The World Health Organization (WHO) suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt on Monday following the killing of a contractor by Israeli forces. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the death of the 54-year-old contractor, identified locally as Majdi Aslan, during a security incident in southern Gaza.
Two other WHO staff members were present in the vehicle but remained uninjured. The organization has halted all patient transfers through the Rafah crossing until further notice.
Disputed accounts of the incident
The Israeli military stated that its troops identified an "unmarked vehicle" approaching a designated security line, which they deemed an immediate threat. According to an Israeli statement, troops fired warning shots before opening fire on the vehicle as it continued to accelerate toward them. The military added that the incident is currently under review.
However, Palestinian witnesses and health officials offer a different account. A colleague of the deceased, Raed Aslan, told reporters that the vehicle was clearly marked with WHO insignia. He said the car was leading a coordinated medical convoy toward the Rafah crossing when it was struck by an Israeli tank.
"The tank came out directly and targeted the driver so that he would stop," Raed Aslan said. "There were three people in the vehicle; the driver is the one who paid the price."
Dr. Fathi al-Lulu, a medic at al-Aqsa hospital, confirmed that Majdi Aslan was actively coordinating the transfer of patients at the time of the strike.
Regional Director Hanan Balkhy called the death a "devastating loss" and warned that the evacuation suspension shuts off a vital lifeline for thousands of patients. Local health authorities estimate that more than 18,000 Palestinians are currently waiting to leave the territory for medical treatment.
The Rafah crossing has served as a precarious bottleneck for aid and medical transport since it reopened in February under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Despite the deal, both sides have accused the other of frequent violations.
Since the current ceasefire began on October 10, at least 733 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The Israeli military reports that five of its soldiers have been killed in combat during the same period.
