Gaza: Israeli forces have reportedly attacked the World Health Organization (WHO) staff residence in Gaza three times, alongside its main warehouse, and detained staff and family members, according to the head of the UN agency. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a statement highlighting these incidents at the staff residence in Deir al Balah.
According to TRTworld.com, Tedros noted that the Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid ongoing conflict. The WHO chief expressed concern about the recent Israeli evacuation order in Deir al Balah, which has impacted several WHO facilities, jeopardizing the organization's operations in Gaza and further straining the health system.
Tedros emphasized the damage to WHO's main warehouse in Deir al Balah, which was within the evacuation zone and suffered explosions and a fire due to an attack. He urgently called on Member States to ensure a continuous and regular supply of medical aid into Gaza, warning that hindering WHO's operations is debilitating the entire health response in the region. He underscored the need for a ceasefire, deeming it overdue.
The situation in Gaza has escalated, with Israel accused of killing nearly 59,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. Palestine's official WAFA news agency reported that approximately 11,000 Palestinians might be buried under the rubble of destroyed homes. However, experts suggest that the actual death toll could be around 200,000, far exceeding official reports. The ongoing violence has left the enclave largely in ruins and displaced nearly its entire population. Compounding the humanitarian crisis, Israel has blocked the entry of vital aid, only permitting a controversial US-backed aid group condemned as a "death trap."
