Israel says individuals were gunmen, which it specifically targeted without harming others; Anera does not explain their presence but says it did not view them as 'hostile threat'

A US-based aid group admitted Friday that a group of individuals — who the Israeli military says were armed — took control of an aid convoy in the southern Gaza Strip the day before, without the organization having vetted them or coordinated the matter with the Israel Defense Forces.

The military said Thursday that it struck the gunmen, killing them while not harming aid workers.

According to the IDF, Hamas operatives frequently try to hijack aid deliveries.

The IDF had said on Thursday that a convoy of aid trucks from the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) organization entered the southern Rafah area with Israeli coordination. It said that during the drive, it identified a group of gunmen taking over a vehicle at the front of the convoy and beginning to lead it. The IDF described the act as a hijacking attempt.

Shortly afterward, the IDF said it was able to determine that it could strike just the car with the gunmen, without harming the rest of the convoy, and so it carried out a strike, killing at least four.

  • kescusay@lemmy.worldEnglish
    368·
    4 months ago

    Given IDF’s less-than-stellar behavior so far, I’m going to remain skeptical until we know for sure that the aid workers in the rest of the convoy are alive and well.

    • steventhedev@lemmy.worldEnglish
      191·
      4 months ago

      No need to wait. Here’s their statement: https://www.anera.org/press/anera-convoy-attacked-en-route-to-emirati-red-crescent-hospital-four-killed/

      No Anera staff were harmed, though one Anera employee, who was in the second vehicle, witnessed the incident at close range.

      Despite this attack, the remainder of the convoy continued its mission and successfully delivered the critical aid to the hospital. Anera has coordinated with the United Arab Emirates 24 prior shipments for the Emirati Red Crescent Hospital since May.

      • rc__buggy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        172·
        4 months ago

        Here’s the key bit, IMO:

        The four community members were neither vetted nor coordinated in advance, and Israeli authorities allege that the lead car was carrying numerous weapons. Every initial report from those at the scene indicate that no weapons were present.

        Sounds a lot like the scandal around the “Collateral Murder” tapes. Unidentified people on ground and low level personnel “identify” weapons = dead civilians.