A Palestinian driver delivering food aid into Gaza was killed by an Israeli soldier in what witnesses describe as a 'field execution', according to the Guardian, prompting a local truckers' association to consider suspending operations in protest. The account rests on witness testimony; the IDF's response is not recorded in the available reporting.
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Key facts
- Ahmad Esleem, a Palestinian driver carrying World Central Kitchen food aid, was shot in the head on Wednesday, according to witnesses cited by the Guardian.
- Witnesses and the local truckers' association describe the killing as a 'field execution'.
- Three accounts say the convoy stopped after a truck broke down soon after entering Gaza.
- Israeli soldiers ordered drivers to dismount, and one shot Esleem while his hands were raised, according to witnesses.
- The local truckers' association said it may suspend operations in protest.
- The available reporting does not include a response from the IDF, and the account has not been independently verified.
A Palestinian driver bringing food aid from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) into Gaza has been killed by an Israeli soldier, according to witnesses and a local truckers’ association, which described the incident as a ‘field execution’, the Guardian reported.
The driver, named as Ahmad Esleem, was shot in the head on Wednesday when an aid convoy stopped because of a breakdown to one truck soon after entering Gaza, according to three accounts cited by the outlet.
According to those accounts, Israeli soldiers ordered the drivers to dismount from their vehicles, and one of the soldiers shot Esleem in the head while his hands were raised.
The local truckers’ association said it may suspend operations in protest over the killing, according to the Guardian. Several eyewitnesses decried Esleem’s death.
The reporting relies on witness testimony and the account of the truckers’ association, and is based on three separate descriptions of the events. The account has not been independently verified, and the available sources do not include a response from the Israel Defense Forces to the accusation.
Why it matters
Aid deliveries into Gaza are a lifeline for a population facing acute shortages, and the safety of those transporting supplies is central to whether relief operations can continue. A potential suspension of operations by drivers could further disrupt the flow of food into the territory.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ahmad Esleem?
According to the Guardian, Ahmad Esleem was a Palestinian driver bringing food aid from the World Central Kitchen into Gaza who was shot in the head on Wednesday.
What do witnesses say happened?
Three accounts cited by the Guardian say an aid convoy stopped after a truck broke down soon after entering Gaza, Israeli soldiers ordered drivers to dismount, and one soldier shot Esleem in the head while his hands were raised.
How has the truckers' association responded?
The local truckers' association said it may suspend operations in protest, and several eyewitnesses decried the killing, according to the Guardian.
Timeline
- IDF accused of ‘field execution’ of Palestinian driver bringing aid into Gaza
The Guardian World: Local truckers’ association says it may suspend operations, after several eyewitnesses decried Ahmad Esleem’s murder A Palestinian driver bringing food aid from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) into Gaza has been killed by an Israeli soldier “in a field execution”, according to wi