Aid group says Israeli strike on Gaza convoy kills Palestinians

In a statement published on Friday, external, Anera said the transport plan for the aid convoy to Rafah had been co-ordinated and cleared with Israeli authorities and that its agreement with transit company Move One had called for unarmed security guards.

“Shortly after departing Kerem Shalom, initial reports indicate that four community members with experience in previous missions and engagement in community security with Move One came forward in a car and requested to take the place of the leading vehicle, citing concern that the route was unsafe and at risk of being looted,” it said.

“The four community members were neither vetted nor co-ordinated in advance, and Israeli authorities allege that the lead car was carrying numerous weapons,” it added. “However, the four individuals were not perceived by the convoy as a hostile threat.”

One of Anera’s employees “witnessed the incident at close range” from the second vehicle in the convoy but was not harmed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement, which did not give a death toll, that “during the convoy’s movement, a number of armed assailants seized control of the vehicle in the front of the convoy… and began to lead it”.

“After the takeover and further verification that a precise strike on the armed assailants’ vehicle could be carried out, a strike was conducted,” it added.

“No damage was caused to the other vehicles in the convoy and it reached its destination.”