A World Health Organization driver and a staff member were fatally wounded in Gaza following an Israeli military operation.
In eastern Khan Younis, Gaza, a tragic incident unfolded on Monday, resulting in the death of Majdi Aslan, a 54-year-old driver for the World Health Organization, and the injury of a WHO doctor alongside several Palestinian civilians. According to reports from medical facilities including Nasser and Al-Aqsa Hospitals, the incident occurred when Israeli forces engaged a vehicle transporting WHO personnel along Salah al-Din Street. The vehicle, carrying the deceased driver and other individuals, was targeted while traversing the southern Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud reported that the Israeli military acted indiscriminately, opening fire on both people and vehicles. The incident took place near the “yellow line,” a contested area within Khan Younis. The driver, identified as Qamar Majdi Mustafa Aslan, sustained a fatal head wound and was pronounced dead at Al-Aqsa Hospital. Seven other individuals were also treated for injuries. The WHO issued a statement acknowledging the critical security situation, confirming the incident was under review, and subsequently suspended medical evacuations via the Rafah crossing to Egypt, a key route for injured Palestinians seeking treatment abroad. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian territories, including the recent escalation with Iran, has fueled a daily pattern of Israeli fire and strikes in Gaza. Since October, over 700 Palestinians have lost their lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Alongside the primary incident, another Palestinian man with special needs was killed in the southern part of Khan Younis by Israeli forces. Furthermore, a drone attack in Gaza City resulted in the death of a 36-year-old man who was operating an electric bike when it was struck. The situation remains highly volatile with continued efforts to coordinate humanitarian aid access hampered by Israeli restrictions.
Tags:
Palestine