DUBAI: An Israeli missile struck a convoy carrying medical supplies and fuel to a hospital in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of several people from a local transportation company, said the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) group on Friday.
The convoy was en route to the Emirates Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah when it was hit on Thursday along Salah Al-Din Road.
Sandra Rasheed, Anera’s director for the Palestinian territories, confirmed that while the attack killed several employees of the transportation company, the remaining vehicles in the convoy managed to deliver the aid to the hospital.
Israel, however, claimed that it targeted the convoy after gunmen had seized one of the vehicles. Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee stated that the raid was conducted to neutralize the threat posed by the gunmen, and that the other vehicles in the convoy were not harmed.
The Israeli military has previously targeted other aid convoys, with recent reports including a World Food Program vehicle being shot at by Israeli troops despite having clearance, and attacks on UNICEF and World Central Kitchen vehicles earlier this year.
