WHO describes Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City as 'death zone' after visit

By Anadolu staff

GENEVA (AA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) said Saturday it led a team of UN agencies for an assessment mission into the Al-Shifa Hospital, which it described as a "death zone."

The "team was able to spend only one hour inside the hospital,” in Gaza City, it said and described “the situation as desperate."

It noted that after an Israeli army evacuation order for nearly 2,500 displaced people inside the hospital to leave, still "there are 25 health workers and 291 patients (including 32 newborns) remaining in Al-Shifa, with several patient deaths having occurred over the previous 2 to 3 days due to the shutting down of medical services."

"WHO and partners are urgently developing plans for the immediate evacuation of the remaining patients, staff and their families," it added.

On Wednesday, the Israeli army raided the Al-Shifa Hospital, which was also a shelter for thousands of Palestinians fleeing deadly airstrikes, before being forcibly evacuated by the Israeli army.

Israel has killed more than 12,300 Palestinians in its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 surprise offensive by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas. The official Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at about 1,200.

Israel has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire until the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar