ALBAWABA - Israel has come under fire from the UN for violently holding a convoy of UN employees who were traveling to provide polio shots. Twelve UN workers were in the convoy when it was halted at gunpoint by Israeli soldiers, who also caused damage to the vehicles that rendered them unusable.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric described the specifics of the Monday incident at a news conference. He clarified that cooperation had been established and that Israeli officials had been notified in advance of the convoy's passage. At the Rashit checkpoint, however, the convoy was halted, and two UN employees were taken out of their cars to be questioned.
Dujarric said that things immediately became tense, with Israeli troops aiming their firearms at the UN staff. Israeli forces encircled the caravan and started shooting close to the cars. The UN trucks were also pushed back and forth by Israeli tanks and bulldozers, one of which dumped rubble upon a vehicle.
Dujarric said that the convoy was held for around seven and a half hours in spite of efforts to defuse the situation by speaking with top Israeli authorities. Eventually, two UN employees were freed, but the convoy had to turn around and go back. The damage rendered the cars useless.
Dujarric said that the acts of the Israeli army endangered the lives of aid workers, and the UN formally denounced the event. He asked Israel to act right now to safeguard aid workers during operations in the future. As Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, which often have an effect on foreign humanitarian groups, the UN has once again called for the security of relief workers.
