UNICEF 'outraged' over Israeli forces' killing 2 water truck drivers in northern Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2026) UNITED NATIONS, Apr 18 (APP): The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said on Friday it was “outraged” after two truck drivers it contracted to deliver clean water to families in the war-shattered Gaza Strip were killed by Israeli fire.

The U.N. agency said in a statement the incident occurred during routine water trucking at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza, which supplies Gaza City. Two others were injured in the attack.

UNICEF said it had suspended activities at the site and called on Israeli authorities to investigate, stressing that humanitarian workers, civilians and vital water infrastructure must be protected under international humanitarian la

October’s ceasefire in Israel's full-scale war on Gaza left Israeli troops in control of a depopulated zone that makes up well over half of Gaza, with Hamas in power in the remaining, narrow, coastal strip.

In the statement, UNICEF warned that the incident threatens vital humanitarian operations supplying clean water to hundreds of thousands of people.

“UNICEF is outraged by the killing of two drivers of trucks contracted by UNICEF to provide clean water to families in the Gaza Strip,” the agency said.

The two men were killed by Israeli fire early Friday at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza, in an incident that also left two others injured. UNICEF said the attack occurred during routine water trucking operations, with no changes in movement or procedures.

The Mansoura site is currently the only operational truck filling point for the Mekorot water supply line serving Gaza City. It is used multiple times daily by UNICEF and humanitarian partners to sustain critical water deliveries to large segments of the population, including children.

The agency called on Israeli authorities to “immediately investigate this incident, and ensure full accountability,” stressing that “humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure, including critical water facilities, must never be targeted.”

“The protection of civilians and those delivering life-saving assistance is an obligation under international humanitarian law,” the statement added.

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