The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a strong condemnation of Israeli military actions that have jeopardized its operations in Gaza, specifically targeting the recent ground offensive in Deir al-Balah. In a statement released on Monday, the UN health agency reported that its premises, which house staff and their families, were subjected to multiple attacks, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the enclave.
In the latest military action, Israeli forces reportedly struck a building where WHO personnel were sheltering, exposing civilians to significant risks. The Israeli military’s ground operation, the first of its kind in Deir al-Balah since the onset of the conflict with Hamas, has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians, with a severe hunger crisis unfolding. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, malnutrition has resulted in at least 19 deaths as the health system collapses under immense strain.
In a video message, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the organization’s worry about the increasing risk to health workers and civilians amidst military operations. Reports from the ground reveal that malnourished individuals are arriving at hospitals in distressing conditions, leading to grave humanitarian concerns.
The Israeli military had issued orders for the immediate evacuation of specific blocks in Deir al-Balah but insisted that operations would continue to dismantle what it described as terrorist infrastructure. This has led to mass evacuations of as many as 80,000 residents, who were directed to move south to al-Mawasi. While the UN urged that their personnel remain protected during these evacuations, chaos erupted with looting reported at the damaged WHO warehouse.
In its statement, the WHO demanded immediate action to secure the safety of its team members and the release of a detained staff member. The agency refrained from attributing blame directly for the attacks but expressed concern over a troubling pattern of systematic destruction affecting health facilities. With ongoing military operations, the WHO emphasized that its ability to operate in Gaza has been severely hindered, obstructing critical healthcare provisions for the more than two million people affected.
Reports suggest that territories in Gaza are increasingly falling within militarized zones, as Israeli fuentes say that an operation to create a cut-off corridor remains a priority, likely influenced by concerns over the hostages still held by Hamas. Since the outbreak of hostilities following a Hamas offensive on October 7, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 59,000, according to local health officials. This spike in violence has raised alarms among families of hostages, adding another layer of complexity to a volatile situation that continues to evolve.
