GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center)The Israeli occupation army committed a horrific massacre on Friday targeting personnel assigned to secure and protect humanitarian aid in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip. The attack resulted in the killing of at least six personnel and dozens of injuries, in what officials and media sources describe as a systematic effort to obstruct relief operations and enable looting of aid convoys.
Local sources reported that the massacre began when armed individuals attacked aid trucks in an open attempt to loot humanitarian supplies. Security forces intervened to stop the assailants, only to be unexpectedly struck by Israeli warplanes that directly targeted the aid security personnel, killing six instantly and injuring many others.
The Israeli forces did not stop at that. They went on to directly target civilians present at the scene, followed by intense airstrikes that hit ambulances rushing to evacuate the wounded and retrieve the bodies of the martyrs. These strikes caused further casualties among emergency and rescue teams.
According to local sources, the initial massacre was followed by more than eight consecutive Israeli air raids on the targeted area. These raids resulted in a high number of fatalities and injuries, severely hampering rescue efforts. Access to several victims remains difficult due to ongoing shelling and gunfire.
In a related statement, the Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza declared that the targeting of aid security personnel is “a crime that exposes the Israeli intent to disrupt the flow of humanitarian and medical aid.” The Office added that the occupation is systematically enabling the looting of humanitarian aid and medical supply trucks by deliberately attacking those securing their delivery.
The GMO further noted that retrieving the bodies of several martyrs from the aid security massacre remains challenging due to continuous bombardment and gunfire. It called for full protection of humanitarian aid and those working to secure it, stressing the need to ensure safe and orderly access to affected areas.
In a separate statement, Nahed Shuheiber, Director General of Private Transport Companies in Gaza, condemned the attack on aid trucks and the looting of their contents in the areas of Bani Suheila Roundabout and Ramzoun in Deir al-Balah. He described these actions as irresponsible, severely hindering relief efforts and worsening the suffering of Gaza’s starving population.
Shuheiber emphasized the importance of families and community institutions taking responsibility and implementing necessary measures to safeguard humanitarian aid and ensure its delivery to those in need without disruption or exploitation.
He also urged international bodies to ensure the protection of aid convoys and prevent any form of attack on them—whether through gunfire or targeting their wheels and engines—in order to maintain uninterrupted relief operations amid the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
