The World Health Organization has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza Strip to Egypt via the Rafah crossing following the death of a contractor during a security incident.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that the contractor, identified locally as Majdi Aslan, 54, was killed on Monday. Two other staff members present at the scene were not injured. He did not provide further operational details.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, the contractor was driving a WHO-rented vehicle in southern Gaza when it was struck by Israeli forces. The Israel Defense Forces said its troops fired after identifying an unmarked vehicle approaching their position near a military boundary, describing it as an immediate threat. The army stated that warning shots were initially fired before additional rounds hit the vehicle. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In response, the WHO has halted all medical evacuations through Rafah until further notice. Tedros called for stronger protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel operating in conflict zones.
The WHO’s regional director, Hanan Balkhy, described the incident as a serious loss and warned that suspending evacuations would significantly limit access to urgent medical care for patients in Gaza.
Witnesses at Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza said the vehicle involved was clearly marked with the WHO logo and was part of a coordinated convoy transporting patients. A colleague of the victim reported that the vehicle came under fire from an Israeli tank, with the driver sustaining fatal injuries.
The Rafah crossing has served as a key humanitarian corridor, though its operation has been inconsistent. It reopened in early February under a ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas but has faced repeated closures amid ongoing regional tensions.
According to Israeli authorities, around 1,150 people have exited Gaza through the crossing in recent months, with a similar number entering. However, more than 18,000 patients are still awaiting evacuation for treatment, based on data from local hospitals and the WHO.
Despite a ceasefire agreement reached nearly six months ago, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of repeated violations. Hundreds of Palestinians and several Israeli soldiers have been reported killed since the truce began, underscoring the fragile security situation.
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