“UNICEF is outraged by the murder of two truck drivers hired by UNICEF to provide drinking water to families in the Gaza Strip,” the agency said.
The two men were killed by Israeli fire early Friday at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza, in an incident that also left two others wounded. UNICEF said the attack occurred during routine water transport operations, with no changes to movement or procedures.
The Mansoura site is currently the only operational truck filling point for the Mekorot water supply line serving Gaza City. UNICEF and its humanitarian partners use it several times a day to sustain critical water supplies to large segments of the population, including children.
In-person activities suspended
Following the incident, UNICEF said its contractors were instructed to suspend activities at the site until security conditions improve.
The agency called on Israeli authorities to “immediately investigate this incident and ensure full accountability,” stressing that “humanitarian workers, essential service providers and civilian infrastructure, including critical water facilities, must never be attacked.”
“The protection of civilians and those providing vital assistance is an obligation under international humanitarian law,” the statement added.