WHO staffer killed in Gaza as Israeli fire hits vehicle

A staff member of the World Health Organization (WHO) has been killed and several others injured after Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle in Gaza, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The victim, identified as WHO driver Majdi Aslan, 54, was killed yesterday (6 April) in eastern Khan Younis. A doctor from the organisation and several other Palestinians were also injured in the incident, hospital sources told the broadcaster.

The shooting took place near the so-called yellow line along Salah al-Din Street, where Israeli forces reportedly fired indiscriminately at civilians and vehicles, Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud said.

According to the report, a civilian vehicle transporting passengers between southern and central Gaza was followed by a car carrying WHO staff when the shooting occurred.

The driver was shot in the head and later declared dead after being taken to the hospital. At least seven others sustained injuries.

The WHO did not immediately confirm whether the deceased was its employee, but said in a statement that a "critical security incident" had occurred in Gaza and is under review.

"As a result of this critical security incident, today's medical evacuation from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt has been put on hold with immediate effect, until further notice," the agency said.

The WHO has been coordinating medical evacuations through the Rafah crossing, enabling a limited number of injured people to seek treatment abroad.

Despite a fragile ceasefire reached in October, Israeli strikes and gunfire have continued across the Gaza Strip, with more than 700 Palestinians killed since then, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, Al Jazeera reported.

Aid access to the besieged enclave remains restricted, with Israel continuing to limit humanitarian supplies and intermittently closing key crossings amid ongoing regional tensions.