Two civilian contractors delivering water for the UN children’s agency were killed by Israeli troops in northern Gaza, UNICEF said on Saturday.
UNICEF expressed outrage, describing the victims as drivers working on trucks contracted to deliver clean water to families across the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military said soldiers identified “two armed terrorists” near the Yellow Line boundary and opened fire after an alleged threat emerged.
It added that the incident is under review, as questions grow over circumstances surrounding the shooting in a highly sensitive frontline zone.
UNICEF said the attack occurred at the Mansoura water filling point, the only functioning site linked to Gaza City’s main water supply line.
The agency said operations were routine at the time, with no changes in procedure, and two other people were injured during the incident.
Following the shooting, all water-trucking activities at the facility were suspended, deepening pressure on already strained humanitarian operations in northern Gaza.
UNICEF urged Israel to launch an immediate investigation and ensure accountability, stressing the protection of aid workers under international law.
It warned that humanitarian staff, essential services, and water infrastructure must never be targeted amid the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reported 72,549 deaths since the war began on October 7, 2023, including hundreds since a ceasefire began.