UNICEF worker whose convoy came under fire says the incident shows "how dangerous" it is operating in Gaza 

April 11, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Heather Chen, Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell, Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 12:03 a.m. ET, April 12, 2024
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7:19 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

UNICEF worker whose convoy came under fire says the incident shows "how dangerous" it is operating in Gaza 

From CNN's Niamh Kennedy in London

A UNICEF worker whose aid convoy came under fire on Wednesday while waiting to enter northern Gaza told CNN the attack shows "how dangerous" it is for aid agencies to operate in the enclave right now. 

Tess Ingram who is a spokesperson for UNICEF said the convoy was waiting in a holding area before the checkpoint into northern Gaza when gunfire "broke out in the vicinity." 

Ingram said shots were then fired from the direction of the crossing "towards civilians who then ran in the other direction." The car Ingram was traveling in was caught in the line of fire and hit by three bullets, she recounted to CNN's Max Foster. 

CNN has reached out to the IDF about the incident but has not yet received a reply. 

The convoy was a joint mission between UNICEF and fellow UN agency, UNRWA tasked with delivering fuel, nutrition and medical supplies to northern Gaza, according to Ingram. 

"It was shocking that this was happening to us on a coordinated mission in a designated holding area. We had colleagues outside the vehicle who very easily could have been injured or killed," Ingram said. 

"This incident is just another example of how dangerous it is for us and for the people that we're trying to serve in Gaza," she added. 

9:12 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

Hamas says 4 grandchildren of its political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in Israeli strike

From CNN’s Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem and Lauren Izso in Tel Aviv

Dead bodies of three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, along with of his two grandchildren, are seen on the ground as people perform funeral prayers in Gaza on April 10.
Dead bodies of three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, along with of his two grandchildren, are seen on the ground as people perform funeral prayers in Gaza on April 10. Ayman Alhesi/Anadolu/Getty Images

Four grandchildren of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip, according to a statement by Hamas.

Initial reports suggested three of his grandchildren were killed along with three of his sons on Wednesday. Hamas confirmed the names of Haniyeh’s grandchildren as Mona, Amal, Khalid and Razan.

Haniyeh’s relatives were killed near Al Shati (“Beach Camp”) north-west of Gaza City.

“They stood united with their people in one trench, joining the procession of about sixty martyrs from the honorable and heroic Haniyeh family, and the convoys of martyrs of our righteous and steadfast people in the battle of the Al-Aqsa flood,” the Hamas statement added.

The Israel Defense Forces told CNN it is aware of claims that other relatives of Haniyeh were harmed, among them a minor. The IDF added they had not verified this information.

7:10 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

Israel plans to "flood Gaza with aid," defense minister says

From CNN’s Jeremy Diamond in Jerusalem

Trucks loaded with food head into Rafah, Gaza, on April 3.
Trucks loaded with food head into Rafah, Gaza, on April 3. Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu/Getty Images

Israel plans to “flood Gaza with aid,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, describing what he called a new phase of humanitarian assistance to the enclave. 

US pressure on Israel played a role in Israel’s decision to begin ramping up the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, he told reporters, saying Israel’s defense establishment “takes the United States very seriously.”

“We plan to flood Gaza with aid and we are expecting to reach 500 trucks per day,” Gallant said. “My recent visit to the United States was essential in determining next steps and reflecting the link between our operational goals and the humanitarian effort. 

COGAT, the Israeli agency coordinating aid into Gaza, said the daily number of trucks entering the enclave this week had doubled from last week.

But the UN's main aid agency in Gaza, which tracks the flow of aid, has not reported a similar increase.

A CNN investigation last month found evidence of goods being subject to arbitrary and contradictory controls as authorities strive to prevent the entry of “dual use goods” which they say could also be used to “serve military needs for the strengthening of Hamas.”

5:59 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

UNICEF says its vehicle was hit by gunfire while waiting to enter northern Gaza

From Brent Swails in London, Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem, and Lauren Izso in Tel Aviv 

UNICEF says one of its vehicles was hit by "live ammunition" while waiting to enter northern Gaza from the south of the territory on Wednesday.

In a statement released on X Thursday, UNICEF says the "incident has been raised with relevant Israeli authorities."

"Sadly, humanitarians continue to face risks in delivering lifesaving aid," the statement adds. "Unless humanitarian aid workers are protected, in accordance with IHL, humanitarian aid cannot reach people in need."

CNN has reached out to the IDF about the incident but has not yet received a reply. 

Some context: The incident comes just a day after the Israeli agency that coordinates the inspection and delivery of humanitarian assistance for Gaza, COGAT, blamed the UN for failing to deliver aid across Gaza.

3:26 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

Iran's foreign minister speaks with counterparts in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE and Turkey

From CNN's Alireza Hajihosseini, Adam Pourahmadi and Alex Stambaugh

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, on April 8.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, on April 8. Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty Images

Iran's foreign minister has spoken with his counterparts in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE by phone, the Iranian foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke with each counterpart individually and stressed the importance of cooperation regarding the situation in Gaza, the ministry said.

The phone calls come after US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk reportedly called the foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE to ask them to send a message to Iran and urge it to lower tensions with Israel. Reuters reported that the officials conveyed the message, citing a source.

