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Israel military fires on humanitarian aid workers from the World Food Program (WFP) in Gaza: "Totally unacceptable and the latest in a series of unnecessary security incidents"

www.wfp.org WFP temporarily suspend staff movement across Gaza following a security incident that targeted WFP vehicle | World Food Programme

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.

WFP temporarily suspend staff movement across Gaza following a security incident that targeted WFP vehicle | World Food Programme

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.

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