IDF denies firing at aid convoy as international criticism over "flour massacre" mounts

March 8, 2024 Israel-Hamas war

By Kathleen Magramo, Sana Noor Haq, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Updated 12:07 a.m. ET, March 9, 2024
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5:22 a.m. ET, March 8, 2024

IDF denies firing at aid convoy as international criticism over "flour massacre" mounts

From CNN's Elliott Gotkine and Mia Alberti 

Injured Palestinians receive medical treatment in Al-Shifa Hospital after Israeli forces opened fire at a Gaza City food distribution site on February 29, triggering panic.
Injured Palestinians receive medical treatment in Al-Shifa Hospital after Israeli forces opened fire at a Gaza City food distribution site on February 29, triggering panic. Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu/Getty Images

At least 118 Palestinians were killed after Israeli forces opened fire at a Gaza City food distribution site last week, drawing widespread condemnation.

The Israeli military said Friday that a summary of their initial investigation found its troops did not fire at the humanitarian convoy, but at "a number of suspects" who approached the nearby forces. CNN cannot independently verify the IDF's findings.

A witness told CNN many of the victims were killed when they were run over by trucks in the panic following the gunshots in what has become known as the "flour massacre."

What does the IDF say? The IDF said thousands of Palestinians crowded around the convoy and took the trucks' equipment, during which "incidents of significant harm" occurred to civilians from a stampede and people being run over by trucks. Its troops unleashed "cautionary fire in order to distance the suspects," because they "posed a real threat to the forces at that point."

What do eyewitnesses say? A local journalist in Gaza, Khader Al Za’anoun, who witnessed the incident, said at the time that the chaos only began once Israeli troops opened fire, and that many of the victims were run over by trucks in the ensuing panic.

What do Palestinian officials say? Gaza's health ministry said at least 118 people were killed and more than 700 injured, making it one of the single deadliest killings of Gazans since the war began. CNN cannot independently confirm the figures. 

What does the UN say? The UN said most of the injured civilians had gunshot wounds, but that it did not examine any of the dead bodies and so could not say if the same was true for those killed.

CNN's Abeer Salman and Jeremy Diamond contributed reporting.

3:11 a.m. ET, March 8, 2024

US military says it shot down Houthi missiles and drones

From CNN's Colin McCullough 

US forces shot down four anti-ship cruise missiles and one drone over Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Thursday, the US Central Command said.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to pressure Israel and its allies to stop the war in Gaza.

"Between the hours of 3:35 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. (Sanaa time), United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted self-defense strikes against four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) and one Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," CENTCOM said.

CENTCOM said it also shot down three drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden.

Escalating attacks: Three crew members were killed when a Houthi ballistic missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday — the first fatal attack by the Houthis since they began targeting vessels.

12:01 a.m. ET, March 8, 2024

US military will build a temporary pier to deliver aid to Gaza, Biden says. Catch up here

From CNN staff

US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced plans for the US military to establish a temporary port along the Gaza coast to bring desperately needed additional humanitarian aid into the war-torn strip.

Speaking during his State of the Union address, Biden said the structure on the Mediterranean coast would receive "large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters."

A senior US administration official also said earlier that Israel has "prepared a new land crossing directly into northern Gaza," a development that comes after weeks of increasing US pressure as the humanitarian crisis worsens.

The Israeli government allowed just a quarter of the planned UN and humanitarian partner aid missions to enter areas of northern Gaza in February, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Thursday

Here's what else you should know:

  • Ceasefire impasse: Sources say US Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns is in the Middle East this week as ceasefire talks appear to have come to a standstill. Hamas delegation left Cairo after days of talks, with no obvious breakthrough in negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire in exchange for hostage releases. A deal appears unlikely to happen by the start of Ramadan, which the US had been aiming for, according to sources.
  • Food crisis: Children in Gaza who survive bombardment "may not survive a famine,” World Health Organization chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus warned amid reports of surging cases of child malnutrition in the enclave. As Israel’s severe restrictions on aid entering Gaza drain essential supplies, displaced Palestinians have told CNN they are struggling to feed themselves and their children. Health officials in Gaza also say the strip is in��grave need of blood and donation equipment from the international community.

