The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for the lifting of restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid, especially medical supplies, to Gaza from Israel, to facilitate the passage of medicines and medical equipment to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, he highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where the population is facing shortages of food and essential medical supplies due to Israeli restrictions on their delivery.
This statement comes at a time when Israeli forces targeted a hospital in northern Gaza, launching missile attacks and causing damage to its emergency facilities.
The WHO head has demanded Israel to end the blockade and allow the transfer of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, to Gaza, emphasizing that with the current flow of aid and medical assistance, saving lives in Gaza is not just difficult but practically impossible.
However, he also noted that Israeli actions have affected six hospitals and nine primary health centers, with medical services disrupted in 70 shelters, leading to a 40-50% decrease in the daily administration of protective vaccines.
He further stated that there are at least 700 critically ill patients in Gaza who require urgent transfer to adequate medical facilities elsewhere but are hindered by the blockade on all sides and the closure of routes.
The WHO chief mentioned that the return of Gaza’s hospital is under continuous military encirclement since Sunday, with hospital staff and patients trapped inside, unable to receive any external assistance.
On the other hand, Israel maintains that it is not engaging in any illegal activities in Gaza, asserting that aid is not being denied to Gaza. President Biden also reiterated Israel’s defense yesterday, stating that nothing unlawful, such as war crimes or genocide, is being committed by Israel in Gaza.
It remains evident that as a result of Israeli aggression in Gaza, over 35,000 Palestinians have been martyred, with more than 79,000 injured, predominantly women and children.