Israeli Army Targets World Food Programme Convoy in Gaza; UN Condemns
The United Nations has strongly condemned the Israeli army’s targeting of a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy in Gaza, urging rejection of violations against humanitarian aid teams supporting Palestinians amidst Israel’s 15-month siege and war of attrition.
Late Monday evening, the World Food Programme vehemently denounced the “horrifying incident” on Sunday when “Israeli forces fired upon a clearly marked convoy near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint” in the heart of the Strip.
In a statement on its website, the WFP described the assault as placing “the convoy team’s lives in enormous danger, causing the vehicles to stop moving.”
It further detailed that “the convoy, consisting of three vehicles and carrying eight staff members, came under hostile fire despite having received all necessary clearances from Israeli authorities.”
The program clarified that “at least 16 bullets struck the vehicles, and fortunately, no staff were injured in this terrifying incident.”
WFP emphasized that “this unacceptable event is just the latest example of the complex and dangerous working environment that the World Food Programme and other agencies face today.”
It stressed the urgent need to “improve security conditions in Gaza swiftly to ensure life-saving humanitarian aid can continue.”
The WFP also called on “all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilian lives, and allow the safe passage of humanitarian aid.”
Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director, commented on the incident on X, stating, “This is totally unacceptable.”
She added, “A WFP convoy, clearly marked and carrying a team of 8, was shot at by Israeli forces near Wadi Gaza, despite having prior clearances.”
McCain emphasized, “Humanitarians are NOT targets!”
She further stated the need for “safe access to continue delivering life-saving aid.”
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees), re-shared McCain’s post on his X account.
Lazzarini added, “In Gaza, there is no distinction (…) humanitarians, regardless of who they are,
are regularly targeted.”
In a critique of the international community’s failure to take adequate steps to address and
prevent these Israeli violations, Lazzarini warned that “this blatant disregard cannot become the
new norm.”
He stressed, “Humanitarians, wherever they are, are NOT targets.”
As of 8:30 PM GMT, no comment had been issued by the Israeli side regarding the UN’s statement.
Similar attacks by the Israeli military have been reported over the months of the long conflict,
with the UN previously stating in various announcements about numerous such incidents despite
its teams only moving after obtaining prior permissions, resulting in casualties among
humanitarian workers.
Since the start of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has
targeted the health sector in Gaza, bombing and besieging hospitals, threatening evacuation, and
preventing medical supplies from entering, especially in the northern areas which were re-
invaded on October 5 of the previous year.
With American support since October 7, 2023, Israel has committed what is described as
genocide in Gaza, resulting in approximately 155,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, mostly
children and women, with over 11,000 missing, amidst massive destruction and famine killing
dozens of children and elderly, in one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
