Mon Nov 18 15:04:47 UTC 2024: ## Gaza Aid Convoy Looted: 98 Trucks Lost in Devastating Incident

**GAZA CITY** – A UNRWA convoy carrying vital food aid to Gaza was violently looted on Saturday, resulting in the loss of 98 out of 109 trucks, marking one of the worst such incidents since the start of the Israeli offensive in October. The incident, which occurred after the convoy was ordered by Israel to take an unfamiliar route from the Kerem Shalom crossing, highlights the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.

Louise Wateridge, a senior UNRWA emergency officer, stated that the looting caused injuries and exacerbated already severe access challenges to delivering aid, particularly to the besieged northern Gaza Strip. She emphasized the urgency of the crisis, warning of imminent, potentially catastrophic food shortages affecting over two million people dependent on humanitarian assistance.

While Israel claims to facilitate aid entry, a UN official reported that aid access has reached a critical low point, with nearly no food reaching northern Gaza – specifically Jabalia, Beit Hanoon, and Beit Lahia – for over a month due to ongoing military operations. Experts warn of imminent famine in the north.

The incident comes amidst a backdrop of escalating violence, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed since the renewed Israeli offensive last month, bringing the total death toll since October 7th to at least 43,922. The Israeli army has intensified its bombardment and issued forced displacement orders, although many Palestinians refuse to leave due to fears of further violence. The siege has crippled the healthcare system in northern Gaza, hindering medical access to affected areas.

Further complicating matters, Israel has banned UNRWA from operating in the country, citing alleged Hamas ties—a claim UNRWA denies. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that this ban, set to take effect in January, would severely hamper aid efforts and has no alternative plan. He urged international action to prevent the ban’s implementation, calling it one of the darkest moments in the agency’s history. The ban has drawn global condemnation, including from the United States.

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