A UN fuel truck is bombed in Gaza, and settler violence continues in the West Bank

The office’s executive director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said in a statement that no one was harmed, but the truck was directly hit and severely damaged while it was empty on its way to load fuel.

Da Silva said: “Our team takes extraordinary risks every day to keep humanitarian operations and essential services running. They should not have to do this under fire.”.

He called for a comprehensive investigation into this latest incident, stressing the need to allow fuel to enter Gaza on a regular basis, and to facilitate its safe and uninterrupted delivery to ensure the continuation of humanitarian operations and basic services, including hospitals, water and sanitation networks, and bakeries.

Bombing causes injuries and damage

In turn, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric quoted colleagues in the humanitarian field warning that civilians – including relief workers – and civilian infrastructure continue to be exposed to air strikes, bombing and shooting, resulting in injuries and damage.

Dujarric said: “As we have repeatedly stated, international humanitarian law stipulates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.”.

He stated that until yesterday, Thursday, the Kerem Shalom crossing remained open, allowing the passage of humanitarian supplies, adding that all other crossings, including the Rafah crossing, remained closed.

He explained that due to this closure, medical evacuations, the return of residents from abroad, and the rotation of humanitarian workers remain suspended.

He added that United Nations partners inside Gaza continue to provide health services, giving priority to emergency care, maternity and childbirth services, infectious disease management, and trauma care. The partners also carefully manage fuel consumption and adjust operations when needed.

The situation in the West Bank

Regarding the situation in the West Bank, the United Nations spokesman said that the increasing closure of Israeli checkpoints and road gates since the start of the regional escalation continues to restrict Palestinian access to services and workplaces, and emergency services and humanitarian work have also been affected.

He added that violence committed by Israeli settlers and Israeli security forces continues, resulting in casualties, damage and forced displacement.

Dujarric said that 8 Palestinian families, including about 45 people, were forced to leave the Shakara community in Nablus Governorate following a series of attacks, threats, assaults and intimidation by Israeli settlers from a newly established illegal settlement outpost. He pointed out that the Israeli forces declared the place a closed military zone.

He stated that in response to this development, United Nations partners began providing psychological and social support, legal consultations, and the provision of shelter, in addition to living and cash assistance, stressing that “The Palestinians in the West Bank must be protected, and the perpetrators must be held accountable.”.