A UN convoy carrying workers for a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza was held at gunpoint at an Israeli military checkpoint, a UN spokesman has said, adding that shots were fired and its vehicles were rammed by a bulldozer, AFP reports.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, called the incident, which occurred Monday, “the latest example of the unacceptable dangers and impediment that humanitarian personnel in Gaza are experiencing” by Israeli forces.
He said the convoy was carrying 12 staff members on their way to support the polio campaign in the northern part of the Gaza Strip and the group’s “movements were fully coordinated with Israeli forces, and all details provided ahead of time”.
“The situation escalated very quickly, with soldiers pointing their weapons directly towards our personnel in the convoy, the UN vehicles were encircled by Israeli forces, and shots were fired,” Dujarric said.
“The convoy was then approached by IDF tanks and a bulldozer, which proceeded to ram the UN vehicles from the front and from the back, compacting the convoy with the UN staff. He said the convoy remained at gunpoint as senior UN officials tried to de-escalate the situation with Israeli authorities.
Two UN staff were interrogated by Israeli forces — but after seven and a half hours at the checkpoint all personnel were released, Dujarric said. The “incident and the conduct of Israeli forces on the ground put the lives of our staff in danger,” he said.
