Israeli forces detained a United Nations convoy in Gaza for over seven hours on Monday, according to a UN spokesperson. The convoy, which was transporting personnel for a polio vaccination campaign, was stopped at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint. Israeli soldiers demanded to question two Palestinian staff members, and the situation escalated when they aimed weapons at the UN personnel and rammed the vehicles with tanks and bulldozers. Shots were reportedly fired, and debris was dropped on one of the vehicles.
The convoy was eventually released, and the staff returned safely to a UN base. Despite the disruption, the vaccination campaign resumed in northern Gaza the following day. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended the action, citing intelligence that suggested the presence of Palestinian suspects in the convoy. The UN, however, labeled the incident as an “unacceptable danger” to humanitarian workers in Gaza.
This confrontation adds to a series of reported incidents involving Israeli forces and UN personnel, including shootings and detentions at checkpoints. The Aid Worker Security Database indicates that 2024 might see a rise in fatalities compared to the previous year, with 172 aid workers already affected.
Additionally, Israel’s military conducted an airstrike on the UN-operated al-Jaouni school in central Gaza, killing at least 18 people, including six UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff members. This attack marks the highest death toll for UNRWA staff in a single incident during the ongoing conflict.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the lack of accountability for these deaths, describing the situation as “completely unacceptable.” Guterres emphasized the need for thorough investigations into the deaths of nearly 300 humanitarian workers, with over two-thirds being UN staff. He criticized Israel for ignoring recent UN Security Council resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings.
In related developments, Guterres expressed strong support for ongoing mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, and demanded accountability while expressing concern for the safety of humanitarian workers in the region.
