Israeli protesters block humanitarian aid convoy bound for Gaza

Israeli protesters blocked aid trucks headed for Gaza on Monday (13 May), strewing food packages on the road in the latest incident amidst Israel’s pledge to allow uninterrupted humanitarian supplies into the region.

The aid trucks were coming from Jordan to Gaza.

Four protesters, including a minor, were arrested at the Tarqumiya checkpoint, west of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to a statement from the lawyers representing the protesters.

Videos circulated on social media showed protesters throwing supplies from the trucks onto the ground, with the contents of opened cartons spilled across the road.

🚨BREAKING: israeli settlers are destroying desperately needed humanitarian aid coming from Jordan to Gaza.

These are their “civilians”, destroying aid while literally laughing about it and having fun. pic.twitter.com/vvEMgmVd1v

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) May 13, 2024

In a subsequent video reported by Suppressed News on X, Israeli protesters set fire to trucks carrying humanitarian aid destined for Gaza.

🚨BREAKING: Israeli settlers set fire to trucks carrying humanitarian AID to Gaza.

These are the “civilians” of israel, they made sure to burn everything down so that no aid goes to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/OBItvpde96

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) May 14, 2024

“The aid that the State of Israel transfers goes directly into the hands of Hamas,” said a statement from the Order 9 group, which organized the protests.

The group argued that as long as Israel “gives gifts to Hamas and allows them total control over the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas would have no incentive to negotiate the release of over 100 hostages it holds captive.

According to Quds News Network, Israeli sources suggest that these mobs are orchestrated by Israeli officials through organized groups, providing them with routes and timing of the convoys to prevent their arrival in Gaza from Jordan.

In response to the protests, Israeli police stated, “In light of incidents of disorderly conduct today, law enforcement has initiated an investigation culminating in the arrest of multiple suspects. The investigation is actively ongoing.”

On 7 May, six people were arrested after a similar protest in which dozens of demonstrators blocked an aid convoy heading to the Gaza Strip.

The protesters blocked roads at various points along the trucks’ route from Jordan to Gaza, damaging some of the goods and spilling them onto the road.

The White House has condemned an attack on an aid convoy heading to Gaza by Israeli settlers who threw packages of food into the road and set fire to the vehicles.

“It is a total outrage that there are people who are attacking and looting these convoys coming from Jordan, going to Gaza to deliver humanitarian assistance,” US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.

“We are looking at the tools that we have to respond to this,” he added.

“We are also raising our concerns at the highest level of the Israeli government and it’s something that we make no bones about – this is completely and utterly unacceptable behaviour.”

Israel has faced heavy international pressure to increase the flow of aid into Gaza, where international organizations have warned of a severe humanitarian crisis threatening a population of more than 2 million people.

On Sunday, Israeli authorities announced the opening of a new crossing into northern Gaza, and a temporary port built by the United States is close to opening.

On 7 October last year, Israel initiated a military campaign in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas following the group’s assault on southern Israel.

Israeli authorities reported approximately 1,139 fatalities and 252 individuals taken hostage during the conflict.

Since then, according to data from the Palestine Health Ministry, over 35,090 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza, with more than 78,800 sustaining injuries.