Convoy of 109 Trucks Looted in Gaza, Highlighting Aid Access Challenges

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A convoy of 109 trucks was violently looted on November 16 after entering Gaza, resulting in the loss of 98 trucks. This incident has been described by aid workers as one of the worst in the more than 13-month-long conflict, according to a UNRWA aid official who spoke to Reuters on Monday.

The convoy, which was carrying food provided by UN agencies UNRWA and the World Food Programme (WFP), was instructed by Israel to depart on short notice via an unfamiliar route from the Kerem Shalom crossing. Louise Wateridge, UNRWA Senior Emergency Officer, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “This incident highlights the severity of access challenges in bringing aid into southern and central Gaza.” She also noted that injuries occurred during the looting.

“The urgency of the crisis cannot be overstated; without immediate intervention, severe food shortages are set to worsen, further endangering the lives of over two million people who depend on humanitarian aid to survive,” Wateridge added.

Both WFP and COGAT, the Israeli military agency responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The WFP maintains that it does everything possible to ensure sufficient aid enters the coastal enclave and that Israel does not obstruct humanitarian assistance.

A UN aid official remarked on Friday that access to aid in Gaza has reached a critical low, with deliveries to parts of the besieged northern region nearly impossible.