Gaza Herald _As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, aid workers and truck drivers delivering food and other essential supplies continue to face growing risks. Human rights groups and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that attacks on relief operations are further worsening the humanitarian catastrophe and obstructing the delivery of lifesaving assistance.
An investigation by Haaretz, based on eyewitness testimonies, said that Israeli soldiers assaulted four Palestinian truck drivers transporting humanitarian aid for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Rafah before fatally shooting one of them.
According to the witnesses, the soldiers forced the drivers out of their trucks, beat them, and ordered them to strip before opening fire on one of the men, identified as Ahmad Esleem, even though he posed no threat. The incident occurred while the convoy was delivering desperately needed food assistance to civilians in southern Gaza.
The killing has intensified concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers and aid convoys operating in Gaza, where drivers and relief personnel continue to face life-threatening conditions while attempting to deliver essential supplies. The Israeli military has disputed the witnesses’ version of events, claiming that the driver approached soldiers in a threatening manner before he was shot.
The incident has renewed calls for an independent investigation and greater protection for humanitarian personnel working in Gaza. Aid organizations have stressed that relief workers and civilian drivers must be able to carry out lifesaving missions without fear of violence, emphasizing that attacks on humanitarian operations further deepen the suffering of Palestinians already facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and other basic necessities.
