Israeli Army Fires on WHO Vehicle in Southern Gaza, Killing One Medic

A WHO Driver and Palestinian Injured in Israeli Army Fire

A World Health Organization (WHO) driver, Majdi Aslan, 54, was killed on Monday in eastern Khan Younis, Gaza, along with a doctor from the international organization and several other Palestinians. The incident occurred when Israeli forces fired on their vehicle, according to sources.

The WHO vehicle was transporting civilians between southern and central Gaza when it was shot at by Israeli soldiers. A commercial vehicle carrying civilians was also present in the area. Seven or so others were injured in the incident.

According to Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, Israeli forces fired “indiscriminately” at people and vehicles moving along Salah al-Din Street in the southern Gaza Strip. The driver of the WHO vehicle was shot in the head and died before reaching the Al-Aqsa Hospital.

The World Health Organization has confirmed that a critical security incident occurred in Gaza on Monday, but did not immediately confirm whether Majdi Aslan was an employee. The organization stated that medical evacuation from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt had been put on hold due to the incident.

In addition to the WHO incident, Israeli forces have continued their attacks on the Gaza Strip, with near-daily fire and strikes since a fragile ceasefire was reached in October. Over 700 Palestinians have been killed in these incidents, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Other incidents reported by Al Jazeera include a Palestinian man with special needs being killed after being shot by Israeli soldiers in southern Khan Younis, and a drone attack in Gaza City that killed one person and injured a child.

Source: Al Jazeera