  • Settlements expansion: The UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process condemned Israel’s plan for new housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank. The UN urged Israeli authorities to cease all settlement activity and reiterated that settlements are illegal under international law.
  • Cross-border clashes: Lebanon has recirculated its “vision” aimed at ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel to mediating countries this week, a Lebanese official told CNN. The Lebanese vision, first presented at the UN Security Council in January, calls for a “full and balanced implementation” of UN resolution 1701 that ended the war in 2006, the official said.  

1:33 a.m. ET, March 8, 2024

Biden addressed Israel's war in Gaza in his State of the Union speech. Here are the takeaways

From CNN staff

Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address at the US Capitol on Thursday.
Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address at the US Capitol on Thursday. Shawn Thew/Pool/Reuters

US President Joe Biden acknowledged the “gut-wrenching” conflict in Gaza in his State of the Union remarks Thursday, calling on Hamas to release all hostages and urging Israel to “do its part,” to increase humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave.

"Israel has a right to go after Hamas" following the October 7 attack, Biden said, but he added that Israel also has a "fundamental responsibility" to protect civilians in Gaza.

"This war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined," he said.

Here are the main takeaways from Biden's speech:

  • Hostages pledge: Biden promised to bring home American hostages held in Gaza since October 7, saying his teams have been "working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for at least six weeks." At least six Americans are believed to be among 99 hostages who are still alive. "I pledge to all the families that we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home," Biden said.
  • Temporary aid port: The president announced plans for the US military to establish a temporary port to bring additional aid into the war-torn strip. The pier on Gaza's Mediterranean coast would receive "large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters," Biden said. "Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the cross-fire," he added.
  • Two-state solution: Biden reiterated US support for a two-state solution to help bring a lasting peace to the Middle East, saying "no other path" would guarantee that "Palestinians can live with peace and dignity" alongside guaranteeing Israel’s security and democracy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty.
  • Iran threat: Creating stability in the Middle East also means "containing the threat posed by Iran," Biden said. He highlighted the US-led international coalition of more than a dozen countries in the Red Sea, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels are attacking commercial shipping. Biden said he had "ordered strikes to degrade Houthi capabilities and defend US forces in the region" and "will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and military personnel."
1:37 a.m. ET, March 8, 2024

CIA director is in the Middle East amid ceasefire talk impasse, sources say

From CNN's Alex Marquardt

CIA Director Bill Burns is seen during a Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing on "Worldwide in March 2022.
CIA Director Bill Burns is seen during a Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing on "Worldwide in March 2022. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images/File

US Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns has traveled back to the Middle East, according to a US official and another source familiar with the trip. 

Burns’ trip comes as negotiations to broker a ceasefire in Gaza appear to be at an impasse and are unlikely to be resolved before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The source said Burns was in Egypt on Wednesday before traveling to Qatar on Thursday.

Burns is not expected to stop in Israel on this trip, the US official said. There also likely won't be a "quad" format meeting with the Egyptian and Israeli intelligence chiefs and the Qatari prime minister, as there was in Paris two weeks ago.

Burns has been leading the Biden administration’s efforts to reach a ceasefire deal. He met with Qatar’s prime minister in Washington earlier this week.

Qatar and Egypt are the main interlocutors with Hamas, and talks have taken place in Cairo this week.

Hopes dim:Hamas delegation left Cairo with no obvious breakthrough in negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire in exchange for hostage releases. A deal appears unlikely to happen by the start of Ramadan, which the US had been aiming for, according to sources.

11:16 p.m. ET, March 7, 2024

Biden says US military will open temporary aid port in Gaza

From CNN staff

US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced plans for the US military to establish a temporary port along the Gaza coast to bring desperately needed additional humanitarian aid into the war-torn strip.

