WHO halts Gaza medical evacuations after worker killed

The World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt after an Israeli fire killed a contract worker. The incident occurred in Gaza, and two other WHO staff members present were unharmed. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the suspension on Monday, stating that evacuations via Rafah crossing will remain halted until further notice while the incident is investigated. The Rafah crossing, vital for humanitarian aid and medical evacuations, had recently reopened after a long closure. The WHO coordinates evacuations between Egypt and Israel, but crossing numbers have been lower than expected due to Israeli checks. The WHO is calling for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing after an incident on Monday in which a contractor, Majdi Aslan, was killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza. According to the WHO, Aslan was killed in a "security incident" while driving a WHO-rented vehicle. The Israeli military stated that troops fired on the vehicle after it approached their position and the "Yellow Line," posing a threat, despite warning shots. The WHO has called for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, while the suspension of medical evacuations cuts off a critical pathway for patients needing care. A colleague of Aslan's reported that the vehicle was clearly marked with the WHO logo and was part of a convoy transporting patients to the Rafah crossing when it was targeted by an Israeli tank.