WHO asks Israel to cease military attacks on hospitals and civilian targets in Gaza
Internet
Published at: 05/01/2025 04:28 PM
The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, once again insisted on an urgent call for an end to Israeli military attacks on hospitals in Gaza, stressing the immediate need for a ceasefire to guarantee access to medical care in the region.
In a press release, Tedros Adhanom highlighted the serious interruption of health services in Gaza. “Attacks on hospitals and health professionals must stop. The population of Gaza needs access to medical care,” he said, considering the urgent need to protect health infrastructure.
In addition, the Director General of WHO expressed deep concern about the situation of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, who was arrested on December 27. “We have not received any updated information regarding the safety and well-being of your principal since his arrest. We continue to urge Israel to release him,” he said, stressing the importance of preserving the integrity of medical personnel in crisis situations.
He assured that the WHO monitors the situation in Gaza and reiterates its critical position against the genocide perpetrated by Israel. In a previous message, on January 2, the director general of WHO urged medical evacuation for patients from Gaza who require it.
“The pace of evacuations is still terribly slow. Since October 2023, only 5383 patients have been evacuated with WHO support, of whom only 436 since the Rafah crossing was closed. More than 12,000 people are still in need of medical evacuation. At this rate, it would take 5 to 10 years to evacuate all of these seriously ill patients, including thousands of children,” he said.
Although attacks on hospitals and other civilian facilities constitute a violation of international law, Israel has systematically carried out bombings and other forms of aggression against health facilities in the coastal strip.
VTV