UNITED NATIONS: A UN spokesperson said on Tuesday that a convoy of workers for a polio vaccination program in Gaza was held at gunpoint at an Israeli military checkpoint. The spokesperson also stated that shots were fired and a bulldozer rammed the convoy’s cars.
The event was described as “the latest example of the unacceptable dangers and impediment that humanitarian personnel in Gaza are experiencing” by Israeli authorities by Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Twelve staff members were in the convoy, he claimed, and they were traveling to the northern Gaza Strip to assist with the polio campaign.
“All details provided ahead of time, and the group’s movements were fully coordinated with Israeli forces,” according to Dujarric. However, he stated that upon arriving at a checkpoint, Israeli forces declared their intention to detain two UN staff members for interrogation. “Very quickly, the UN vehicles were surrounded by Israeli forces, shots were fired, and soldiers were pointing their weapons directly towards our personnel in the convoy,” he claimed.
The UN vehicles were rammed from both the front and the rear by IDF tanks and a bulldozer, which compacted the convoy along with the UN personnel. When Israeli soldiers threatened the crew, one bulldozer dumped debris on the first car, making it difficult for them to escape safely.
He stated that the lives of his team were in danger due to the “incident and the conduct of Israeli forces on the ground.”
