WHO chief calls Israeli army’s incursion into Gaza hospital 'totally unacceptable'

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) — Israel's military incursion into Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza is "totally unacceptable," the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.

"Hospitals are not battlegrounds. We are extremely worried for the safety of staff and patients," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference in Geneva.

"Protecting them is paramount," Tedros said.

Noting that WHO has lost contact with health workers at Al-Shifa Hospital, he said that health facilities, health workers, ambulances and patients must be safeguarded and protected not only against "all acts of war," but also during military planning.

"Even if health facilities are used for military purposes, the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality always apply," he said. "The safety of patients and staff, as well as the integrity of the health care systems in the wider community, are of paramount concern. International humanitarian law must be respected."

The WHO head added that over the past three days, the agency has not received updates on the number of deaths or injuries in Gaza which "makes it harder" for them to evaluate the functioning of the health system.

Regarding the lack of fuel problem, which all Gaza hospitals currently are facing, Tedros said that "at least 120,000 liters a day are needed" to operate hospital generators, ambulances, desalination plants, sewage treatment plants and telecommunications.

He noted that a truck with 23,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza earlier Wednesday, however, its usage has been restricted by Israel to "only transporting aid from Rafah."

"We might be able to get aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, but without fuel, we cannot get it to where it needs to go," he stressed.

Early Wednesday, the Israeli army began a raid of Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, with 700 patients and thousands of internally displaced people inside. Israel acknowledged the move.

Israel has claimed that members of Palestinian group Hamas were using the hospital as a base, a claim denied by both Hamas and hospital officials.

Despite Al-Shifa’s status as a civilian facility, it has been bombarded by attacks in and around its grounds, and shortages of fuel and medical supplies due to Israel’s blockade have made medical care difficult at best.

As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 40th day, at least 11,320 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,800 women and children, and more than 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.