Following Israeli military actions in Deir al-Balah, the WHO reported significant damage to its facilities, including the detention of its personnel. The situation continues to escalate, with rising civilian casualties and severe humanitarian crises across Gaza.
WHO Decries Attacks on Medical Facilities Amid Gaza Crisis
WHO Decries Attacks on Medical Facilities Amid Gaza Crisis
The World Health Organization has condemned recent Israeli offensives in Gaza, which have targeted its facilities and compromised vital health services for the civilian population.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has publicly condemned recent military actions by Israel in central Gaza, highlighting the adverse impact on its operations and the population’s health. On Monday, during an escalating offensive in Deir al-Balah, the WHO asserted that Israeli forces targeted its staff residence and main warehouse, disrupting critical humanitarian efforts.
According to the WHO, the military actions included the bombing of a staff residence, which exposed families, including children, to extreme danger. The agency revealed that one of its staff members remains detained after being taken during the raid, prompting a demand for their immediate release. The Israeli military claimed that they had detained several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism, with most later released.
As the conflict intensifies, the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens. The UN and local health officials reported that malnutrition-related fatalities are rising alarmingly, with at least 33 individuals, including children, succumbing to hunger-related conditions in just 48 hours. The UN has flagged an impending hunger crisis as access to essential services and supplies dwindles.
Israeli military operations were marked by urgent evacuation orders for civilians in Deir al-Balah, affecting between 50,000 to 80,000 residents, compelling them to seek refuge in southern areas. Despite appeals for the protection of humanitarian workers, the WHO lamented the systematic destruction of health facilities, compromising emergency services for over two million people in Gaza.
Violence escalated further on Tuesday, with an Israeli strike on tents housing displaced families in Gaza City leading to additional casualties. Witness accounts from survivors revealed the dire conditions faced by families, emphasizing a crippling reality of hunger and untreated wounds.
International leaders, including the French Foreign Minister, have called for increased media access to Gaza to document the humanitarian crisis. The pressing need for transparency was echoed by the Society of Journalists, warning of dangers faced by local journalists documenting the situation.
As the conflict continues, the WHO's plea for the urgent protection of humanitarian staff underscores the urgent need to address the deteriorating health crisis exacerbated by warfare in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli military maintains that its operations are aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructures while facing scrutiny over potential violations of international humanitarian law amid growing civilian casualties.
