**Children Killed in Gaza Water Truck Strike**
A devastating incident has shaken the Gaza Strip, where a water truck was bombed by Israeli warplanes on Sunday. The attack killed 10 people, including 6 children, and injured 16 others.
The victims were waiting for their daily water supply at a distribution point in the Nuseirat urban camp. Mahmoud Abdul-Rahman Ahmed, father of one of the deceased children, Abdullah, described the scene to a BBC journalist. “The children stood in line with empty stomachs and jerrycans. They had thirsty lips,” he said.
According to eyewitnesses, warplanes bombed the water truck without warning, destroying nearby buildings and leaving destruction in their wake. A graphic video taken by a local journalist shows the aftermath of the strike, with women screaming and bystanders trying to rescue people from the rubble.
The Israeli military claimed that it had targeted an “Islamic Jihad terrorist” but made a “technical mistake” that led to the civilian casualties. However, Mahmoud questioned this claim, saying that Israel intended to send a message: “It won’t let people drink even the water they crave.”
**Water Shortages in Gaza**
Gaza is facing severe water shortages due to a lack of fuel, spare parts, and equipment, as well as insecurity caused by Israeli military operations. Many people receive less than 15 liters of water per day, leading to what the UN calls “a man-made drought crisis.” Children wait at the roadside each morning for water trucks to collect their daily supplies.
**International Response**
The United Nations has condemned the incident and demanded that Israel review its rules of engagement to prevent similar tragedies. The UN Security Council will meet later this week to discuss the current situation in Gaza, after a request from the UK. Meanwhile, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell called for Israeli officials to urgently review their policies to ensure compliance with international human rights law.
**Pressure on Israel**
As the conflict continues, there is growing pressure on Israel to end its military operations in Gaza. Mahmoud echoed this demand, saying that the war must stop and the ongoing massacre in the Strip must be halted. “We are powerless and weak. We are victims. We are civilians, just like everyone else in the world.”
**The Bigger Picture**
This incident is not an isolated event. Last Thursday, 10 women and 3 children were killed while waiting for nutritional supplements outside a clinic near Deir al-Balah. Since the beginning of the war, an average of a classroom full of kids has been killed every day.
As UNICEF’s Catherine Russell noted, “these were not the only children who died in Gaza [on] Sunday.” The international community must take action to prevent such tragedies and ensure that Israeli officials are held accountable for their actions.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
