The UN food agency says it is the first time in 10 months that one of its vehicles has been directly hit by gunfire near a checkpoint.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a pause in travel by 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 injured,” WFP said in a statement.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, blamed the attack on Israel, telling reporters in New York that the “clearly marked” aid vehicle was “hit 10 times” by Israeli gunfire, including bullets aimed at the front windows.
Five of the bullets were on the driver’s side and some were on the windshield.
The team was returning from a mission to Karem Abu Salem, known as Kerem Shalom by 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 permission to approach.
“This is the latest incident that shows that the coordination systems in place are not working,” he said, adding that “we will continue to work with the Israeli army to ensure that such incidents 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 show, the current deconfliction system is failing and this cannot continue,” she added.
WFP called on 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 that one of its vehicles has been directly targeted by gunfire near a checkpoint, despite obtaining the necessary clearances, as per standard protocol.