Israeli forces hit a crucial aid warehouse in Rafah, Gaza, on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic death of at least one United Nations Relief and Works Agency staff member and injuring 22 others. The UNRWA, the largest aid group in Gaza, serves as a lifeline for the 2.2 million residents of the region, many of whom have been forced to seek refuge in Rafah due to ongoing conflicts.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, expressed outrage at the attack, stating that it occurred at a time when food supplies are running low and hunger is becoming widespread, with some areas facing famine. The Israeli military has not yet provided a response to the incident.
The warehouse, located in eastern Rafah, serves as both a storage facility for aid supplies and a distribution center for food. Despite not distributing food at the time of the attack, over 50 staff members were present when the Israeli forces struck the facility.
Photos and videos from the scene captured by Reuters journalists revealed the devastating aftermath of the attack, with blood splattered across the warehouse floor and aid supplies. This tragic event adds to the grim statistics of the conflict, with over 165 UNRWA staff members killed in Gaza since the start of the war.
Mr. Lazzarini emphasized that UNRWA had shared the coordinates of its facilities with the parties involved in the conflict, including the Israeli military, in an effort to prevent such incidents. He condemned the attack as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
Martin Griffiths, the top humanitarian chief at the United Nations, also condemned the strike on social media, calling it “devastating” for both aid workers and the families they were assisting. He urged for the protection of aid workers and an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
