Israel hits UNWRA food supply truck to Northern Gaza

Gaza: Israel hit a convoy that was carrying food supplies to Gaza on February 5 morning. Israel navy opened gunfire on the UNRWA confirmed, the UAE-based news house The National reported.

Director of Affairs for UNRWA's Gaza Office Thomas White informed through a post on X that no one was injured in the attack, but trucks with the envoy were destroyed. He posted pictures of damaged trucks, too.

After some Western countries pulled out of support for the UNRWA, which had been a lifeline for Palestinians for decades, it warned that it would have to stop operations by the end of this February and the crisis would be the worst in Palestine.

#Gaza this morning a food convoy waiting to move into Northern Gaza was hit by Israeli naval gunfire - thankfully no one was injured@UNRWA pic.twitter.com/1kvShgX6MG

— Thomas White (@TomWhiteGaza) February 5, 2024

The funding by the West was cut short after Israel accused 12 of the agency's employees of involvement in the October 7 attacks committed by Hamas.

Last week, Chief of UNWRA, Philippe Lazzarini, said, "If the funding remains suspended, we will most likely be forced to shut down our operations by the end of February not only in Gaza but also across the region," Agence France-Presse quoted.

After talks with Lazzarini, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for immediate intervention of the international community, supporting UNRWA. He said that the agency plays an indispensable role for Gazan refugees. It serves as a lifeline to more than two million Palestinians who are in an "unprecedented" humanitarian crisis.

Both the agency chief and the Jordan minister urged the countries that had suspended their donations to reconsider their decision.

Jordan's foreign ministry released a statement that any reduction of financial support provided to UNRWA will aggravate the suffering of the Gazan people. They are nearing mass starvation, AFP reported.