Occupation detains UN Under-Secretary-General at Ben Gurion Airport and subjects him to interrogation

Media sources reported that Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday morning detained the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Gilles Michaud, immediately upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. The detention lasted for approximately 45 minutes, during which he underwent thorough inspection procedures and had his passport confiscated before being moved to a special waiting room.

The high-ranking UN official, a Canadian national, was subjected to intensive interrogation by elements of the Israeli General Security Service 'Shin Bet'. The investigation focused on a previous official visit Michaud made to the Gaza Strip last August, even though that visit had been fully coordinated in advance with the relevant Israeli authorities at the time.

For his part, Gilles Michaud expressed his strong condemnation of these procedures, describing the treatment he received as unprecedented and unusual for an official of his international standing. The UN official affirmed that he had not been subjected to such harassment in any other country he had visited, indicating his intention to cancel a series of official meetings scheduled with Israeli officials in response to this transgression.

In contrast, Israeli sources attempted to justify the incident by claiming a 'mistake in identification', noting that Michaud was released immediately after his details were confirmed. This incident comes amid escalating tension between the United Nations and the occupation authorities, especially with the continued restrictions imposed on international staff working in the occupied Palestinian territories.

These developments coincide with the ongoing catastrophic repercussions of the genocidal war waged by the occupation on the Gaza Strip since October 2023. According to the latest UN data, military operations have resulted in more than 72,000 martyrs and approximately 172,000 injured, most of whom are vulnerable groups such as women and children, amidst massive destruction that has affected most civilian facilities.

Despite a ceasefire agreement in effect since last October, the occupation continues to impose severe restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel. International estimates indicate that the extent of infrastructure destruction in the Gaza Strip has reached 90%, requiring a huge reconstruction budget estimated at approximately 70 billion dollars.

What I was subjected to is unusual treatment for a high-ranking UN official, and I have not faced such a procedure in any other country before.