The head of the World Health Organization on Monday called for an end to attacks on hospitals in Gaza after Israel struck one and raided another in the past few days.
"Hospitals in Gaza have once again become battlegrounds and the health system is under severe threat," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X.
"We repeat: stop attacks on hospitals. People in Gaza need access to health care. Humanitarians need access to provide health aid. Ceasefire!" he added.
WHO Director General’s post on X followed his safe return from Yemen where he narrowly escaped death when Sana’a international airport was attacked by Israel’s air force moments before he and his team were about to board a plane to depart.
Tedros said Israel’s attack of Sana’a airport might have cost him his life, and called for an immediate release of Kamal Adwan Hospital’s director Hussam Abu Safiya, who was detained with dozens of medical staff of the hospital by Israeli forces.
Tedros said "We urge Israel to ensure their health care needs and rights are upheld”, adding that at least 45,514 Palestinians have been killed and 108,189 wounded in Israel's military offensive in Gaza since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza's health ministry.