In the early hours of February 29, a much-anticipated aid shipment in Gaza City turned into a devastating tragedy, leaving over 100 Palestinians dead and hundreds more injured, as reported by Gazan health authorities. The incident has sparked international outrage and accusations against the Israeli military of deploying deadly force against a desperate and hungry civilian population.

According to witnesses and video footage gathered by NBC News, thousands of Palestinians had gathered on a stretch of seaside road in Gaza City, awaiting the arrival of the convoy. Eyewitnesses claim that the civilians were killed by gunfire and tank artillery shells, contradicting the Israeli military's assertion that the majority were trampled or run over in the chaotic surge on the 30 trucks.

The aid convoy, arranged by Palestinian businessmen and escorted by Israeli tanks, aimed to secure a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of aid. However, accounts diverge regarding the nature and intensity of the shooting, and how people were killed and injured. Frustration has been mounting against the Israeli military for their role in restricting aid at border crossings and ongoing aerial bombardments and ground operations that hinder aid delivery.

Despite the IDF's release of thermal imagery drone footage showing crowds rushing towards aid trucks and then dispersing, it remains unclear whether this footage is from the same incident. The IDF did not respond to the allegations made by U.N. officials, doctors, eyewitnesses, and health authorities, who claimed that most of the injuries were caused by shooting rather than trampling.

Eyewitnesses on the ground and medical workers at Al-Shifa Medical Complex confirm that the injuries were a result of gunshots, explosions of artillery and tank shells. The grim aftermath was captured by an NBC News crew at daybreak, showing injured individuals being transported by various means and the devastating toll on the community.

As international scrutiny intensifies, calls for a thorough investigation into the incident have grown. The devastating loss of life and the suffering inflicted upon the Palestinians has fueled the outcry against the ongoing conflict and challenges faced in delivering humanitarian aid.

The Israeli military maintains that their forces were acting in self-defense, but the contrasting accounts and evidence have raised serious concerns about the excessive use of force and the impact on innocent civilians. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and increased efforts to protect civilians caught in the crossfire.