Gaza Herald – Israel briefly detained and questioned a senior United Nations security official upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, despite his previously approved visit to Gaza, according to reports.
Gilles Michaud, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, was held for around 45 minutes on Tuesday by Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, after landing in Tel Aviv. During the incident, his passport was reportedly confiscated, and he was taken to a restricted area for questioning.
According to Israeli media reports, the questioning focused on an earlier UN mission to Gaza in August 2025 that had been coordinated in advance and approved by the Israeli occupation. Officials later described the incident as a “case of mistaken identity.”
However, the UN official reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with the treatment, calling it highly unusual for a senior diplomat, and indicated he may cancel scheduled meetings with Israeli officials following the incident.
The episode adds to ongoing tensions surrounding UN access and operations in the region, particularly in relation to humanitarian and security coordination in Gaza.
