UPDATE - WHO chief expresses concern over detention of health workers in Gaza

UPDATES WITH WHO STATEMENT

By Alperen Aktas and Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL/GENEVA (AA) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday expressed concern over "prolonged checks" and detention of health workers in the Gaza Strip after an incident led to the death of a patient in critical condition.

"We received greater detail on Saturday’s high-risk WHO-led mission in Gaza to Al-Ahli Hospital. We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk," Tedros Ghebreyesus said on X.

The mission, he said, was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, on the way to north Gaza and on the way back.

He said some Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) staffers were detained both times.

"As the mission entered Gaza City, the aid truck carrying the medical supplies and an ambulance were hit by bullets," he added.

He said some health workers were held and questioned for several hours on their return, and due to the hold-up, "one patient died en route, given the grave nature of their wounds and the delay in accessing treatment."

"The people of Gaza have the right to access health care. The health system must be protected. Even in war," Tedros asserted.

In a separate statement, the WHO said following the visit to Al-Ahli hospital, staffers have described the facility in a state of "utter chaos and a humanitarian disaster zone."

The area is heavily populated with numerous displaced people and over 200 patients, while the resources available can only support 40 beds, which is half of the original bed capacity, according to the UN health agency. The building has also suffered significant damage due to the hostilities.

It said health workers have also been detained on previous missions to Gaza health facilities.

On Nov. 18, some people were detained during a WHO-led mission to move patients from Al-Shifa Hospital, and four of those still remain in detention, it added.

"There is no information on their well-being or whereabouts," it said, calling the move "unacceptable."

Israel, in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian group Hamas, launched air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave, killing more than 18,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and forced some 1.9 million people to flee their homes.

Besides the destruction of thousands of civilian structures, Gazans face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods as only a trickle of aid is allowed in.