Gaza’s Civil Defence has condemned what it calls a deliberate and devastating Israeli strike on vehicles used solely for humanitarian missions. The targeted attack destroyed nine essential trucks stationed at the Jabalia al-Nazla Municipality in northern Gaza—equipment that had been vital in saving lives, clearing rubble, and recovering the bodies of those killed in the ongoing assault.

The vehicles, provided through Egyptian-Qatari coordination during recent ceasefire talks, had their coordinates formally shared with the Israeli forces in a clear bid to protect them. Yet, despite these assurances, they were bombed. The Gaza Civil Defence says the attack has crippled their operations in the north, further isolating displaced communities and stalling efforts to set up shelters or retrieve the dead.

“This wasn’t a military mistake—it was a targeted blow to our last threads of humanity,” said Dr Mohammed al-Mughayer, head of equipment and logistics. He described how these bulldozers and trucks were the backbone of emergency response teams in Rafah and Khan Yunis. Their absence, he warned, will be felt most by those already suffering the most.

Palestinian officials and aid groups are calling for immediate international accountability. They argue that the destruction of civil defence resources—clearly marked and located outside military zones—is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. But for many in Gaza, such legal frameworks now feel like distant promises.

As fuel, food, and medical supplies run dry, and with hospitals overwhelmed or destroyed, the people of Gaza are left clinging to whatever support remains. Even that, it seems, is now under fire. Despite the loss, the Civil Defence has pledged to continue its life-saving mission. But the message is clear: they cannot face this storm alone.