A humanitarian aid convoy sent by the United Arab Emirates to Gaza was looted last week while passing through a restricted “red zone” under Israeli military control, dealing a major blow to critical relief efforts in the besieged territory. The incident has been strongly condemned by Operation Gallant Knight 3, the UAE’s ongoing humanitarian mission for Gaza, which described the attack as a serious setback in delivering life-sustaining aid to civilians.
The convoy, consisting of trucks loaded with flour and bakery supplies, was part of a coordinated initiative aimed at restoring the operations of Gaza’s struggling bakeries. The UAE had planned to send a total of 103 aid trucks carrying essential goods including flour, gas, oil, salt, sugar, and other supplies critical to food production and daily survival.
However, only 24 trucks were granted entry into Gaza, and just one of those successfully delivered its cargo to designated warehouses. The remaining vehicles were diverted through an unsafe route within a “red zone,” a high-risk area under Israeli jurisdiction. It was along this route that the majority of the convoy fell victim to looting and theft, resulting in the near-total loss of its cargo.
Operation Gallant Knight 3 issued a public statement expressing profound regret over the incident, calling the attack “an egregious violation of humanitarian principles.” The operation stressed that the looting deprived nearly 2.3 million Gaza residents of desperately needed assistance, particularly amid an already deteriorating humanitarian crisis.
The UAE has been at the forefront of humanitarian initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of Gaza’s population, providing aid in the form of food, medical supplies, and field hospitals. Officials stressed that despite the setback, the UAE remains committed to its humanitarian mission and will continue to advocate for safe, unimpeded delivery of aid to affected civilians.
