UNITED NATIONS: The World Food Programme said Wednesday it was pausing movement of its staff in Gaza “until further notice” after one of its vehicles was struck by gunfire at an Israeli military checkpoint.
“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,” Cindy McCain, head of the UN food agency, said of the Tuesday incident in which no one was injured.
The vehicle was hit at least ten times as it approached the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) checkpoint at the Wadi Gaza bridge after completing a mission in southern Gaza, the WFP said in a statement.
The agency shared an image of a white, UN-branded truck with its windows seemingly damaged by several bullets.
Earlier, the United Nations said that Israeli military gunfire had damaged a UN humanitarian vehicle as it took part in a convoy in Gaza that was coordinated with the IDF.
“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,” UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, adding that the two occupants were unharmed.
“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.
It is not the first instance of UN vehicles being hit since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
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.
WFP suspends Gaza movement after vehicle hit by bullets near Israeli checkpoint
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WFP suspends Gaza movement after vehicle hit by bullets near Israeli checkpoint
- WFP said in a statement that the convoy of two armored vehicles had received “multiple clearances by Israeli authorities to approach” the checkpoint
Elderly Palestinian shot dead in Rafah
- Death toll from Israel’s aggression on Gaza rises to 71,795 since start of assault in October 2023
GAZA: An elderly Palestinian man was killed by Israeli fire in Rafah on Sunday afternoon, bringing the number of fatalities since morning to two, according to local and medical sources.
The sources reported that Khaled Hammad Dahleez, 63, was shot dead by an Israeli drone northwest of Rafah.
Earlier in the day, another man was killed and several others injured in a drone strike north of Wadi Gaza, in the central Gaza Strip, the Palestinian News Agency reported.
BACKGROUND
On Saturday, at least 31 Palestinians, including children and women, were slaughtered in a series of Israeli airstrikes on several locations across the enclave — one of the deadliest days since the start of the ceasefire agreement on Oct. 11, 2025.
On Saturday, at least 31 Palestinians, including children and women, were slaughtered in a series of Israeli airstrikes on several locations across the war-ravaged enclave — one of the deadliest days since the start of the ceasefire agreement on Oct. 11, 2025.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 11, the number of people killed has risen to 523, with 1,433 injuries recorded, while 715 bodies have been recovered during the same period.
Medical sources said on Sunday the death toll from Israel’s aggression on the Gaza Strip had risen to 71,795 Palestinians killed and 171,551 injured since the start of the assault in October 2023.
The sources reported that 26 fatalities and 68 injuries were brought to Gaza hospitals over the past 48 hours, noting that numerous victims were trapped under rubble or in the streets, with ambulance and rescue crews unable to reach them.
The ceasefire’s first phase called for the exchange of all hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel, a surge in humanitarian aid and a partial pullback of Israeli troops.
The second phase is more complicated. It calls for installing a new Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas, and taking steps to begin rebuilding.
Hamas has so far rejected disarmament and Israel has repeatedly indicated that if the Islamist militant group is not disarmed peacefully, it will use force to make it do so.
