The Israeli military acknowledged yesterday that Palestinian civilians were harmed at aid distribution centres in the Gaza Strip, saying that Israeli forces had been issued new instructions following what it called ‘lessons learned’.
Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited UN deliveries to resume, the United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed while seeking handouts of aid.
“Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned,” the Israeli military spokesperson said.
The statement said incidents in which Gaza civilians were harmed were under review.
It followed a Friday report in the newspaper Haaretz that Israel’s Military Advocate General had ordered an investigation into possible war crimes over allegations that Israeli forces deliberately fired at Palestinian civilians near the sites.
A senior UN official said the majority of people killed were trying to reach aid distribution sites of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
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