On Tuesday, May 14, the Israeli occupation army and its spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, released footage purportedly showing "vandals near U.N. vehicles engaging in gunfire within a UNRWA compound in eastern Rafah," as described by Adraee.
The Israeli occupation army stated that the incident occurred during "an operation conducted by the Givati Brigade, led by the 162nd Division, last Saturday. A group of saboteurs was reportedly detected within the main logistics compound of UNRWA, alongside U.N. vehicles in eastern Rafah."
Adraee claimed that the footage "depicts a group of terrorists near U.N. vehicles within the logistic warehouse compound of the organization, a pivotal center for aid distribution in Gaza." He asserted that the footage captured armed individuals firing at the UNRWA compound in eastern Rafah.
Security Personnel Securing Aid in Gaza
Upon investigation, Misbar has found that the footage shared by the Israeli military and Avichay Adraee to be misleading. The armed individuals depicted in the footage are not affiliated with the resistance and are not exploiting U.N. vehicles. Instead, they are security personnel tasked with protecting and securing the humanitarian aid provided by UNRWA from theft.
In numerous previous instances, these armed individuals have been seen safeguarding aid deliveries entering Gaza, whether on the streets or aboard buses carrying the supplies.
Eyewitnesses told Misbar that these personnel consistently assist UNRWA, occasionally opting for civilian attire instead of police uniforms to avoid being targeted by Israeli forces involved in the ongoing war on Gaza.
Local Committees Enforcing Order Amid the Ongoing Gaza War
Recently, these armed individuals have also collaborated with "Popular Protection Committees," conducting patrols in the streets of Rafah in southern Gaza. Media sources, including Israeli outlets, indicate that these armed men belong to various civil society groups, clans, and factions. They have started providing security for aid convoys in Gaza to prevent chaos and ensure orderly distribution.
Moreover, these personnel aim to regulate market prices and enforce security due to the absence of local authority resulting from the devastating war in Gaza.
Adraee’s Claims Regarding Gunfire at the UNRWA Compound
Avichay Adraee claimed that the footage depicted armed individuals firing shots at the UNRWA compound in eastern Rafah. However, upon thorough examination of the footage, no instances of gunfire targeting the compound were observed. Instead, it showed an individual attempting to disperse a crowd, urging them to move away from the compound without resorting to violence.
Occupation Forces Target Relief Workers in Gaza
Israeli forces have killed numerous relief workers involved in securing aid during the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
In March, Palestinian popular committees and clans ceased their efforts to secure aid operations in northern Gaza due to Israeli targeting, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries among relief workers.
In a previous statement, the popular committees explained that "the families' initiative aimed to ensure the delivery of aid to deserving individuals in the absence of U.N. institutions, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme." This initiative stemmed from discussions with U.N. institutions, international organizations, and public appeals.
In their statement, the committees and clans emphasized that Israel has caused "chaos and famine" by denying access to international institutions, especially the Red Cross, UNRWA, and the World Food Programme, to operate in Gaza and North Gaza governorates.
The occupation forces have targeted officials responsible for securing aid shipments, most notably Brigadier General Faiq Al-Mabhouh, who coordinated with clans and UNRWA to facilitate and secure humanitarian aid to northern Gaza.
The U.S. Calls on Israel To Cease Targeting Security Personnel
The Biden administration previously urged Israel to cease targeting civilian police force members accompanying aid convoys in Gaza, warning that a "total breakdown of law and order" would significantly exacerbate the humanitarian situation in the Strip, according to a report by Axios.
The report indicates that this request followed Israel's targeting of civilian forces in Gaza. However, Israel rebuffed the U.S. request, stating that "one of its goals in the war is to ensure that Hamas no longer runs Gaza," and mentioned that Israel is working on alternative plans to ensure law and order.
Ongoing Israeli Allegations Against UNRWA
The Israeli claims come amid ongoing accusations by the occupation regarding the involvement of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in collaborating with armed groups in Gaza.
According to a report by the Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC) on UNRWA, Israeli authorities have yet to provide evidence supporting their claims that U.N. employees are involved with armed organizations.
The committee acknowledged Israel's accusations against numerous UNRWA staff members of affiliations with terrorist organizations but noted that "supporting evidence has not been provided." The report underscored the critical role of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency in fostering human and economic development among Palestinians, emphasizing its indispensability.
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