Had Been Detained For 8 Hours, Israeli Troops Finally Freed The UN Vehicle And Staff Convoy

World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid agency vehicles were attacked by the Israeli military. (Wikimedia Commons/Tasnim News Agency)

JAKARTA - A convoy carrying UN vehicles and staff detained by Israeli forces in northern Gaza on Monday was finally released after being detained for several hours. "The convoy was stopped at gunpoint shortly after entering the Gaza Wadi checkpoint with threats to detain UN staff. Severe damage occurred to UN armored vehicles as a result of being hit by a bulldozer," UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said on platform X reported via Antara, Tuesday, September 10. Lazzarini said Israeli forces had detained the UN convoy for more than eight hours although previously detailed coordination had been carried out. The convoy brought national and international staff on their way to carry out a polio vaccination campaign for children in Gaza and northern Gaza, he added. "We cannot confirm whether the polio campaign will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) in northern Gaza," he continued. This significant incident, continued Lazzarini, was the latest in a series of violations against UN staff, including the shooting of convoys and arrests by Israeli Zionist forces (IDFs) at checkpoints despite previous notices. Lazzarini stressed that UN staff should be allowed to carry out their duties safely and protected at any time in accordance with international humanitarian law. He added, "Gaza should not be excluded." The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip – and nearly one year – has killed about 41,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 94,800 others, according to local health authorities.

The continuing blockade in the region has caused a severe shortage of food, clean water, and medicines, so that most of its territory is destroyed. Israel faces allegations of genocide at the International Court regarding its actions in Gaza.