The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) claims a truck transporting food supplies was fired upon while waiting at an IDF holding point on Al Rashid Road in Gaza earlier this month. CNN is reporting they have confirmed communication between the UN and IDF, and verified the truck was part of an agreed-upon supply convoy.
“A convoy that had food on it, heading to the northern parts of the Gaza Strip. That convoy on its way in what we call the middle areas, it got hit. One of the trucks carrying supplies was hit by Israeli naval fire,” UNRWA global director of communications Juliette Touma told CNN. Israel had three warships in the Mediterranean Sea at the time.
Despite Palestinians in Gaza being on the verge of starvation, the UN World Food Programme announced yesterday that it was pausing deliveries of food to Northern Gaza due to conditions being too dangerous. In the press release, the UN stated their trucks have been targeted by gunfire and have been looted by civilians desperate for food.
First fending off multiple attempts by people trying to climb aboard our trucks, then facing gunfire once we entered Gaza City, our team was able to distribute a small quantity of the food along the way. On Monday, the second convoy’s journey north faced complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order. Several trucks were looted between Khan Younes and Deir al Balah and a truck driver was beaten.
UNRWA released a statement on X, saying, “🛑“#Gaza has become very fast one of the most dangerous places to be an aid worker” @CNN : Israeli forces fired on @UN convoy carrying vital food supplies on Feb 5, before ultimately blocking trucks progressing north, where people are on verge of famine ⬇️”
