A convoy of UN staff and vehicles detained by Israeli forces in northern Gaza was released after several hours of detention, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reported.
The convoy was stopped at gunpoint just after the Wadi Gaza checkpoint with threats to detain UN staff. Heavy damage was caused by bulldozers to the UN armoured vehicles. All staff & convoy are now released & back safely in the UN base.
Lazzarini said the Israeli army delayed the UN convoy for more than eight hours despite “prior detailed coordination.” He added that the convoy included both national and international staff who travelled to conduct a polio vaccination campaign for children in Gaza.
We are not able to confirm whether the polio campaign will take place tomorrow, (Tuesday) in northern Gaza. This significant incident is the latest in a series of violations against UN staff, including shootings at convoys & arrests by the Israeli Armed Forces at checkpoints despite prior notification.
Israel’s nearly year-long war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has left some 41,100 Palestinians dead and some 94,800 injured, according to the local health ministry.
