WHO condemns Israel for raiding major Gaza hospital and worsening health crisis News
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WHO condemns Israel for raiding major Gaza hospital and worsening health crisis

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday condemned Israel’s military raid on the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, which has rendered the facility non-operational and exacerbated the ongoing health crisis in the region.

The WHO described the raid as a “death sentence” for many Palestinians in need of medical care. The organization emphasized that attacks on medical facilities must cease immediately to prevent further humanitarian crisis. According to preliminary reports, significant damage was inflicted upon essential departments within the hospital during the Israeli operation.

The facility was the last major healthcare center still functioning in northern Gaza, and its destruction has left approximately 350 individuals, including 75 patients and around 180 healthcare workers, in precarious conditions. The WHO stated that 60 health professionals and 25 critically ill patients remained trapped inside the hospital during the raid, raising serious concerns for their safety as they were unable to receive necessary medical attention.

The Israeli military claimed that the hospital was being used as a stronghold for Hamas militants, a statement that Hamas has categorically denied. The Israeli forces have accused Hamas of utilizing hospitals as operational bases throughout the conflict. However, no evidence supporting these claims has been provided. The WHO has called for an immediate ceasefire and highlighted that ongoing hostilities are undermining efforts to maintain any level of healthcare functionality in Gaza.

The situation in Gaza has deteriorated dramatically since October 2023, when Israel launched a large-scale offensive aimed at countering Hamas following a series of escalations. Israeli military action has resulted in over 45,400 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals and clinics. The WHO and several international observers have noted that the systematic dismantling of Gaza’s health system poses a dire threat to tens of thousands of individuals requiring urgent medical care.

As international calls for protection of healthcare facilities grow louder, the WHO’s condemnation of this latest assault underscores an urgent plea for safeguarding human life amidst escalating violence. The immediate requirement for humanitarian access to medical supplies and support is critical as Gaza’s health system teeters on the brink of collapse, with many facilities already closed or severely damaged due to ongoing hostilities.

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