The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has reported an incident on Sunday where Israeli forces targeted a UN convoy heading to Gaza City in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The agency has called for accountability regarding this attack.
Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General, stated on social media that Israeli forces carried out “intense gunfire” against the convoy. Although no personnel were injured, he mentioned that UN workers had to find shelter to protect themselves. He emphasized that the convoy was traveling in clearly marked armored vehicles and wearing UN vests. One vehicle sustained at least five gunshots while waiting near an Israeli checkpoint in southern Wadi Gaza.
The damaged vehicle had to leave the convoy, but the remaining team members managed to regroup and reach Gaza City. Lazzarini insisted that this movement was coordinated and had prior approval from Israeli authorities. He stressed that humanitarian workers should never be considered a target and reiterated that those responsible for such actions must be held accountable. Notably, the Israeli military has yet to respond to this specific incident amid ongoing military operations in Gaza following attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian factions on October 7.
Later, Lazzarini condemned the destruction of the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, describing it as unrecognizable compared to how it once was. He highlighted that this was just one of hundreds of buildings destroyed during the current conflict. He criticized the attack as a horrific assault on the values and humanitarian principles of the United Nations.
Lazzarini called for clarity on who caused this destruction, whether it be armed Palestinian groups, including Hamas, or Israeli forces. He insisted that all responsible parties must answer for their blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. The UNRWA has reported the deaths of over a hundred of its workers due to Israeli attacks in Gaza, as well as extensive damage and destruction to its facilities amid international calls for accountability for civilian casualties during the ongoing crisis.
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