WHO Statement Following Attack On Al Ahli Arab Hospital: “This Horror Has To Stop”
The assault on the Al Ahli Arab hospital in the northern part of the Gaza Strip has been harshly denounced by the World Health Organization, which stresses that this tragedy must end. A week ago’s “savage attacks” on Israel “cannot justify what is happening to the ordinary people of Palestine, this has to stop,” the WHO said.
The hospital was open and providing treatment to patients, medical professionals, and internally displaced persons. “Early reports indicate hundreds of fatalities and injuries,” the organization said.
The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for 20 hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip, including the hospital in question. “The order for evacuation has been impossible to carry out given the current insecurity, critical conditions of many patients, and lack of ambulances, staff, health system bed capacity, and alternative shelter for those displaced,” the organization said.
The WHO emphasized the urgent need for active civilian protection and medical assistance. Orders for evacuation must be cancelled. In order to uphold international humanitarian law, health care must be actively defended and never the target of attack.
WHO representatives demanded that the Rafah tunnel be opened as soon as possible to allow thousands of people in Gaza to receive supplies. “I want to make a request for urgent access, which is what Gaza needs right now. Rafah needs to activate this route as soon as feasible. Fuel, water, food, and obviously medications and medical supplies are all very necessary. The materials are prepared and waiting to cross the border. This is really necessary. Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative, occupied Palestinian territories, said that this nightmare had to end.
Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, noted that any attack on medical personnel in this situation is illegal under international law. He added, “The very place that can save the life of an injured civilian, can become a place of death and those health workers who risk their lives to save people are at risk of death so in that context, its exceptionally important that everyone works to protect healthcare installations. They need to be safeguarded and de-conflicted since they are clearly identifiable and everyone knows where they are.
Ryan emphasized that even if the misery and terror inflicted on residents of southern Israel and other parts of Israel last week were acknowledged, they cannot be used as an excuse for what is occurring to common Palestinians.
“Safety assurances are required so that help may reach its intended destinations. The process is thus complicated; it involves more than just opening or shutting the border gate. It will need for very, extremely high-level diplomatic relations between various nations. The bloodshed must cease. We need to provide aid to the people of Gaza, and the bombardment must cease, he said.
