Dhaka, March 2 -- Israel was facing growing international pressure for an investigation after more than 100 Palestinians in Gaza were killed when desperate crowds gathered around aid trucks and Israeli troops opened fire on Thursday.

France called for an "independent probe" into the circumstances of the disaster, and Germany said the Israeli army must "fully explain" what happened.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said civilians had been "targeted by Israeli soldiers" and called for an immediate ceasefire.

"Deep indignation at the images coming from Gaza where civilians have been targeted by Israeli soldiers. I express my strongest condemnation of these shootings and call for truth, justice, and respect for international law," he...