UN Convoy Standoff in Gaza Escalates into Armed Incident with Israeli Military
A United Nations convoy was involved in a tense standoff with Israeli military forces in Gaza, resulting in shots fired and heavy damage to UN vehicles, according to a statement from UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
The convoy, marked as a humanitarian mission and part of a polio vaccination campaign, was halted at a checkpoint connecting central and northern Gaza on Monday. Israeli soldiers sought to detain and question two Palestinian UN staff members.
Dujarric explained that the situation escalated rapidly, with Israeli soldiers encircling the convoy and pointing weapons at the UN personnel. Shots were reportedly fired during the standoff, and tanks and bulldozers proceeded to ram the UN vehicles, trapping staff inside. According to Dujarric, one bulldozer dropped debris on a vehicle, further complicating the situation.
The Israeli military stated that the convoy had been stopped due to intelligence indicating that “Palestinian suspects” were aboard the vehicles. The military emphasized that the convoy was part of a UN personnel rotation and not directly involved in the polio vaccination effort. After questioning the two staff members in front of other UN personnel, the convoy was allowed to return to base after a seven-and-a-half-hour delay.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of challenges faced by humanitarian workers in Gaza. Just two weeks prior, the UN World Food Programme temporarily halted movements in the region after shots were fired at one of its marked vehicles. Despite assurances from Israel about the safety of humanitarian operations, UN officials have raised concerns about the increasing risks to their staff.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), described the incident as one of several recent violations against UN staff, including shootings and detentions at checkpoints. He reiterated the UN’s call for Israel to ensure the protection of humanitarian workers under international law.
Despite the standoff, the polio vaccination campaign resumed on Tuesday, continuing efforts to reach children in northern Gaza.
With input from Reuters, the Guardian, CNN, and the Times of Israel.
