The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for an immediate end to attacks on hospitals in Gaza as the region’s health system faces unprecedented challenges.
“Hospitals in Gaza have once again become battlegrounds, and the health system is under severe threat,” Dr. Tedros stated, following the Israeli military’s raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Friday, which resulted in the facility’s evacuation. Two additional hospitals in Gaza City were attacked on Sunday, with Israeli forces claiming they were being used as Hamas command centers.
The situation escalated further when Kamal Adwan’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, was detained by Israeli forces. The military accused the hospital of being a Hamas “stronghold,” alleging that 20 “terrorists” were killed, 240 individuals detained, and Dr. Abu Safiya arrested for alleged links to the group. Hamas dismissed these claims as baseless.
Dr. Abu Safiya’s family expressed concerns about his health, noting that he was recovering from prior injuries and was likely exposed to harsh conditions during his detention. US-based MedGlobal condemned his arrest as a violation of international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need to protect medical personnel in conflict zones.
Hospitals Struggle Amid Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Dr. Tedros reported that Kamal Adwan Hospital is no longer operational, and its critically ill patients were transferred to the severely damaged Indonesian Hospital. However, this facility also lacks the capacity to provide adequate care.
In a desperate effort, WHO and its partners delivered essential supplies to the Indonesian Hospital and moved 10 critical patients to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. During the transfer, four patients were detained, including one in critical condition. Dr. Tedros urged Israel to ensure the health and rights of these patients are upheld.
Gaza’s health ministry confirmed that seven patients and 10 medical staff remain at the Indonesian Hospital under dire conditions.
Ongoing Strikes Raise Alarming Casualty Numbers
On Sunday, the al-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital in Gaza City was struck, killing seven people and injuring several others, according to local reports. The Israeli military stated that the hospital was being used as a Hamas command center and was not functioning as a medical facility at the time. However, witnesses and medical students present at the scene reported that patients and staff were inside during the strike.
Israel’s broader campaign to dismantle Hamas, launched in response to the group’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023, has intensified the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More than 45,540 people have been killed in the territory since the conflict began, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The UN continues to report near-total siege conditions in northern Gaza, with limited humanitarian aid reaching the affected areas. Dr. Tedros and other global health leaders have reiterated calls for the protection of medical facilities and personnel, urging all parties to adhere to international humanitarian laws.
