World Health Organization Suspends Medical Evacuations from Gaza after Contractor’s Killing

The World Health Organization says it has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt after a contractor was killed.

Christian Lindmeier, a spokesman for the United Nations’ health agency, relayed a message from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the contractor was killed on Monday in what he described as a “security incident.”

Two WHO staffers were present but were not hurt, Lindmeier told a regular UN briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

The incident is being investigated and the evacuations of patients and wounded people will be halted until further notice, he said.

The Rafah Crossing was reopened in February after long delays in a key but mostly symbolic step in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.