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 said the contractor – named locally as Majdi Aslan, 54 – was killed in a security incident and that two staff were present but not injured. He gave no further details.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said the contractor was driving a WHO-rented vehicle in southern Gaza when it was targeted by Israeli forces.
Israel's military stated its troops identified an unmarked vehicle approaching them and the Yellow Line, posing an immediate threat, referring to the line marking Israeli-held territory. They reported firing warning shots, but the vehicle accelerated towards them, leading to a response with additional fire.
As a result, the WHO has decided to suspend medical evacuations of sick and wounded Palestinians from Gaza until further notice, calling for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers.
Hanan Balkhy, the WHO's regional director, emphasized the loss of the contractor, warning that the suspension was cutting off a critical pathway to care for patients. Local health officials stated that the vehicle was clearly marked with WHO logos and was part of a convoy for patient transport when it came under fire.
Many in Gaza expressed outrage over the situation, as Israeli and Palestinian authorities continue to blame each other for ongoing violence and ceasefire violations. This incident highlights the tensions and dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones.
Currently, over 18,000 Palestinian patients remain in urgent need of evacuation for medical treatment as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates.
