UN protests Israeli forces against blocking, shooting at humanitarian convoy in Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) — The United Nations has protested Israeli forces in Gaza blocking for seven and a half hours and shooting at a marked UN convoy, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday.
“We’ve protested,” said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “We were in touch with as many, I think, Israeli officials that we could get on the phone with yesterday (Monday) during the more than seven hours this was going on.”
Dujarric said the 12 UN staff members were on their way to support the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza. Movement of the convoy was fully coordinated with Israeli forces, with all details provided ahead of time.
The spokesman said the incident was the latest example of the unacceptable dangers and impediments that humanitarian personnel in Gaza were experiencing. Less than two weeks ago another UN convoy was attacked by Israeli forces in Gaza.
When the team was stopped at an Al Rashid checkpoint, they were informed that Israeli forces wanted to hold two UN staff members in the convoy for questioning, he said. “The situation escalated quickly, with soldiers pointing their weapons directly toward our personnel in the convoy.”
Dujarric said Israeli forces encircled the convoy and fired at the vehicles. Gunfire struck no one. Israeli Defense Forces tanks and bulldozers rammed the UN vehicles from the back and the front, compacting the convoy with UN staff still inside.
“One bulldozer dropped debris on the first vehicle, while Israeli soldiers threatened staff, making it impossible for them to safely exit their vehicle,” he said. “The convoy remained at gunpoint, as senior UN officials engaged with Israeli authorities to de-escalate the situation. The two staff were interrogated and then released.”
The spokesman said that after seven and a half hours at the checkpoint, the convoy returned to the base, unable to complete its humanitarian mission.
“This incident — and the conduct of Israeli forces on the ground — put the lives of our staff in danger,” he said. “It is critical that Israeli forces take measures to protect humanitarian staff and assets and to facilitate their work. This is what international humanitarian law requires.”
Dujarric said that despite the incident, the world body’s humanitarian partners were able to start the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza as scheduled on Tuesday. The third phase of the campaign continues through Thursday.
On Tuesday, the UN relief agency for Palestinians reported that humanitarians vaccinated thousands of children in northern Gaza. ■