The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for an immediate halt to attacks on hospitals in Gaza following recent strikes and raids by Israeli forces.
In a post shared on his official X account on Monday, December 30, Tedros stated: “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!”
The Israeli military reported targeting Hamas militants at Gaza City’s Al Wafa Hospital on Sunday. According to Palestinian civil defense, the strike resulted in seven fatalities. The military alleged the hospital was being used as a Hamas command center.
Additionally, Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital on Friday, detaining over 240 Palestinians, including medical staff and its director, Hussam Abu Safiya, who is suspected of being a Hamas operative.
Tedros condemned these actions, calling for the immediate release of Abu Safiya and highlighting attacks on Al-Ahli Hospital. He also expressed concern over the health system’s dire condition, referencing his own recent near-miss during an Israeli strike on Yemen’s main airport.
The WHO and its partners have provided essential medical supplies, food, and water to Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital and facilitated the transfer of 10 critical patients to Al Shifa Hospital.
“We urge Israel to ensure the health care needs and rights of Gaza’s population are upheld,” Tedros emphasized.
