Reports 'disturbing' about evacuation order for Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza Stirp: WHO chief

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) called reports about an evacuation order for the Al-Quds Hospital "in the Gaza Strip disturbing," on Friday, noting it is "impossible" to safely evacuate patients

"Disturbing reports about evacuation order to Al-Quds Hospital. As WHO has repeatedly stressed, it is impossible for these overcrowded hospitals to safely evacuate patients," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.

"They must be allowed to perform their lifesaving functions. They must be protected," he said.

WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean said not only sick, injured patients, and health workers are inside but also hundreds more -- mostly women and children -- are seeking shelter on the hospital’s grounds.

"The sanctity of health care must be respected at all times," it said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Friday that Israeli forces threatened to bomb the Al-Quds Hospital in the Gaza Strip, which is sheltering thousands of displaced women and children.

At least 471 people were killed and many injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital earlier this week, according to health officials in Gaza.

Israel denied responsibility for the strike.

The ongoing deadly conflict began Oct. 7 when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

In addition to launching a sweeping bombardment campaign ahead of an expected ground invasion, Israel ordered a "full siege" of Gaza that has led to electricity supplies being severed as water, food, fuel and medical supplies run out.