WHO Halts Gaza Medical Evacuations Following Contractor's Death

Tue Apr 07 2026 17:21:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The World Health Organization has temporarily suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt after the fatal shooting of a contractor by Israeli forces. WHO Chief Tedros calls for the protection of civilians amid escalating tensions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the suspension of medical evacuations from Gaza following the death of Majdi Aslan, a local contractor killed by Israeli troops. WHO Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that the incident occurred during a 'security incident' and emphasized the need for civilian and humanitarian worker protection. Reports indicate that Aslan was driving a WHO vehicle at the time of the attack, which was perceived by Israeli military as a threat. This suspension has significant implications, as thousands of Palestinians are awaiting medical treatments.

The World Health Organization has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing after a contractor was killed by Israeli troops on Monday.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the contractor – named locally as Majdi Aslan, 54 – was killed in a security incident and that two staff were present but not injured. He gave no further details.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said the contractor was driving a WHO-rented vehicle in southern Gaza when it was targeted by Israeli forces.

Israel's military stated that its troops identified an unmarked vehicle approaching them and the Yellow Line, posing an immediate threat, referring to the line marking Israeli-held territory.

In response, the troops fired warning shots. The vehicle continued to accelerate toward the troops, who then responded with additional fire that hit the vehicle, it added.

The incident is under review.

Tedros said the WHO had suspended medical evacuations of sick and wounded Palestinians from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt until further notice.

We call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, he added.

Hanan Balkhy, the WHO's regional director, described the killing of the contractor as a devastating loss and warned that the suspension of medical evacuations was cutting off a critical pathway to care for patients.

At al-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza, a colleague of Majdi Aslan told reporters the vehicle he was driving was clearly marked with the WHO's logo on all sides. He had been coordinating a convoy transporting patients to the Rafah crossing when it came under fire from an Israeli tank.

Israeli authorities shut the Rafah crossing on 28 February following the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, but it reopened again after 20 days. About 1,150 people have crossed the border since the reopening, while more than 18,000 Palestinian patients are waiting for treatment.

Since the ceasefire began between Israel and Hamas, at least 733 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while five Israeli soldiers have also died in attacks by Palestinian groups.