AU Commission condemns Israeli assault on Gazans awaiting humanitarian aid

The African Union (AU) Commission has condemned the Thursday assault carried out by Israeli forces which resulted in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians who were in dire need of life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza.

In a statement, from the office of Commission's Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, the organization criticised the move while calling for an international investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to account.

The commission subsequently called for an immediate and unconditional halt to the hostilities in occupied Palestine

"The Chairperson repeats the call of the African Union for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in occupied Palestine to stop the ongoing and increasing State of Israel's assault against the lives and means of survival of the Palestinian people," the statement reads in part.

"The Chairperson further calls on the international community, and the major world powers in particular, to assume their responsibilities to urgently impose peace and guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people."

According to Reuters, Israeli forces blamed the deaths on crowds that surrounded aid trucks, saying victims had been trampled or run over.

At least 112 people were killed and more than 280 wounded in the incident near Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said.

The loss of civilian lives was the biggest in weeks. Hamas said the incident could jeopardise talks in Qatar aimed at securing a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages it is holding. When asked if he thought it would complicate the talks, U.S. President Joe Biden said: "I know it will."