UNICEF suspends operations at water station after Israel kills 2 contractors in Gaza

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced Saturday that it has suspended its operations at a water station east of Gaza City after the Israeli army killed two drivers contracted by the organization, reported Xinhua.

In a press statement, the organization said "UNICEF is outraged by the killing of two drivers of trucks contracted by UNICEF to provide clean water to families in the Gaza Strip."

It added that, "The victims were killed by Israeli fire in an incident that took place at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza. UNICEF extends our condolences to the families of the men killed."

The statement said that the UNICEF contractors have been instructed to suspend onsite activities until security conditions in the area are restored.

It called on the Israeli authorities to immediately investigate this incident, and ensure full accountability. Humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure, including critical water facilities, must never be targeted.

Brothers Eid and Mahmoud Abu Warda were killed, and two others were injured, when the Israeli army bombed a water desalination plant at the beginning of Mansoura Street in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, on Friday, according to Palestinian medical sources.

The Israeli army has not commented on the incident.

According to the UN agency, the water filling station in Mansoura is currently the only operational filling station for trucks connected to the Mekorot water supply line serving Gaza City. UNICEF and its humanitarian partners use this point several times a day to ensure the continued delivery of vital water to hundreds of thousands of people, including children, according to the statement.

Palestinian killed by Israeli army fire in West Bank

A young Palestinian man was killed Saturday by Israeli army fire in Khirbet Salama, west of Dura, southwest of Hebron in the West Bank, according to official Palestinian sources.

The Palestinian General Authority for Civil Affairs said in a brief press statement that Mohammed Suwaiti, 25, was killed by Israeli army fire west of Dura, near Hebron, and that his body was being held by the Israeli authorities.

Local sources reported that Israeli forces shot Suwaiti, claiming he was attempting to approach the settlement of Negohot, built on Palestinian land southwest of Hebron.

There has been no official Israeli comment on the incident.

The West Bank has witnessed escalating tensions in recent months. According to Palestinian statistics, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023, most of them during raids by or clashes with the Israeli army.