'Hospitals need to be protected': UN chief

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is opposed to the bombing of hospitals in Gaza and stresses that these vital medical facilities need to be protected, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Monday.

"He's against it. Hospitals need to be protected. Hospitals cannot be used for combat, and those people who are inside need to be safe," said Dujarric during a press briefing, responding to a question from an Anadolu reporter regarding an attack on the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza.

Dujarric highlighted comments from the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who asserted that evacuating hospitals in conflict zones without endangering patients is impossible. He noted that Guterres stands behind these sentiments.

The UN spokesperson further conveyed that the UN will persist in calling for a humanitarian cease-fire and continue efforts toward its realization.

Earlier, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, dedicated to cancer patients in Gaza, suffered damage from Israeli airstrikes, particularly impacting its third and top floors.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since Oct. 7 have repeatedly targeted hospitals, residences, and house of worship such as mosques and churches.

Under the Geneva Convention, attacks on hospitals are strictly prohibited.

*Serife Cetin contributed to the story from New York