Israeli troops shot and killed two Palestinians on Gaza’s beach, with the military saying that there were warning shots ignored by the men before they were fired upon. The incident was captured in a video broadcasted by Al Jazeera, showing the men being shot at and then seen being pushed into the sand by a bulldozer. The origin and date of the footage remain unknown, but the video follows a pattern of similar clips showing Palestinians being killed in Gaza while posing little threat to Israeli forces. The military contends that the video was edited and depicts two separate incidents in central Gaza.
In response to the beach shootings, the Israeli army stated that the video shows two distinct incidents in different locations in central Gaza, contrary to Al Jazeera’s claim that both shootings occurred close to each other on a beachfront southwest of Gaza City. The video depicts one man walking away before falling to the ground, raising his hands and waving a white flag, while another man is seen approaching forces with a white flag before being out of view. The bodies of the two men are then shown being dragged by an Israeli bulldozer, with the military claiming that this was done out of fear of potential explosives.
The army reported that the men killed had carried bags, although no bags were visible in the video. One man was wounded and later released after questioning. Al Jazeera stated that the men in the footage were trying to return to their homes in northern Gaza, which has seen significant destruction due to the conflict. Palestinians and human rights groups have accused the Israeli military of using disproportionate force in Gaza, resulting in civilian casualties. They claim that military investigations rarely lead to indictments of soldiers involved in such incidents.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has seen over 32,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The war began in October when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people, mostly Israelis, and the kidnapping of around 250 others. Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, citing the militants’ use of civilian areas for their operations. It is unclear whether the beach shootings will be investigated by the Israeli military.
The ongoing violence in Gaza continues to claim lives on both sides, with civilians caught in the crossfire. The international community has condemned the use of excessive force and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The situation remains tense, with no signs of a ceasefire in sight as both sides remain entrenched in their positions. The tragic deaths of the Palestinians on the beach serve as a grim reminder of the toll that the conflict has taken on the people of Gaza and Israel.
