US blames Israel for ‘deeply troubling’ shooting of WFP vehicle, says IDF must protect aid workers
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller pans the shooting of a World Food Programme vehicle inside Gaza on Wednesday and in a post on X, attributes blame to Israel for the “deeply troubling incident.”
“Humanitarian workers are there to help innocent civilians, and Israel must ensure they are protected,” Miller adds.
On Wednesday, the WFP suspended the movement of its employees across the Gaza Strip, saying at least 10 bullets struck one of its clearly marked vehicles as it approached an Israeli military checkpoint.
Earlier today, US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said that Jerusalem had informed Washington that an initial review found that shots were fired at the vehicle after a “communication error” between IDF units.
“We have urged them to immediately rectify the issues within their system,” Wood told a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza. “Israel must not only take ownership for its mistakes but also take concrete actions to ensure the IDF does not fire on UN personnel again.”
