The World Health Organization has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing after a contractor was killed by Israeli troops on Monday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the contractor, identified locally as Majdi Aslan, 54, died in a 'security incident' while two staff members in the vehicle were not injured. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reported that Aslan was driving a WHO-rented vehicle when it was targeted by Israeli forces.

According to the Israeli military, its troops perceived the approaching unmarked vehicle as a threat and fired warning shots, which escalated into lethal fire when the vehicle did not stop. Tedros announced the halt to medical evacuations until further notice, expressing a plea for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers.

Hanan Balkhy, the WHO's regional director, described Aslan's killing as a 'devastating loss', warning that the cessation of medical evacuations severely hampers patient care options. Reports suggest that there are over 18,000 Palestinians waiting for medical treatment outside of Gaza. As tensions remain high, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating ceasefire agreements, with scores of casualties reported since the truce was brokered six months prior.