The World Health Organization’s head urged an immediate halt to hospital attacks in Gaza after recent strikes and raids. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized this in a post on X, following incidents involving two hospitals.
“Hospitals in Gaza have turned into battlegrounds, placing the health system at severe risk,” Tedros stated. “We say it again: stop attacking hospitals. The people of Gaza need health care. Humanitarian workers need access to deliver aid. Ceasefire!”
On Sunday, the Israeli military targeted Gaza City’s Al Wafa hospital, claiming it was used by Hamas. According to Gaza’s civil defense, the strike caused seven fatalities.
Last Friday, over 240 Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces at Kamal Adwan hospital, including medical staff and the hospital director, Hussam Abu Safiya, per health officials and Israeli military statements. The Israeli military alleged the hospital was a Hamas command center, and those detained were suspected of militant activity. Abu Safiya is under questioning as a suspected Hamas operative.
Tedros also highlighted attacks on Al-Ahli hospital and called for Abu Safiya’s release. He recently survived an Israeli strike on Yemen’s main airport, which he said could have cost him his life.
WHO and its partners have provided essential medical supplies, food, and water to Gaza’s Indonesian hospital, transferring 10 critical patients to Al Shifa hospital. However, four of these patients were detained during the transfer.
Tedros urged Israel to uphold the health care rights and needs of Gaza’s people.
As of now, Gaza’s health ministry reports at least 45,514 Palestinians have died and 108,189 have been injured in Israel’s military offensive since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks.
