Israel cites 'communication error' after gunfire hits WFP vehicle in Gaza

US urges Israel to address military mistakes and prevent future attacks by IDF on UN personnel in conflict zones

UNITED NATIONS:

Israel informed the United States that an initial investigation found that gunfire directed at a World Food Programme (WFP) vehicle in the Gaza Strip resulted from a "communication error" between Israeli military units, according to US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood on Thursday.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza, Wood emphasised that the US urged Israel to immediately address the issues in its system. He stated that Israel must take responsibility for the mistake and implement measures to prevent the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) from targeting UN personnel in the future

The WFP had temporarily halted staff movement across Gaza on Wednesday after at least 10 bullets struck one of its clearly marked vehicles near an Israeli military checkpoint. The WFP reported that a convoy of two armored vehicles had received "multiple clearances from Israeli authorities" to approach the Wadi Gaza bridge checkpoint on Tuesday. While one of the vehicles was hit, no one was injured.