IDF accused of ‘field execution’ of Palestinian driver bringing aid into Gaza

Israeli Soldier Faces Allegations After Palestinian Aid Driver Killed in Gaza

IDF accused of field execution of Palestinian - A Palestinian truck driver who was transporting essential food supplies into Gaza has been reported killed by an Israeli soldier in what witnesses are calling a "field execution." Ahmad Esleem, a 30-year-old father of two from Deir al-Balah, was shot in the head on Wednesday while part of a convoy delivering humanitarian assistance. The local truckers' association has indicated it might pause its operations as a form of protest following this tragic incident.

Witness Accounts Describe the Shooting

According to multiple sources, the incident occurred shortly after the convoy entered Gaza when one of the trucks experienced a mechanical failure. Three separate accounts describe how Israeli soldiers instructed the drivers to exit their vehicles. Ahmad Esleem was reportedly shot in the head while holding his hands up in a gesture of compliance.

Diaa Mansour, another driver in the four-truck convoy, stated that the shooting took place along the Philadelphi corridor, which serves as a military route on Gaza's southern boundary. He explained that the drivers had been waiting for permission to inspect the broken-down truck, as all movements required prior coordination.

"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 describing how the soldiers made the drivers stand by the roadside. He was instructed to remove his clothing and sit beneath the sun. Meanwhile, Ahmad was brought from his vehicle. One soldier attempted to communicate with him, but language barriers appeared to exist, as Ahmad did not speak Hebrew and the soldiers struggled with his Arabic. Suddenly, gunfire rang out, and Ahmad was struck in the head, dying immediately at the scene.

Family and Employer Respond

Jihad Esleem, who serves as deputy head of the Association of Transport Companies in Gaza and is a distant relative of the victim, emphasized that the Wednesday convoy had been fully coordinated through both the UN World Food Programme and the WCK food charity. The convoy had just arrived through the sole crossing point still operational for aid deliveries.

"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 employers, Iyad Qamri Trading and Public Transport Company, confirmed that he had been killed at close range by a soldier after their convoy halted and an army patrol ordered two drivers to dismount. A photograph taken when Ahmad's body arrived at the hospital revealed his head heavily bandaged around what appeared to be a severe wound.

Eyad Esleem, the company owner and Jihad's brother, shared the emotional toll on drivers. He noted that drivers depart their homes at 3am, leaving behind their wives and children, and one might return as a lifeless body. Ahmad left behind a one-month-old infant and a young daughter. Following the incident, five drivers from his company declared they would not return to work at the crossing under any circumstances and have formally resigned.

Israeli Defense Forces Provide Alternative Account

The IDF confirmed that a shooting incident occurred but presented a different narrative of events. A military spokesperson stated that on Wednesday, Israeli troops identified three aid truck drivers who had stopped along the Philadelphi corridor and exited their vehicles contrary to established procedures. The troops detained the drivers for questioning in the area.

Simultaneously, the driver of another truck that had stopped at a nearby roadblock ran toward the troops, according to the military. The troops initiated their suspect apprehension protocol and, after perceiving an immediate threat, opened fire toward the driver. As a result of the gunfire, the driver was injured. The troops provided him with initial medical treatment at the scene before he was later transferred, in coordination with the Red Cross, to receive further care.