UN says Israeli forces stalled evacuation convoy, forced paramedics to strip

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The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) has said the Israeli military had stalled a medical evacuation convoy in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, detaining a paramedic and forcing others to remove their clothes, Reuters reports.

The incident occurred on Sunday during the evacuation of 24 patients from the city’s Al-Amal Hospital, it said. The Israeli military did not immediately comment, saying it was checking the details of the incident.

“Despite prior coordination for all staff members and vehicles with the Israeli side, the Israeli forces blocked the WHO-led (World Health Organisation) convoy for many hours the moment it left the hospital,” Jens Laerke, spokesperson for OCHA, told reporters in Geneva.

“The Israeli military forced patients and staff out of ambulances and stripped all paramedics of their clothes,” Laerke said.

“Three Palestinian Red Crescent Society paramedics were subsequently detained, although their personal details had been shared with the Israeli forces in advance.”

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