UNRWA head says polio campaign may be paused after IDF detained convoy

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says a convoy of United Nations vehicles and staff detained by Israel in northern Gaza on Monday has been released and are back at a UN facility.

UNRWA chief Phillip Lazzarini says the convoy was carrying Gazans and foreign staff who were en route to Gaza City and northern Gaza to roll out a polio vaccination campaign when they were detained.

“The convoy was stopped at gun point just after the Wadi Gaza checkpoint with threats to detain UN staff. Heavy damage was caused by bulldozers to the UN armoured vehicles,” Lazzarini says on X. “All staff & convoy are now released & back safely in the UN base.”

The Israeli military said earlier it detained the convoy after receiving intelligence indicating that “Palestinian suspects” had snuck aboard the convoy. It had disputed claims that the convoy was carrying polio vaccines.

Lazarini says he is unsure if the vaccination campaign will resume in northern Gaza on Tuesday.

This significant incident is the latest in a series of violations against UN staff including shootings at convoys & arrests by the Israeli Armed Forces at checkpoints despite prior notification,” Lazzarini complains.