Iran's foreign minister also held a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the Iranian foreign ministry said Thursday. The ministers discussed the war in Gaza, as well as "reactions and consequences" of the attack on Iran's consulate in Syria. 

Some context: The US and its allies have been bracing for a possible attack by Iran against Israeli and US assets in the Middle East in retaliation for a deadly strike last week on Iran’s consulate.

The US and Iran continued to exchange messages this week, a US official told CNN on Wednesday, as the US remains on high alert for the potential retaliation. The official said that Iran has warned the US not to support Israel, and the US has warned Iran against an attack.

12:42 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

It's morning in the Middle East. Catch up on key developments

From CNN staff

The car in which three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were reportedly killed in an Israeli air strike is pictured near Al Shati, northwest of Gaza City, on April 10.
The car in which three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were reportedly killed in an Israeli air strike is pictured near Al Shati, northwest of Gaza City, on April 10. AFP/Getty Images

Three sons of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza Wednesday, an assassination that threatens to complicate ongoing negotiations aiming to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal.

The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the attack, describing the men as “three Hamas military operatives that conducted terrorist activity in the central Gaza Strip.”

Haniyeh said killing the sons of leaders would only make Hamas “more steadfast in our principles and adherence to our land.”

Israeli officials drew a distinction between the strike and the negotiations aiming to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Two other Israeli officials said neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had been told about the strike ahead of time.

Here are the other developments in the region:

  • Hamas raises hostage fears: Hamas has indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down 40 Israeli hostages needed for the first phase of a proposed ceasefire deal, according to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known.
  • US commits to protecting Israel: President Joe Biden touted an "ironclad" commitment to Israel's security in the face of Iranian threats. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that support. The US has been preparing for an attack by Iran on Israeli or American assets in the region following a deadly bombing of the Iranian facility in Damascus.
  • Fears of Iranian attack: The Israeli army has disrupted GPS signals over several cities, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and Jerusalem, to try and thwart missile or drone attacks potentially fired by Iran or Iran-backed groups in the region. The jamming disrupted daily life, sparking frustration across Israel. 
  • Eid celebrations ruined: This is an Eid unlike most Gazans can remember. A true celebration is virtually impossible anywhere in the enclave, where the United Nations says more than 70% of homes have been damaged or destroyed since October. Muslims in Gaza are marking the holiday with a mix of apprehension and defiance.
  • Aid crisis: The US airdropped about 852 tons of humanitarian aid to date, US Central Command said, as Israel limits truck-delivered aid in the enclave. The UN and aid agencies have repeatedly said that airdrops are not as effective as land crossings.

8:29 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

Hamas political leader says killing of sons will only make group "more steadfast"

From CNN's Jeremy Diamond, Kareem Khadder, Zeena Saifi and Benjamin Brown

Hamas' political leader said that killing the sons of leaders would only make the group “more steadfast in our principles and adherence to our land.”

Three sons of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Wednesday, an assassination that threatens to complicate ongoing negotiations aiming to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal.

“Whoever thinks that by targeting my kids during the negotiation talks and before a deal is agreed upon that it will force Hamas to back down on its demands, is delusional,” Haniyeh said in a statement.

The Israeli military confirmed that it carried out the attack and described the men as “three Hamas military operatives that conducted terrorist activity in the central Gaza Strip.”

Read the full story.

12:33 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

Lufthansa suspends flights to and from Tehran, Reuters reports

From CNN's Mitchell McCluskey

Lufthansa aircrafts are parked at the Frankfurt Airport, on April 8, in Frankfurt, Germany.
Lufthansa aircrafts are parked at the Frankfurt Airport, on April 8, in Frankfurt, Germany. Helmut Fricke/picture alliance/Getty Images

Germany's Lufthansa airline has suspended flights to and from the Iranian capital of Tehran "due to the current situation in the Middle East," according to a Reuters report on Wednesday, citing a Lufthansa spokesperson.

The decision was made after careful consideration, the spokesperson said, and will likely last until Thursday.

"We are constantly monitoring the situation in the Middle East and are in close contact with the authorities. The safety of our guests and crew members is Lufthansa’s top priority," the spokesperson said. 

CNN has reached out to Lufthansa for confirmation. 

The airline's decision comes after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to retaliate after accusing Israel of bombing the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus, Syria last week.

The airstrike, which Iran blamed on Israel, destroyed the consulate and killed seven Iranian officials, as well as at least six Syrians, according to Iranian state television.

The US remains on high alert for a potential retaliatory strike by Tehran against Israel. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden said Iran was "threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel." 

6:53 a.m. ET, April 11, 2024

Blinken reiterates US commitment to stand with Israel against Iranian threats

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the US support for Israel and pledged the US "will stand with Israel against any threats by Iran and its proxies" in a call with Israel's defense minister.

Blinken's conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant comes as the US is on high alert for a potential attack by Iran or proxy groups against Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on an Iranian facility in Damascus

The two leaders “also discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all hostages through an agreement for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

“Blinken welcomed Israel’s recent announcements of urgent steps to facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and to improve humanitarian deconfliction and coordination, reiterating that incidents such as the strike on World Central Kitchen workers must never reoccur,” Miller said.

The top US diplomat also emphasized to Gallant that the US "expects Israel to quickly implement its commitments on humanitarian assistance and deconfliction and that those commitments must be sustained over time,” he said.