WHO halts Gaza evacuations after contractor killed in security incident

The World Health Organisation has halted medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via Rafah after a security incident in which a contractor working with the agency was killed, the organisation’s director-general said on X.

Two WHO staff members were present at the time of the incident but were not injured, the organisation said.

In a statement posted on X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed condolences to the victim’s family and colleagues, saying: “WHO is devastated to confirm that a person contracted to provide services to the Organization in Gaza was killed today during a security incident.”

He added that the organisation extends “our condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the deceased,” noting that the circumstances of the incident are currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.

Following the incident, WHO said it had suspended medical evacuations of patients from Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, with operations remaining paused “until further notice.”

The agency also paid tribute to its staff and partners working in the territory, saying it is “deeply grateful to our colleagues who work day and night despite the risks to ensure that the people of Gaza can access the health care they need.”

WHO reiterated its call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, with Tedros concluding: “Peace is the best medicine.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev