The UN food agency says it is the first time in the 10-month war that one of its vehicles has come under direct fire near a checkpoint.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a pause in the movement of its staff in the Gaza Strip “until further notice” after one of its vehicles was hit by gunfire just metres from an Israeli-controlled checkpoint.
The incident took place on Tuesday evening as the vehicle approached the Wadi Gaza Bridge checkpoint.
“None of the staff on board were physically harmed,” the WFP said in a statement.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric blamed Israel for the attack, telling reporters in New York that the “clearly marked” humanitarian vehicle was “hit 10 times” by Israeli fire, including bullets aimed at the front windows.
Five of the bullets hit the driver's side and some hit the windshield.
The team was returning from a mission to Karem Abu Salem, known as Kerem Shalom to the Israelis, with two WFP armoured vehicles after escorting a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian cargo en route to central Gaza.
Dujarric said the convoy's movements had been coordinated with the Israeli military and that it had been authorized to approach.
“This is the latest incident that underscores that the systems in place for coordination are not working,” he said, adding that “we will continue to work with the IDF to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again.”
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain called the attack “unacceptable” and said it was “the latest in a series of unnecessary incidents that have put the lives of her team members in Gaza at risk.”
“As last night’s events demonstrate, the current system of conflict resolution is failing and this cannot continue any longer,” he added.
WFP called on the Israeli authorities and all parties to the conflict to ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers in Gaza.
He added that while this is not the first security incident the WFP team has faced during the war, it is the first time one of its vehicles has come under direct fire near a checkpoint, despite obtaining the necessary clearances, as per standard protocol.
