Aid convoy attacked as UN members call for increased support into Gaza

An aid convoy of 109 trucks, carrying necessary provisions for those suffering from the war in Gaza, has been violently looted.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has said the truck drivers were forced to exit their vehicles and unload the provisions under the threat of armed assault.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini says this is a result of the lawlessness that has taken hold of the region.
“More than 100 trucks have been looted, primarily UNRWA and the WFP, basically 80, 90 percent of the convoy on that day. What does it show? Well, we have been warning a long time ago about the total breakdown of civil order. Until four or five months ago, we still had local capacity people who were escorting the convoy. This has completely gone.”
It comes following a controversial new legislation which was approved by the Israeli parliament that outlaws the operations of UNRWA within the country.
Mr Lazzarini says it has become extremely difficult for aid workers to do their job under these circumstances.
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It has become an impossible environment to operate. Related to this incident, we had also hundreds of people who tried to storm into the Khan Younis vocational center because they thought that the food arrived there and people were so desperate to have the food that they stormed into the vocational training center. But the convoys were looted, so there was absolutely nothing to take from the warehouses in Khan Younis.”
Israel has been accused of several human rights abuses and international law violations since the start of the war.
The ongoing situation has put the country’s relations with the members of the European Union [[EU]] in question.
However, during a meeting between all foreign ministers of the E-U, a proposal to cut ties with Israel has been rejected.
The EU’s High Representative Josep Borrell explains the reasoning behind that decision.
“Most of the member states considered that it was much better to continue having a diplomatic and political relationship with Israel, so the decision was not taken into consideration, as expected. But at least they put on the table all of the information produced by United Nations organisations and every international organisation working in Gaza and the West Bank and in Lebanon in order to judge the way the war is being waged.”
During a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York, the U-K Foreign Secretary David Lammy addressed the impact of the war so far.
“The situation in northern Gaza is a nightmare of disease, destruction and despair. Over 300 aid workers have now been killed. It’s the highest number in U.N. history. Amongst them are three British nationals whose families yearn for justice. More children have been killed in any recent conflict anywhere in the world.”
He says global leaders have not been able to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians caught within the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“The world has failed to bring about the cease fire so desperately needed in Gaza and Lebanon failed to break the cycles of violence. But the United Kingdom will not give up. Not when there’s so much, frankly, at stake.”
The members of the U-N Security Council are calling for Israel to significantly increase its aid toward the people of Gaza.
They say the situation is only set to become worse.
With the coming of winter – thousands of people are homeless and also facing the threat of starvation as temperatures continue to drop.
The US Representative to the U-N Linda Thomas-Greenfield says the situation is urgent.
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We need to see all steps fully implemented and sustained, and we need to see concrete improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground. That includes Israel allowing commercial trucks to move into Gaza alongside humanitarian assistance. This is crucial to avoiding famine. We also need Israel to address persistent lawlessness so that the hundreds of trucks of aid arriving at crossing points into Gaza can reach people in need.”
However, the Israeli government appears focused on its goal of rescuing the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
During a speech in the Israeli parliament, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government is determined to do what they can to rescue the hostages.
“Until three in the morning I sat together with members of the general cabinet and discussed ways to overcome the reluctance of Hamas to return everyone home. We will not give up on anyone. I will not give up on anyone. The more we do and the less we talk about details and the way to get them back, the closer we will come to achieve their return.”
Mr Netanyahu has also told the Israeli parliament that he and U-S president-elect Donald Trump agree on the potential threat posed by Iran.
“Once again I want to emphasise my great appreciation for the U.S.A and say that in my conversations with President-elect Donald Trump, I must say that we did not talk about the methods of operation, we did not discuss policies, there is time, (until) the president will take office, but I can say that we see eye to eye (on) the Iranian threat.”
It comes as Israeli health services reported that one woman was killed and several other people were injured by a rocket attack in northern Israel.
The missile, reportedly launched from Lebanon, struck a residential building in the city of Shfaram.
It is the latest in a series of traded assaults between Israeli forces and the military group Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.