The UN meals company says it’s the first time within the 10-month conflict that one in every of its automobiles has come beneath direct hearth close to a checkpoint.
The World Meals Programme (WFP) has introduced a pause within the motion of its employees within the Gaza Strip “till additional discover” after one in every of its automobiles was hit by gunfire simply metres from an Israeli-controlled checkpoint.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night because the car approached the Wadi Gaza Bridge checkpoint.
“Not one of the employees on board have been bodily harmed,” the WFP mentioned in an announcement.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric blamed Israel for the assault, telling reporters in New York that the “clearly marked” humanitarian car was “hit 10 occasions” by Israeli hearth, together with bullets aimed on the entrance home windows.
5 of the bullets hit the motive force’s aspect and a few hit the windshield.
The staff was coming back from a mission to Karem Abu Salem, referred to as Kerem Shalom to the Israelis, with two WFP armoured automobiles after escorting a convoy of vans carrying humanitarian cargo en path to central Gaza.
Dujarric mentioned the convoy’s actions had been coordinated with the Israeli army and that it had been approved to strategy.
“That is the most recent incident that underscores that the techniques in place for coordination aren’t working,” he mentioned, including that “we are going to proceed to work with the IDF to make sure that incidents like this don’t occur once more.”
WFP Govt Director Cindy McCain known as the assault “unacceptable” and mentioned it was “the most recent in a collection of pointless incidents which have put the lives of her staff members in Gaza in danger.”
“As final evening’s occasions display, the present system of battle decision is failing and this can’t proceed any longer,” he added.
WFP known as on the Israeli authorities and all events to the battle to make sure the security of all humanitarian employees in Gaza.
He added that whereas this isn’t the primary safety incident the WFP staff has confronted through the conflict, it’s the first time one in every of its automobiles has come beneath direct hearth close to a checkpoint, regardless of acquiring the mandatory clearances, as per customary protocol.
