The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a suspension of staff movements in Gaza after one of its vehicles was hit by gunfire near an Israeli military checkpoint. Cindy McCain, the head of the WFP, condemned the attack, calling it "totally unacceptable" and highlighting it as the latest in a series of dangerous incidents affecting the safety of humanitarian workers in the region.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when a WFP vehicle, clearly marked with UN insignia, was fired upon at least ten times as it approached the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) checkpoint at the Wadi Gaza Bridge after completing a mission in southern Gaza. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
McCain criticized the current security arrangements, stating: “As last night’s events show, the current deconfliction system is failing, and this cannot go on any longer.” The WFP described this as the first direct attack on one of its vehicles during the ongoing conflict, despite having the required clearances to approach the checkpoint.
The Israeli military has not yet provided a response regarding the shooting. The UN released an image of the damaged vehicle, showing multiple bullet holes in its windows, emphasizing that it was only a few meters away from the checkpoint when struck.
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, also expressed concern, stating: "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 bullets targeting the front windows." He noted that it remains unclear if the convoy’s planned movements, which were shared with Israeli authorities, were communicated effectively to personnel on the ground.
This recent event adds to a growing list of security concerns faced by aid organizations operating in Gaza. In May, a UN staff member from India was killed when their vehicle was hit by what the UN described as tank fire in southern Gaza.
The UN continues to face challenges in delivering aid to Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen launched an attack on Israeli communities, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli reports. Since then, Israeli military actions have devastated large areas of Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents, and causing widespread hunger, disease, and at least 40,000 deaths, as reported by Palestinian health officials.
As the conflict continues, the UN is preparing to vaccinate around 640,000 children in Gaza, where a recent case of type 2 poliovirus has paralyzed a 10-month-old baby—the first such case in the region in 25 years. The ongoing violence and instability in Gaza continue to hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid and services in the territory.
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