World Food Programme says it is the first time that one of its vehicles has been directly shot at near a checkpoint despite having security clearance
The UN’s food agency has said it is pausing movement of its staff in Gaza “until further notice” after one of its vehicles was struck by gunfire at an Israeli military checkpoint.
Cindy McCain, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said of Tuesday’s incident: “This is totally unacceptable and the latest in a series of unnecessary security incidents that have endangered the lives of WFP’s team in Gaza.
“As last night’s events show, the current deconfliction system is failing and this cannot go on any longer.”
The vehicle was hit at least 10 times as it approached the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) checkpoint at the Wadi Gaza Bridge after completing a mission in southern Gaza, the WFP said in a statement. No one was injured.
“Though this is not the first security incident to occur during the war it is the first time that a WFP vehicle has been directly shot at near a checkpoint, despite securing the necessary clearances,” the WFP said.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident.
The agency shared an image of a white, UN-branded truck with its windows apparently damaged by several bullets and said it was a “few metres” from the Israeli checkpoint when it was hit.
UN secretary general spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “A clearly marked UN humanitarian vehicle, part of a convoy that had been fully coordinated with the IDF was struck 10 times by IDF gunfire, including with bullets targeting front windows.
“We have no way to assess the mindset of those who are shooting at us,” Dujarric said, noting that it was not clear if information about the convoy’s movement shared with Israeli authorities was passed down.
In May, a UN staff member from India was killed when their vehicle was struck by what the United Nations said was tank fire in southern Gaza.
The most recent incident comes as the UN is preparing to vaccinate an estimated 640,000 children in Gaza, where the World Health Organization said a 10-month-old baby had been paralysed by the type 2 poliovirus, the first such case in the territory in 25 years.
The current war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas gunmen stormed into Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Read More: UN food agency suspends operations in Gaza after car hit by gunfire at Israeli checkpoint