WFP temporarily suspend staff movement across Gaza following a security incident that targeted WFP vehicle | World Food Programme
www.wfp.org
ROME – The World Food Programme (WFP) announced today it is pausing the movement of its employees in Gaza until further notice after a WFP team came under fire on the evening of 27 August, a few metres from an Israeli check point at the Wadi Gaza bridge.

The WFP team was returning from a mission to Kerem Shalom/ Karam Abu Salem with two WFP armoured vehicles after escorting a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian cargo routed to Gaza’s central area.

Despite being clearly marked and receiving multiple clearances by Israeli authorities to approach, the vehicle was directly struck by gunfire as it was moving towards an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) checkpoint. It sustained at least ten bullets: five on the driver’s side, two on the passenger side and three on other parts of the vehicle. None of the employees onboard were physically harmed.

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, as per standard protocol.

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Humanitarians are increasingly coming under fire and face a multitude of challenges to deliver life-saving aid in Gaza. Frequent and ongoing evacuation orders continue to uproot both families and food relief operations intended to support them.

  • DdCno1@beehaw.org
    0·
    2 months ago

    No. There are far, far more aid workers in Gaza than anywhere else relative to the size of the population. I thought I was pretty clear on that this is the reason. Aid agencies are by far the biggest employers for Palestinians. Now add in just how many aid workers in Gaza in particular moonlight at the Al-Aqsa brigades and you see why when Israel kills a few fighters, it’s not unlikely that they get someone who has a day job as an aid worker. It’s just like with “journalists” who are not just on Hamas payroll, but even imprison hostages in their household.

    • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
      2·
      2 months ago

      Now add in just how many aid workers in Gaza in particular moonlight at the Al-Aqsa brigades

      Well, Israel basically admitted it was like 6 people they identified at UNRWA who were also Hamas, so I’m gonna go with not that many. And Al-Aqsa Brigades are PA, not Hamas.