UN says Israeli soldiers fired on an aid convoy returning from northern Gaza

GAZA: Israeli occupation soldiers fired on an aid convoy today as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated as safe by the Israeli army, according to Thomas White, the director of the UH agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in Gaza. 'Our international convoy leader and his team were not injured but one vehicle sustained damage - aid workers should never be a target,' White said in a post on X. Simultaneously, Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, reported an 'impossible situation' faced by both the people of Gaza and those attempting to assist them as Israeli attacks claim more civilian lives. In a social media post on X, Griffiths expressed frustration, disproving misconceptions about the ease of providing aid to Gaza. He outlined 14 obstacles hindering humanitarian relief, including continuous bombardments, attacks on aid convoys, extensive inspections before entry, a lengthy list of rejected items, and the displacemen t and casualties of aid workers due to the ongoing conflict. Describing the situation as untenable, Griffiths insisted, 'The fighting must stop.' Despite the UN Security Council passing a resolution last week to enhance aid efforts, the persistent obstacles in delivering humanitarian relief to Gaza continue. The ongoing Israeli war has resulted in over 21,300 Palestinian casualties and displaced 85% of the population since October 7. The combination of relentless bombardments, a military blockade, and restrictions on aid shipments poses a significant threat to the health of hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza. Source: Agence Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA