Israeli Soldier Kills 30-Year-Old Gaza Aid Driver as Truckers Weigh Crossing Shutdown
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 9
Israeli Soldier Kills 30-Year-Old Gaza Aid Driver as Truckers Weigh Crossing Shutdown
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 9
Summary
Ahmad Esleem, a 30-year-old driver hauling World Central Kitchen food aid, was shot in the head on Wednesday after a four-truck convoy stopped near the Philadelphi corridor because one truck broke down.
Three eyewitness accounts and Gaza's truckers association said the convoy had been fully coordinated through the World Food Programme and WCK, and that soldiers ordered drivers out, beat and stripped some of them, then shot Esleem as he raised his hands.
The IDF confirmed opening fire but said three drivers had exited their trucks against procedure and another driver ran toward troops, prompting soldiers to use a suspect-apprehension protocol after perceiving an immediate threat.
Five drivers from Esleem's company have already resigned, and the Transport Companies' Association will meet Friday on suspending operations at Keren Shalom, the only crossing still functioning for aid shipments.
The killing adds to repeated allegations of Israeli fire on Gaza aid drivers, including two reported shootings in May, two Unicef-linked drivers killed the previous month, and seven WCK staff killed in an April 2024 strike.
An aid driver is dead, but accounts conflict. Was this a tragic security error or a deliberate 'field execution'?
As aid groups threaten to halt operations, who will feed Gaza if its lifeline of Palestinian drivers is cut?
With a ceasefire in place and war crime accusations mounting, why are humanitarian aid workers still being killed in Gaza?
Allenby Bridge Closures and Attacks: How Security Incidents Disrupted Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and the West Bank (2024–2025)
Overview
The Allenby Bridge crossing, the only international gateway for West Bank Palestinians that does not require entering Israel, has faced repeated closures and reopenings due to security incidents. After a deadly attack in September 2025 led to an abrupt closure, the crossing officially reopened for goods in December 2025 under strict Israeli control. Since then, it has played a key role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank, but ongoing security concerns have resulted in tight restrictions on certain items. This delicate balance between security and aid highlights the crossing’s critical role in regional stability and humanitarian relief.