RAMALLAH, July 22, 2025 (WAFA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has accused the Israeli military of launching direct attacks on its premises and medical infrastructure in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, inflicting severe damage and endangering the lives of its personnel.
In a strongly worded statement, the WHO said its staff residence compound was struck three consecutive times, sparking fires and causing substantial structural damage. Following the strikes, Israeli forces stormed the building, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot amid active gunfire, while male staff members and relatives were reportedly stripped, handcuffed, and interrogated at gunpoint.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that two staff members and two of their relatives were detained during the raid. Three were later released, but one WHO employee remains in Israeli custody.
"We call for the immediate release of our detained staff member and demand the protection of all humanitarian personnel in Gaza in accordance with international humanitarian law," said Tedros.
The WHO said the attack followed Israeli evacuation orders covering wide areas of Deir al-Balah. Among the affected facilities was the organization’s main medical warehouse, which was bombed, causing explosions and fires that severely damaged the facility and crippled WHO’s ability to support local hospitals and emergency teams.
The WHO further noted that Israeli airstrikes have intensified across densely populated neighborhoods sheltering displaced families, hitting homes and mosques, and causing numerous casualties. Entire families have been forced to flee toward relatively safer areas, particularly around Abu Holi and east and west of Al-Baraka.
Tedros warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is facing an imminent collapse, as fuel and medical supplies run critically low.
“A ceasefire is no longer a political demand — it is a humanitarian necessity to save lives,” he added.
The WHO called on UN member states to take urgent action to ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian and medical aid into the Gaza Strip and to guarantee the protection of health facilities and personnel.
These developments come as Israeli forces intensify ground operations in eastern and southern Deir al-Balah, citing a continued search for hostages. The military escalation, coupled with relentless air and artillery bombardments, has further worsened the humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged enclave.
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