“@WHO is devastated to confirm that a person contracted to provide services to the Organization in Gaza was killed today during a security incident,” the agency’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X.

Two other staff members were present at the incident but were not injured, he added.

“Following the incident, WHO suspended today’s medical evacuation of patients from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt. Medical evacuations will remain suspended until further notice.”

The UN health agency did not give details of what had happened, but Tedros said “the relevant authorities” were investigating.

“We call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers,” he added in his post.

Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire that came into force on Oct 10 in the Gaza Strip, after two years of devastating war.