Speaking during his State of the Union address, Biden said the structure on the Mediterranean coast would receive "large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters."

"This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day," Biden said. "But Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the cross-fire."

No US boots will be on the ground in Gaza, the president said. It was not immediately clear when the port would be up and running.

Earlier, a senior Biden administration official said the additional assistance would be coordinated with Israel, the United Nations and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. Initial aid shipments will come via Cyprus, the official said.

New land crossing: A senior US administration official also said earlier that Israel has "prepared a new land crossing directly into northern Gaza," a development that comes after weeks of increasing US pressure as the humanitarian crisis worsens. The Israeli government allowed just a quarter of the planned UN and humanitarian partner aid missions to enter areas of northern Gaza in February, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Thursday

7:50 p.m. ET, March 7, 2024

Injured journalist says he witnessed Israeli tanks fire at civilians gathered at roundabout in Gaza City

From CNN’s Abeer Salman and Celine Alkhaldi

Journalist Khader Al Za'anoun told CNN on Thursday that he witnessed Israeli tanks firing at civilians gathered at the Kuwaiti roundabout in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City.

Al Za'anoun said he sustained injuries to his face, right arm and right ear.  

Al-Za'anoun, who regularly works with CNN, said that a group of civilians was gathered waiting for aid trucks coming from southern Gaza on Salah Eddin Street in the early hours of Thursday.

At around 1 a.m. local time, Israeli tanks started shelling the area, he said, and many people who had been waiting for the aid trucks fled the area.  

Shortly after the Israeli fire, four aid trucks arrived, he said. He was waiting for the trucks' arrival with his children. 

Al Za'anoun climbed on one of the trucks to grab a sack of flour for his family when Israeli tanks began firing again, he said, and he was shot trying to run away. He was rushed to the hospital and unable to receive any of the aid. 

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment.

8:47 p.m. ET, March 7, 2024

UN condemns Israel's plan for new West Bank settlement units

From CNN’s Richard Roth and Sahar Akbarzai

The United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process on Thursday condemned Israel’s plan for new housing units in settlements in the occupied West Bank.

"Israel’s settlement expansion continues to be a driver of conflict in the occupied West Bank, further entrenching the occupation and undermining the right of Palestinians to self-determination and independent statehood," Tor Wennesland said in a statement.

Israel advanced more than 3,000 new housing units in three occupied West Bank settlements to final approval stages.

The UN urged Israeli authorities to cease all settlement activity and reiterated that settlements are illegal under international law.

RememberSettler violence in the occupied West Bank has jumped sharply since the war began, with settlers burning cars, destroying infrastructure and assaulting and killing Palestinians. Last month, the US State Department announced the first round of sanctions targeting Israeli settlers accused of perpetrating violence in the West Bank. The sanctions block their financial assets and bar them from entering the US. They mark one of the more significant moves US President Joe Biden has taken to critique Israel since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7.

8:45 p.m. ET, March 7, 2024

Israel allowed only a quarter of possible UN aid missions into northern Gaza in February

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam 

The Israeli government allowed just a quarter of the planned United Nations and humanitarian partner aid missions to enter areas of northern Gaza in February, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. 

"Only six of 24 planned missions to areas north of Wadi Gaza were facilitated in February, primarily due to an operational pause, after an UN-coordinated food convoy was struck by Israeli naval fire on 5 February," according to the OCHA statement. 

The main UN relief agency in Gaza said on February 5 that one of its trucks waiting to take aid to northern Gaza was hit by Israeli fire.

Growing hunger: At least 20 people have died in Gaza due to malnutrition and dehydration since the war began in Gaza, including a 15-year-old boy who was declared dead at the Al-Shifa medical complex on Wednesday from starvation, the Palestinian health ministry in the enclave said. 

CNN cannot independently confirm the deaths or their causes due to the lack of international media access to Gaza, but there have been increasingly urgent warnings about hunger in the strip from international agencies as Israel maintains a tight siege.