Gilles Michaud, the UN under-secretary-general for safety and security, was briefly detained and questioned by Israeli authorities upon his arrival at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, Israeli media reported.

According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Michaud was held for approximately 45 minutes and interrogated by the Shin Bet internal security agency regarding an official visit he made to Gaza in August 2025 – a trip that had been coordinated in advance with Israeli authorities. His passport was reportedly confiscated during security checks before he was moved to a waiting area for questioning.

Following the incident, Michaud described the treatment as "unusual" for a senior UN official. He subsequently canceled planned meetings in Israel, noting that he had not encountered such behavior from authorities in other countries during his UN service.

Israeli officials characterized the incident as a "case of mistaken identity" and said Michaud was released shortly afterward.

On Wednesday, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that Michaud had received an apology from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which attributed the incident to human error. Haq added that Michaud's visit to Jerusalem had been aimed at discussing Israel's obligations to ensure the safety of UN personnel in Gaza, the West Bank, and the wider region.

The Gaza Strip has remained a focal point for the United Nations since Israel's military campaign in the area. The conflict has resulted in over 72,000 deaths and more than 172,000 injuries in Gaza since October 2023.

Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10 last year, Israel has continued daily strikes and imposed restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.