JAKARTA - Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed its troops entered the building used to accommodate personnel from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza yesterday, saying they had detained several staff suspected of being involved in terror.
Previously, WHO claimed the facility, along with their warehouse, was damaged by an Israeli attack.
Israeli media reported that the IDF on Sunday issued an evacuation warning for several zones in Deir al-Balah, ahead of a new ground attack in the region.
"Before the start of IDF activity in the region, the IDF warned civilians to flee the region for their safety, and had communicated with international organizations working in the region," the military said, quoted by The Times of Israel July 22.
"We emphasize the IDF maintains continued and consistent contact with international organizations, and during the war, the IDF has facilitated the evacuation of their safe personnel from the evacuated areas, coordinated with troops and in accordance with operational requirements," the statement continued.
"These efforts are carried out in a coordinated manner to facilitate the relocation of important facilities to alternative locations based on the needs of each organization," said the IDF.
According to the military, the incident at the WHO facility yesterday began after troops identified a shooting at them in Deir al-Balah and returned fire. It was unclear where the shots came from, and whether the retaliatory shot caused damage reported at the WHO facility.
The IDF said, as part of the attack, troops detained "several people suspected of being involved in the terror," after WHO reported that staff at the facility had been interrogated.
"After being interrogated in the field, most were released and evacuated from the area in coordination with international organizations," the IDF said, adding "the suspects were treated in accordance with international law."
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Earlier, the WHO, in a statement, stated "the Israeli military entered the location of their facilities, forcing women and children to flee on foot to al-Mawasi amid ongoing conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and examined at gunpoint. Two WHO staff and two family members were detained. Three people were later released, while one staff member is still being held."
The IDF responded to the claim, saying that "sometimes during field inspections, individuals suspected of carrying out terrorist activities need to temporarily remove some of their clothes to ensure they are not hiding explosive belts or other weapons."
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