Unrwa suspends aid deliveries through main Gaza route after armed gangs attack convoy

The UN's agency for Palestinian refugees has suspended aid deliveries through the main lifeline for Gaza after a fresh attack by armed gangs on a convoy, amid a severe food crisis caused by more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hamas.

- Bethan McKernan

In a statement yesterday, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of Unrwa, said several lorries carrying food had been looted the day before on the road from Kerem Shalom on the border with Israel - the main aid crossing point into the besieged Palestinian territory. The route had not been safe for months, he said on X, referring to the hijacking of nearly 100 aid lorries last month.

"This difficult decision comes at a time hunger is rapidly deepening due to the ongoing siege, hurdles from Israeli authorities, political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on aid routes and targeting of local police," he said.

Lazzarini said protecting aid workers and supplies was Israel's responsibility as the occupying power. He called on Tel Aviv to "ensure aid flows into Gaza safely" and to "refrain from attacks on humanitarian workers".