Humanitarian Aid Trucks Pillaged in Gaza Amid Intensifying Conflict
Fifteen WFP trucks looted as Israeli military operations escalate and humanitarian aid remains critically low.
Fifteen trucks belonging to the World Food Programme (WFP) were looted in the Gaza Strip on the night of May 22-23, 2025, according to reports from the agency.
The looting occurred while the trucks were en route to bakeries supported by the WFP in the southern region of Gaza.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern, indicating that while some humanitarian aid was finally entering Gaza, it is inadequate compared to the urgent need for assistance.
He condemned the escalation of Israeli military operations, stating that the situation has led to unprecedented levels of casualties and destruction.
The Gaza Civil Defense reported at least 16 fatalities on Friday due to Israeli airstrikes across various areas of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military has intensified its air and ground operations since mid-May with declared objectives of neutralizing Hamas and rescuing hostages taken during the unprecedented assault by the Palestinian Islamist group on Israel on October 7, 2023.
With growing international outrage regarding the Israeli blockade, which has triggered severe food and medicine shortages, Israel began to permit limited humanitarian aid deliveries beginning Monday, a first since March 2. The WFP stated that the looted trucks were part of a wider initiative to bring much-needed supplies to the region.
The WFP highlighted that "hunger, despair, and uncertainty about the arrival of further food supplies are fueling increasing insecurity" and urged Israeli authorities to facilitate the entry of significantly larger volumes of humanitarian aid in a timely manner.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (Cogat) reported that 107 aid trucks had entered Gaza on Thursday, but Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), reminded that during past lulls in violence, as many as 500 to 600 trucks entered daily.
Guterres discussed the "staggering obstacles" faced by humanitarian agencies, calling attention to bureaucratic challenges and quotas imposed by Israel, while stating that 80% of the territory is now inaccessible to the population.
A representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemned the actions in Gaza as moving toward "ethnic cleansing and genocide," describing the ongoing situation as an "immense tragedy."
In Friday's air strikes, Mohammed al-Moughayyir, a civil defense official, reported that 16 individuals lost their lives, and dozens sustained injuries, primarily in the central and southern regions of Gaza.
The Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza reported injuries to three staff members due to Israeli drone strikes targeting the facility.
The Israeli military stated that within the last 24 hours, it had targeted "military complexes, weapon depots, and sniper positions" throughout Gaza, claiming to have struck more than 75 "terrorist targets."
Israeli air raid sirens were reportedly activated in areas close to Gaza on Friday afternoon, with an acknowledgment of intercepting a projectile launched from the Palestinian territory.
Eyewitnesses reported thick plumes of smoke rising above destroyed buildings in southern Gaza.
The unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,218 Israeli deaths, predominantly among civilians, according to official accounts.
Out of 251 individuals taken hostage, 57 are still believed to be held in Gaza, with 20 confirmed alive.
The Israeli retaliatory campaign has led to at least 53,822 reported deaths in Gaza, primarily among civilians, according to figures from the Hamas health ministry, which have been substantiated by UN assessments.
The looting occurred while the trucks were en route to bakeries supported by the WFP in the southern region of Gaza.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern, indicating that while some humanitarian aid was finally entering Gaza, it is inadequate compared to the urgent need for assistance.
He condemned the escalation of Israeli military operations, stating that the situation has led to unprecedented levels of casualties and destruction.
The Gaza Civil Defense reported at least 16 fatalities on Friday due to Israeli airstrikes across various areas of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military has intensified its air and ground operations since mid-May with declared objectives of neutralizing Hamas and rescuing hostages taken during the unprecedented assault by the Palestinian Islamist group on Israel on October 7, 2023.
With growing international outrage regarding the Israeli blockade, which has triggered severe food and medicine shortages, Israel began to permit limited humanitarian aid deliveries beginning Monday, a first since March 2. The WFP stated that the looted trucks were part of a wider initiative to bring much-needed supplies to the region.
The WFP highlighted that "hunger, despair, and uncertainty about the arrival of further food supplies are fueling increasing insecurity" and urged Israeli authorities to facilitate the entry of significantly larger volumes of humanitarian aid in a timely manner.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (Cogat) reported that 107 aid trucks had entered Gaza on Thursday, but Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), reminded that during past lulls in violence, as many as 500 to 600 trucks entered daily.
Guterres discussed the "staggering obstacles" faced by humanitarian agencies, calling attention to bureaucratic challenges and quotas imposed by Israel, while stating that 80% of the territory is now inaccessible to the population.
A representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemned the actions in Gaza as moving toward "ethnic cleansing and genocide," describing the ongoing situation as an "immense tragedy."
In Friday's air strikes, Mohammed al-Moughayyir, a civil defense official, reported that 16 individuals lost their lives, and dozens sustained injuries, primarily in the central and southern regions of Gaza.
The Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza reported injuries to three staff members due to Israeli drone strikes targeting the facility.
The Israeli military stated that within the last 24 hours, it had targeted "military complexes, weapon depots, and sniper positions" throughout Gaza, claiming to have struck more than 75 "terrorist targets."
Israeli air raid sirens were reportedly activated in areas close to Gaza on Friday afternoon, with an acknowledgment of intercepting a projectile launched from the Palestinian territory.
Eyewitnesses reported thick plumes of smoke rising above destroyed buildings in southern Gaza.
The unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,218 Israeli deaths, predominantly among civilians, according to official accounts.
Out of 251 individuals taken hostage, 57 are still believed to be held in Gaza, with 20 confirmed alive.
The Israeli retaliatory campaign has led to at least 53,822 reported deaths in Gaza, primarily among civilians, according to figures from the Hamas health ministry, which have been substantiated by UN assessments.
