This incident may be a smoking gun (so to speak):
Who killed a Palestinian humanitarian aid truck driver and wounded two others as their convoy made its way into the Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing during Thursday’s ‘humanitarian ceasefire’?
According to the foreign media, who based their information on UN sources, IDF tank shells blasted the truck. According to the Magen David Adom medic who said he evacuated the Palestinians to an Israeli hospital, the truck came under Hamas sniper fire. The medic, who asked not to be named, said he got his information from soldiers in the field. The IDF Spokesperson’s Office has not been able to provide a response or establish contact with the relevant sources in the field.
Adding to the confusion, the Palestinian Red Crescent said it evacuated the Palestinians, but the MDA medic said soldiers told him they went in, with great risk to themselves, and evacuated the wounded Palestinians. What is certain is that there is one dead Palestinian, and two others being treated at Ashkelon’s Barzilai Hospital with gunshot wounds to the chest… [my emphasis]
As a result of the incident, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip said it was suspending operations relating to the collection and distribution of humanitarian aid. — Jerusalem Post
It is extremely hard to believe that an Israeli tank would fire at a truck near the Erez crossing during the humanitarian pause, even by accident. It would be very much not in Israel’s interest to do this. Of course anything is possible, but the wounded drivers are in an Israeli hospital with gunshot, not shrapnel wounds.
It should be quite easy to find out exactly what happened. I have no doubt that the IDF spokesperson will come out with a statement soon.
And I am expecting that it will show that Hamas fired at Palestinian drivers in order to embarrass Israel.
Technorati Tags: Israel, Hamas, Gaza, Erez crossing