UNICEF Gaza water truck drivers investigation has been called for after two aid drivers were killed in northern Gaza during an operation to deliver clean water to civilians, according to the United Nations agency.
The agency says the men were working on a routine water delivery run when they were struck by Israeli fire on 17 April at the Mansoura water filling point. Two other workers were injured in the same incident.
UNICEF says the drivers were contracted to transport clean water and were following normal routes and procedures at the time. The organisation has described the incident as a serious breach of protections for humanitarian workers and has demanded answers from Israeli authorities.
The incident took place at the Mansoura water filling station in northern Gaza. This location is a key access point connected to the Mekorot water supply line, which supports water distribution in Gaza City and surrounding areas.
Aid groups use this site several times a day to load water trucks. These deliveries serve displaced families and communities where regular water systems have been damaged or are no longer functioning.
According to UNICEF, the attack happened while workers were carrying out scheduled operations. There were no reported changes to routes or procedures before the incident.
The Mansoura site is currently one of the few functioning hubs for truck-based water distribution in the area. With infrastructure heavily damaged, many households now depend on water deliveries rather than piped systems.
When the site stopped operating after the incident, UNICEF suspended all activity there. Contractors were told to pause work until conditions were considered safe again. This has placed additional strain on already limited water supplies.
UNICEF said it was deeply concerned by the deaths and stressed that aid workers must be protected at all times.
The agency is urging Israeli authorities to open an immediate investigation and ensure accountability for what happened. It also repeated that humanitarian operations should not be disrupted under any circumstances.
UNICEF stated that civilian workers and infrastructure involved in aid delivery are protected under international humanitarian law and should never be targeted.
The Humanitarian Country Team, which includes United Nations agencies and partner organisations, also condemned the incident. It said the drivers were carrying essential water supplies when they were killed and warned that such events disrupt survival services for civilians.
The incident comes during an ongoing conflict in Gaza that has severely affected basic services, including water access. Palestinian health authorities report large-scale casualties since the start of the war in October 2023, though figures remain disputed by different parties.
Humanitarian agencies continue to warn that disruptions to aid operations, including water delivery, increase pressure on civilians who rely heavily on external support for daily needs.
Separate reports from the occupied West Bank also continue to document violent incidents involving Israeli forces and Palestinians, highlighting broader regional tensions.
UNICEF says the killing of water truck drivers highlights the growing risks faced by aid workers in Gaza. The organisation is calling for accountability and for all parties to ensure humanitarian operations can continue without threat or interruption.
