The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for an end to attacks on hospitals in Gaza following recent incidents where Israeli forces struck one hospital and raided another.
Tedros made the appeal via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, expressing concern over the growing threats to Gaza’s health system.
“Hospitals in Gaza have once again become battlegrounds, and the health system is under severe threat. We repeat: stop attacks on hospitals. People in Gaza need access to health care. Humanitarians need access to provide health aid. Ceasefire!” he wrote.
On Sunday, the Israeli military targeted Al Wafa hospital in Gaza City, reportedly killing seven people, according to Palestinian civil defense officials. The military stated that the strike was aimed at Hamas militants allegedly using the hospital as a base.
In a separate incident on Friday, Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan hospital, detaining over 240 Palestinians, including medical staff and the hospital’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya. The Israeli military claimed the hospital was being used as a command center for Hamas and stated that those detained were suspected militants. Abu Safiya was reportedly taken for questioning on suspicion of being a Hamas operative.
Tedros condemned the incidents, called for Abu Safiya’s immediate release, and highlighted that Al-Ahli hospital had also faced attacks.
Despite these challenges, the WHO and its partners have managed to deliver essential medical supplies, food, and water to Gaza’s Indonesian hospital and transferred 10 critically ill patients to Al Shifa hospital. Tedros urged Israel to uphold the health care needs and rights of people in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, the ongoing Israeli military offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 45,514 Palestinians and injuries to 108,189 others since Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023.