A Palestinian driver ferrying food aid from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) into Gaza was fatally shot by an Israeli soldier, according to multiple eyewitness accounts and the local truckers association, which has threatened to suspend operations in protest.
Shooting during aid convoy breakdown
Ahmad Esleem, 30, was killed on Wednesday when an aid convoy halted after one truck broke down shortly after entering Gaza. Three accounts state that Israeli soldiers ordered the drivers to dismount, and one soldier shot Esleem in the head while his hands were raised. The incident occurred on the Philadelphi corridor, a military road along Gaza's southern edge.
Driver Diaa Mansour, part of the four-truck convoy, described the scene: "After the truck broke down, we waited for authorisation to get out and inspect it, because every movement we make has to be coordinated in advance. While we were waiting, an Israeli military vehicle arrived. The soldiers ordered Ahmad and me to get out of our trucks, and then they ordered another driver, Alaa Shaat, to get out as well. The driver at the front of the convoy, Fares Muheisen, remained inside his truck and didn't get out."
Mansour continued: "They made us stand by the side of the road. They ordered me to take off my clothes and forced me to sit under the sun. Then they brought Ahmad out of his truck. One of the soldiers began talking to Ahmad while he stood with his hands raised. Ahmad did not speak Hebrew, and it seemed the soldiers did not understand his Arabic. Suddenly, they shot him. He was hit in the head and died at the scene. It appeared they were trying to find out why we had stopped, but they did not understand the situation and opened fire immediately, without any discussion or attempt to communicate."
Truckers association decries 'field execution'
Jihad Esleem, deputy head of the Association of Transport Companies in Gaza and a distant relative of the victim, confirmed that Wednesday's convoy was "100%" coordinated through the UN World Food Programme and WCK, entering Gaza via the sole functioning aid crossing. "An Israeli officer and several soldiers approached the drivers, asked why they were there, then ordered all of them out of their trucks. They assaulted the drivers, beat them, and forced them to strip," he said. "The moment Ahmad raised his hands in surrender, one of the soldiers drew his M16 rifle and shot him directly in the head. It was a field execution and a deliberate killing of a civilian driver who had complied with all instructions. He was wearing his orange safety vest and carried all the required permits, security clearances, and coordination that had been approved by the IDF."
Esleem's employer, Iyad Qamri Trading and Public Transport Company, also reported that he was killed at close range after the convoy stopped and two drivers were ordered out by an army patrol. A photograph of Ahmad Esleem's body upon arrival at hospital showed his head heavily bandaged around what appeared to be a serious wound. Esleem, a married father of two children under age two, hailed from Deir al-Balah.
Drivers resign amid threats
Eyad Esleem, the company owner and Jihad's brother, stated: "Drivers leave their homes at 3 am, leaving behind their wives and children, and one of them may return to his family as a lifeless body. Ahmed left behind a one-month-old baby and a young daughter. Since the incident happened, five drivers from my company have told me that they will not return to work at the crossing under any circumstances. They have resigned. Those who remain are not continuing because they want to, but because they are forced to provide for their families."
IDF offers different account
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the shooting but provided a contrasting narrative. A military spokesperson said: "On Wednesday, IDF troops identified three aid truck drivers who had stopped along the Philadelphi Corridor and exited their trucks contrary to established procedures. IDF troops operating in the area detained the drivers for questioning. Simultaneously, the driver of another truck that had stopped at a nearby roadblock ran toward the troops. The troops initiated the suspect apprehension protocol and, after perceiving an immediate threat, opened fire toward him. As a result of the fire, the driver was injured. The troops provided him with initial medical treatment at the scene. He was later transferred, in coordination with the Red Cross, for further medical treatment." The spokesperson added that the incident is under review.
Truckers from private companies are routinely hired by the UN and other humanitarian agencies to transport food and essential goods into and around Gaza. Aid flows have increased since a partial ceasefire in October, but with the Israeli army occupying over 60% of the territory and conducting strikes against Hamas-linked targets, lorry driving remains extremely hazardous.
Previous similar incidents
On 21 May, two Palestinian drivers—Muhammad al-Heela and Mahmoud Awad—were allegedly shot in similar circumstances. Local accounts say they were detained by Israeli soldiers for several days, released near a Rafah roundabout, then shot by their captors after walking a few metres. The IDF claimed their route was uncoordinated, but Esleem insisted it was registered and approved. In April, Israeli soldiers shot dead two drivers working for UNICEF while they filled water trucks at a designated point in northern Gaza; the IDF cited a "perceived threat." In April 2024, seven WCK employees died in an Israeli airstrike on a convoy in southern Gaza.
"Drivers are subjected to daily violations, including beatings, abuse, humiliation, and being forced to stand for long hours under the sun," Esleem said. "Even more disturbing, the soldier who shot Ahmad talked to the three surviving drivers afterward and threatened them, saying they would meet the same fate as Ahmad. This clearly indicates that the attack was deliberate."
Potential suspension of aid operations
The Transport Companies' Association plans an emergency board meeting on Friday to discuss suspending operations at the Keren Shalom crossing. "It is important that everyone understand that the Palestinian truck driver is the vital link and the first point of contact between the Israeli side and Gaza. They should not be prevented from carrying out this role," Esleem said. He also noted that drivers face additional risks from being asked to smuggle contraband, mostly cigarettes, by soldiers and traders. "I hold the IDF responsible for the continuation of these dangerous acts, because truck drivers have no role in smuggling." He added that on Wednesday, traders attempted to smuggle cigarettes hidden inside hollowed-out pineapples.
