The United Nations said on Tuesday that Israeli forces were “systematically” blocking access to aid in Gaza, making it nearly impossible to conduct medical evacuations and aid delivery in the north of the territory.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Israeli authorities have denied all planned aid convoys in the north of Gaza since January 23. Even convoys that were cleared in advance have been repeatedly blocked.
The spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, Jens Laerke, said an aid convoy organized by the WHO and the Palestinian Red Crescent (PCRS) that was sent to evacuate patients from a besieged hospital in Khan Yunis was blocked for several hours.
“Despite prior coordination for all staff members and vehicles with the Israeli side, the Israeli forces blocked the WHO-led convoy for many hours the moment it left the hospital,” Laerke said.
“The Israeli military forced patients and staff out of ambulances and stripped all paramedics of their clothes,” he stated, noting the convoy was blocked for seven hours.
“Three PRCS paramedics were subsequently detained, although their personal details had been shared with the Israeli forces in advance,” Laerke said, adding just one paramedic has so far been released.
“This is not an isolated incident,” he stated.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed 29,878 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
