Deadly Strike on Gaza refugee camp draws condemnation from WHO

In a somber visit to a Gaza hospital on Monday, World Health Organization (WHO) staff witnessed the aftermath of deadly strikes on a refugee camp, documenting distressing stories of entire families lost and dying children.

UN health agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking on X, formerly Twitter, conveyed the harrowing accounts shared by health workers and victims affected by the explosions.

At least 70 casualties were reported by the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza following Israeli strikes late Sunday on three houses in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp. The Israeli military, acknowledging the incident, stated it was “reviewing” and emphasized its commitment to international law, including minimizing harm to civilians.

Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, faced an overwhelming influx of around 100 casualties from the blasts, according to Tedros. The hospital, stretched beyond its capacity, struggled to cope with the situation. Rows of victims’ bodies, wrapped in white bags, lined the ground as preparations for a mass funeral were underway.

Tedros expressed concern over the strain on Gaza’s healthcare system, warning that many patients might not survive the wait for treatment. Urgently calling for a ceasefire, he stated, “This latest strike on a Gazan community shows just why we need a #CeasefireNOW.”

The conflict, initiated when Hamas fighters launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, has resulted in a high toll on both sides. The WHO highlighted the critical situation in Gaza, with Sean Casey, an Emergency Medical Teams coordinator, describing the heartbreaking scene of doctors providing palliative care to a critically injured nine-year-old boy named Ahmed.

Casey emphasized the urgent need for intervention, stating, “We as an international community should not accept that thousands upon thousands of people, children are being blown up, being killed while they’re crossing the street, while they’re sleeping in their beds.” He labeled the situation as “unacceptable” and demanded an immediate ceasefire, echoing the growing international calls for an end to the violence.