 "WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Source: Reuters | File.")
World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged Israel to stop attacks on hospitals. In a strongly worded message on X, he wrote, “Hospitals in Gaza have once again become battlegrounds and the health system is under severe threat,” highlighting the severe condition of the place.
The message of WHO chief comes after Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, was arrested by Israeli forces following a raid on the hospital that shut down the last major functioning health facility in the region.
According to reports from former detainees, Dr. Abu Safiya is being held at the controversial Sde Teiman military base, a notorious detention facility in the Negev desert.
The Israeli military claimed Dr. Abu Safiya was detained due to alleged ties to Hamas, labeling him as a “terrorist operative” and accusing the hospital of being a Hamas stronghold. However, no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.
In his message, Ghebreyesus further asked for the release of Safiya, writing, “Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza is out of service — following the raid, forced patient and staff evacuation and the detention of its director, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya two days ago. His whereabouts are unknown. We call for his immediate release.”
He also updated that the critical patients were moved to Indonesian Hospital, which, however, is out of function as well.
“Amid ongoing chaos in northern Gaza, @WHO and partners today delivered basic medical and hygiene supplies, food and water to Indonesian Hospital and transferred 10 critical patients to Al-Shifa Hospital. Four patients were detained during the transfer. We urge Israel to ensure their health care needs and rights are upheld”
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More ShortsThe WHO chief further informed that seven patients along with 15 caregivers and health workers remain at the severely damaged Indonesian Hospital, which has no ability to provide care.
Informing netizens that Al-Ahli Hospital and Al-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital in Gaza City also faced attacks he concluded by posting, “We repeat: stop attacks on hospitals. People in Gaza need access to health care. Humanitarians need access to provide health aid. Ceasefire!”
For the uninformed, the raid on Kamal Adwan hospital occurred on Friday, with staff members reporting that Israeli forces started a fire in the hospital and subjected them to hours of forced disrobing before evacuating the premises. Journalists and medical staff who were detained described the conditions as inhumane, with one journalist recounting the harsh treatment experienced during his detention.
Former detainees released from Sde Teiman reported seeing Dr. Abu Safiya in the facility, though the Israeli military has not confirmed this. One detainee, Ahmad Al Sayyed Saleem, recognised the doctor and reported that he was brought to the prison alongside other medical staff from Kamal Adwan.
The detention of Dr. Abu Safiya has drawn international condemnation. MedGlobal, the nonprofit organisation where he served as the lead physician in Gaza, voiced concerns about the doctor’s welfare.
Dr. Zaher Sahloul, president of MedGlobal, called the arrest “a violation of international humanitarian law,” emphasizing the crucial role Dr. Abu Safiya played in providing healthcare under harrowing conditions.
Notably, the raid on Kamal Adwan has left northern Gaza without a functioning hospital.
With inputs from agencies.