Thomas White, head of UNWRA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, confirmed that the Israeli army fired on one of its humanitarian aid convoys in the Gaza Strip without causing any injuries.
First change: December 29, 2023 – 10:31 a.m
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The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday that the Israeli army fired on one of its humanitarian aid convoys in the Gaza Strip without causing any casualties. “Israeli soldiers fired on an aid convoy returning from the northern Gaza Strip using a route designated by the Israeli army,” UNRWA Gaza Director Thomas White said on X (formerly Twitter). “Humanitarian aid workers should never be targeted,” he emphasized.
#Ribbon – Israeli soldiers fired on an aid convoy returning from the northern Gaza Strip on a route set by the Israeli army – our international convoy leader and his team were not injured, but a vehicle was damaged – aid workers should never be targeted.@UNRWA
– Thomas White (@TomWhiteGaza) December 29, 2023
Hamas in Egypt discusses peace plan
A Hamas delegation is scheduled to travel to Cairo today to discuss an Egyptian plan for a Gaza ceasefire submitted to the organization and Islamic Jihad. The plan consists of three phases with renewable ceasefires, a phased release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and a final ceasefire as the final step.
Once the conflict is over, Egypt's proposal also calls for a Palestinian government composed of tenocrats and members of all Palestinian factions, whose job would be to provide political guidance to the Gaza Strip and be responsible for its post-war reconstruction.
Gaza-Cyprus Humanitarian Corridor
Israel confirmed on Thursday that it had given the green light to a preliminary agreement with Cyprus to open a maritime corridor between that Mediterranean island and the Gaza Strip.
Lior Haiat, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, admitted that “an initial approval to use this route has been received” but that there are still “some logistical problems to be resolved.” Currently, the only humanitarian aid entering Gaza is by land through the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt.
The ministry also recalled that humanitarian aid from Cyprus, as well as Egypt, must be verified “under Israeli supervision” before leaving the port.