The United Nations has revealed that one of its humanitarian vehicles in Gaza, marked with the organization’s insignia, was fired upon 10 times by Israeli forces, including shots targeting its front windows.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the two staff members in the vehicle were unharmed. He referred to comments made by a senior UN official, who requested anonymity, two days ago to journalists about the need for armored vehicles in Gaza.
The incident highlighted the importance of armored vehicles as they saved the lives of the staff members and exposed the inefficiency of current coordination mechanisms. Dujarric confirmed that the UN would work with the Israeli army to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The international spokesperson emphasized the need for all parties to always uphold international humanitarian law, which includes protecting civilians and providing them with basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and healthcare, especially in Gaza.
He made it clear that this applies to those under evacuation orders, whether they have moved or not, stressing that those who leave should be given enough time to depart, safe routes, and secure areas to relocate to.