Israel’s military on Tuesday responded to accusations by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that its forces attacked the UN agency’s facilities in central Gaza and detained staff members.

The military said soldiers came under fire in the city of Deir al-Balah on Monday and returned fire in the direction the shots originated.

However, the military did not specify whether the gunfire came from WHO premises in Deir al-Balah.

The WHO said that a staff accommodation facility was attacked on Monday and that a central warehouse had been damaged in a separate incident on Sunday.

According to a report by Israeli news outlet Ynet, citing a military spokesperson, the army is aware of claims that a residential complex housing WHO employees was struck.

The report added that, according to the military, no agency staff were injured.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) publicly confirmed that several individuals were detained in Deir al-Balah on suspicion of “involvement in terrorism.’’

It did not clarify whether those detained were WHO employees or their relatives, as the UN agency has claimed.

The army said most of those detained were released following on-site questioning,

The IDF did not comment on one individual who, according to the WHO, remained in custody.

In a statement on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said male WHO staff and their male relatives had been handcuffed, stripped, searched at gunpoint, and interrogated on site.

Responding to the claim, the Israeli military stated on Tuesday that at times during field questioning.

It stated, “It is necessary for individuals suspected of terrorist activity to temporarily remove parts of their clothing in order to ensure that they are not concealing explosive belts or other weapons.’’  

Suspects were treated in accordance with international law, the military added.

Mr Ghebreyesus also said that women and children related to WHO staff had been forced to flee on foot amid the fighting.

The Israeli military said it had warned civilians to leave the area prior to its operation and had been in contact with international organisations operating there.

The IDF advanced this week into the south-west of Deir al-Balah as part of its operations against Hamas and other militant groups. 

(dpa/NAN)