UNRWA accuses Israel of attacking UN convoy heading to Gaza City

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Monday condemned the Israeli attack on a UN convoy heading to Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, and called for the execution of those responsible for the incident. “While there were no casualties, our teams had to protect themselves and seek shelter,” the agency’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a message posted on his social media account. “The teams traveled in clearly marked UN armoured vehicles and wearing UN vests,” he said, before explaining that “one vehicle was shot at least five times while waiting near an Israeli checkpoint south of Wadi Gaza.” He said the vehicle was “severely damaged,” adding that he had to “abandon the convoy.” He added that “the teams reconvened and finally arrived in Gaza City,” stressing that “like other similar UN movements, this movement was coordinated and approved by the Israeli authorities.” Lazzarini stressed that “humanitarian workers are not a target”, stressing that “those responsible must be held accountable”, without the Israeli army commenting on the incident, as part of its offensive on Gaza after attacks carried out last October. 7- By the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and other Palestinian factions. Later, Lazzarini condemned the destruction of the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza. He noted in a message on his social networking account that “our teams visited the compound. This was the headquarters of our headquarters and one of the largest UN compounds in the entire region. I have been there several times and it is barely recognizable.” The X Lazzarini network indicated that it was “one of hundreds of buildings destroyed in this war.” He added, “This is a horrific attack on what the United Nations stands for, its moral values ​​and humanitarian principles.” He stressed that “we must know what happened, and who caused this destruction. Whether it is the Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, or the Israeli forces, those responsible for this yet another blatant disregard for international humanitarian law must be held accountable.” UNRWA condemned the killing of more than a hundred of its staff in the Israeli attacks on Gaza, and stressed that hundreds of its facilities were destroyed or severely damaged by bombings and attacks by the Israeli army, in the midst of the ongoing war in Gaza. International complaints due to the high number of civilian casualties among the population.