WHO urges a halt to ‘israeli’ assaults on medical facilities in Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged an immediate cessation of lethal Israeli assaults on hospitals in the Gaza Strip, where the healthcare infrastructure has disintegrated amidst ongoing conflict.
On Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated his appeal for a ceasefire in Gaza following an Israeli military operation that targeted the al-Ahli Arab and al-Wafaa hospitals in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals at the al-Wafaa facility. His plea was communicated through a post on the social media platform X.
The official reported that hospitals in Gaza have once more turned into conflict zones, and the healthcare infrastructure is facing a significant threat.
Health organizations have issued a renewed call for an immediate halt to assaults on hospitals in Gaza, emphasizing the critical need for unhindered access to medical facilities for the population. Humanitarian agencies stress the importance of a ceasefire to allow the delivery of essential health aid to those in dire need.
On Friday, Israeli military units launched an assault on the Kamal Adwan hospital located in the northern Gaza city of Beit Lahia. The operation involved setting the medical facility ablaze and detaining over 240 individuals. Those apprehended included a significant number of medical personnel, among them the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safia.
A recent aggressive operation has led to the closure of the last significant operational healthcare facility in northern Gaza, resulting in the forced relocation of both patients and medical staff.
The head of the World Health Organization has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate release of Abu Safia, whose current location remains undisclosed.
He also reported that critically ill patients at Kamal Adwan Hospital were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital, which is currently not operational.
The World Health Organization and its partners have successfully delivered essential medical supplies, food, and water to an Indonesian hospital in Beit Lahia. Additionally, 10 critically ill patients have been relocated to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, according to reports. However, it was noted that during the transfer, four patients were detained.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, has called upon Israel to safeguard the healthcare needs and rights of the population.
“At the heavily damaged Indonesian Hospital, seven patients and 15 caregivers, including healthcare workers, remain on-site but face an inability to receive or offer adequate medical care.”
On October 7, 2023, Israel initiated a significant military operation in Gaza following a notable offensive by the Palestinian Hamas group. This action by Hamas was in response to what it described as escalating hostilities by Israel against the Palestinian populace.
To date, the occupying forces have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 45,514 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and have caused injuries to 108,189 individuals within the blockaded region.
In the ongoing conflict, reports indicate that Israel has targeted civilian infrastructures in Gaza, including hospitals, raising significant concerns about potential violations of international law.
