Tense Stand-Off: U.N. Convoy in Gaza Held at Gunpoint by Israeli Forces

A U.N. convoy in Gaza was stopped and held at gunpoint by Israeli forces who wanted to question two of the U.N. staff. The convoy, part of a polio vaccination campaign, was rammed by IDF tanks and bulldozers. The soldiers finally questioned the staff and released them after seven-and-a-half hours.

In a tense stand-off on Monday, a convoy of U.N. vehicles in Gaza was encircled and held at gunpoint by Israeli forces, the United Nations reported on Tuesday. The incident halted a campaign to vaccinate thousands of Palestinian children against polio.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric detailed that the convoy, traveling through a checkpoint connecting central and northern Gaza, was stopped because Israeli soldiers wanted to question two Palestinian staff members. The situation escalated, with soldiers pointing weapons directly at U.N. personnel.

The convoy was compacted by IDF tanks and bulldozers, and shots were fired. The soldiers eventually questioned the staff on-site and released them after seven-and-a-half hours. The incident underscored the significant risks faced by humanitarian personnel in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies.)