The World Health Organization has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing after a contractor was killed by Israeli troops on Monday.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that the contractor, identified locally as Majdi Aslan, 54, was fatally shot during a security incident involving two other staff members who were present but unharmed.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported that Aslan was driving a WHO-rented vehicle when it was targeted by Israeli forces in southern Gaza.
In contrast, the Israeli military stated that its troops identified an unmarked vehicle approaching the Yellow Line, which marks Israeli-held territory, posing an immediate threat. The troops fired warning shots, and upon the vehicle's continued approach, responded with additional fire.
As a result of this incident, WHO has decided to halt all medical evacuations from Gaza until further notice. Tedros called for the protection of both civilians and humanitarian workers, stressing the critical nature of this issue.
Hanan Balkhy, the WHO's regional director, described the killing as a devastating loss and indicated that the halt in evacuations significantly limits access to medical care for those in need.
Eyewitness accounts, including statements from hospital colleagues, assert that the WHO vehicle was clearly marked, and it was part of a coordinated convoy transporting patients when it came under attack. Aslan's colleague emphasized that the vehicle had been targeted intentionally, highlighting the persistent threat faced by medical personnel in the region.
This tragic incident underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 18,000 patients await treatment amidst escalating tensions after a ceasefire agreement that has been increasingly fragile.
