WHO chief calls for end to hospital attacks in Gaza after Israeli strike

ZURICH – The head of the World Health Organisation on Dec 30 called for an end to attacks on hospitals in Gaza after Israel struck one and raided another in the past few days.

“Hospitals in Gaza have once again become battlegrounds and the health system is under severe threat,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X.

“We repeat: Stop attacks on hospitals. People in Gaza need access to healthcare. Humanitarians need access to provide health aid. Ceasefire!” he added.

The Israeli military said Hamas militants were the targets of a strike on Gaza City's Al Wafa hospital on Dec 29, which the Palestinian civil defence said killed seven people.

Israeli forces also

detained more than 240 Palestinians including dozens of medical staff

from Kamal Adwan hospital on Dec 27, among them its director, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, according to the health authorities in the enclave and Israel’s military.

The Israeli military claimed the hospital was being used as a command centre for Hamas military operations and those arrested were suspected militants.

It said Dr Abu Safiya was taken for questioning as he was suspected of being a Hamas operative.

Dr Tedros, who last week was

caught up in an Israeli strike on Yemen’s main airport

that he said might have cost him his life, called for Dr Abu Safiya’s immediate release and said the Al-Ahli hospital had also faced attacks.

Dr Tedros said the WHO and partners had delivered basic medical supplies, food and water to the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza and transferred 10 critical patients to Al Shifa hospital.

Four patients were detained during the transfer, he said.

“We urge Israel to ensure their healthcare needs and rights are upheld,” Dr Tedros said.

At least 45,514 Palestinians have been killed and 108,189 wounded in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza following the

Hamas attacks of Oct 7, 2023,

according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. REUTERS