Palestinians are starving and waiting in agony for help. Once again, instead of receiving humanitarian aid, they are being met with bombs and bullets. ENOUGH! #CEASEFIRENOW
CNN: At least 20 people killed, dozens wounded in shelling while waiting for food aid, Gaza health…
— Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (@repdeliaramirez) March 15, 2024
But, as has so often happened during the war between Israel and Hamas, another story emerged to counter the propaganda.
The Israel Defense Forces stated on Friday that after a “preliminary review,” it concluded Israeli soldiers “did not open fire at the aid convoy.”
While the IDF continues its humanitarian effort to supply food and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, Hamas terrorists continue to harm Gazan civilians who are seeking food and blame Israel for it.
This past Thursday, the IDF facilitated the passage of 31 humanitarian aid…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 15, 2024
“This past Thursday, the IDF facilitated the passage of 31 humanitarian aid trucks for civilians in northern Gaza,” the IDF said.
“Approximately one hour before the arrival of the convoy to the humanitarian corridor, armed Palestinians opened fire while Gazan civilians were awaiting the arrival of the aid convoy.”
The Israeli military released aerial footage purportedly showing the Palestinian gunmen shooting into the crowd.
🔴 EXCLUSIVE: Palestinian gunmen opening fire while Gazan civilians awaited the arrival of the humanitarian aid convoy.
We emphasize that there was no opening of fire by IDF forces at the aid convoy in Kuwait Square. pic.twitter.com/z3apVospv8
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 15, 2024
The IDF also said that the gunmen continued shooting as the aid trucks entered the corridor and “the crowd of Gazans began looting the trucks.” Amid the chaos, the IDF said several civilians were run over by the trucks.
According to The Times of Israel, the IDF accused Hamas of conducting a “smear campaign” against Israel with the aim of “instigating violence in other arenas.”
This is not the first or even the second time Israeli forces have been hastily blamed for an attack on Palestinian civilians.
Last month, Hamas claimed over 100 Palestinians were killed by IDF soldiers near another convoy of trucks bringing aid to the region, Reuters reported.
UN “experts” condemned what they referred to as the “massacre,” accusing Israel of “targeting civilians seeking humanitarian aid and humanitarian convoys.”
But that narrative was refuted by IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, who announced after a review that most of the dead had been killed in a stampede as the crowds thronged toward the aid trucks.
The most well-known of the debunked Israeli attacks, of course, happened just 10 days after the Oct. 7 massacre in which 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists.
A Hamas claim that Israel had bombed a Gazan hospital was immediately reported as fact by journalists and echoed by left-wing politicians, even though it was soon rebutted by Israeli and U.S. sources who said the damage was likely caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket.
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”
The unfortunate victims in this cloud of lies and propaganda are the Palestinians, especially the children.
It’s insane that the West will move heaven and earth to help Ukraine, yet many Westerners and certainly most leftists don’t want to lift a finger to help Israel.
As long as Hamas maintains its grip on Gaza, Palestinian civilians will continue to be exploited as props designed to turn global opinion against Israel. The terrorist group has proved time and again that it is willing to sacrifice the well-being of the very people it claims to represent in exchange for propaganda wins.
As difficult as the conflict has been, removing this malign influence is the only path to genuine peace and security in the region.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
