World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday the health system in the Gaza Strip is “under severe threat” as he called for an end to Israeli attacks on hospitals.
“People in Gaza need access to health care. Humanitarians need access to provide health aid. Ceasefire!" Tedros said in a statement.
Tedros also called for the immediate release of Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who was detained by Israeli forces along with more than 200 Palestinians last week.
At the time, the Israeli military said the hospital was being used by militants and that Safiya was being questioned as a suspected Hamas member.
The hospital, located in the Beit Lahiya area, was one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza.
“Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza is out of service — following the raid, forced patient and staff evacuation and the detention of its director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya two days ago. His whereabouts are unknown,” Tedros said.
The WHO chief also said the agency’s partners were able to carry out deliveries of medical supplies, food and water to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza.
The conflict in Gaza began with the October 2023 attack on southern Israel, during which Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. About 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with one-third of them believed to be dead.
Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,500 people and injured 108,000 others, according to the Gaza health ministry.
The United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others have designated Hamas as a terror group.
Some information for this story was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
