Israel commits massacre in popular market in central Gaza, leaving 17 martyrs
GAZA, June 26 (YPA) – Seventeen citizens were killed,, on Thursday afternoon, in a new massacre when Israeli drones bombed a popular market in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Local sources reported that the occupation forces committed a new massacre after they bombed a group of citizens near the al-Baraka junction in the city of Deir al-Balah with drones, killing 17 citizens and wounding others.
The sources explained that the citizens were gathered at a flour distribution site near the crowded al-Baraka junction, which is usually a crowded market, noting that the bombing occurred during a security campaign carried out by the Palestinian police against flour vendors to force them to sell flour to citizens at reduced prices.
According to an eyewitness, the police forced merchants to sell a kilo of flour for ten shekels instead of 35 shekels and punished, on the ground, any merchant who stole or sold at prices beyond what citizens could afford to feed their children.
This comes after the success of popular committees and Palestinian clans, yesterday, in securing the entry of dozens of trucks loaded with medical aid and food supplies into the Gaza Strip through the Zikim area in the north of the Strip, and the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south.
This was the first operation of its kind after months of theft and looting of trucks by armed groups, some of which accuse Palestinians of having links to Israel.
International relief organizations began distributing 100 bags of flour on Thursday, which arrived at warehouses and distribution centers run by international organizations in Gaza.
Following this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz decided to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid into the northern Gaza Strip, claiming that Hamas had taken control of it, and he demanded that the Israeli army develop a plan to prevent this, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to resign if the matter was not resolved.
Local sources confirmed that armed gangs, protected by Israeli drones, seized 70 aid trucks on their way to the southern Gaza Strip, pointing out that the tribes provided the aid but were unable to ensure its delivery to the residents after gunmen attacked them in areas under the control of the occupation forces east of Khan Yunis.
Israeli press reports in recent days, including one in Yedioth Ahronoth, claimed that the Israeli army has no control or ability to verify whether unarmed Hamas members arrive at four distribution centers daily to collect food for themselves.
Several groups, especially from the extreme right, both official and unofficial, continue to incite against the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.