Deeply shocked: India on killing of over 100 in Gaza

India on Friday said it is “deeply shocked” at the loss of lives in northern Gaza during the delivery of humanitarian aid, a day after more than 100 people were killed and over 700 injured in an incident.

In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said such loss of civilian lives and the larger humanitarian situation in Gaza

continues to be a cause for “extreme concern”.

“We are deeply shocked at the loss of lives in northern Gaza yesterday during delivery of humanitarian assistance,” the MEA said in a statement.

“Such loss of civilian lives and the larger humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be a cause for extreme concern,” it added. India also called for safe and timely delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to the people of Gaza. “We reiterate our call for safe and timely delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance,” the MEA said.

There was no reference to Israel in the statement. More than 100 people were killed and over 700 injured when Israeli troops fired on a large

crowd of Palestinians trying to pull food off an aid convoy in Gaza on Thursday, according to reports.

India has been calling for de-escalation of the situation and creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue.

There have been sharp international reactions to the incident, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres strongly condemning it.