WHO demands protection for Gaza health care facilities amid Israeli attacks

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urgently called for an end to Israeli attacks on medical facilities in Gaza, following a recent assault that damaged a critical storage unit and essential supplies. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the plea in a statement, emphasizing that health care facilities are off-limits and should never be targeted or militarized.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire, insecurity remains high in the Gaza Strip, where residents face severe challenges including malnutrition, disease, and limited access to medical care. The attack on a storage site near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which destroyed the main building and medical equipment, has highlighted the dire situation of Gaza's healthcare system.

Ghebreyesus noted that even with the ceasefire in place, the continuous insecurity has pushed the enclave's medical system to the brink of collapse. Since October 2023, the WHO has documented nearly 1,000 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, leading to over 1,000 fatalities and 1,700 injuries. Israel has claimed responsibility for more than 73,000 deaths and over 174,000 injuries in the prolonged conflict since October 2023.

Although a ceasefire agreement has been in effect since October 10, 2025, Israel has continued its attacks in Gaza, resulting in the death of 1,250 Palestinians and the injury of 4,110 others, according to the Gaza health ministry.