The Gaza Strip has been experiencing an escalating catastrophic humanitarian crisis as a result of Israel’s ongoing war of genocide, which has targeted health infrastructure and prevented humanitarian aid from reaching Palestinians since October 7, 2023.
In this context, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, described the conditions at Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip as “truly horrific,” as the Israeli war of extermination continues in the area.
Ghebreyesus stated in a post on the “X” platform that despite the bombing and clashes, WHO teams arrived at the hospital two days ago and were able to deliver 5,000 litres of fuel, as well as food and medicine. Three patients were also transferred from the hospital to Al-Shifa Hospital for further treatment.
He stated that the Israeli occupation forces “arbitrarily” refused to allow members of the organisation to enter Kamal Adwan Hospital last week, preventing the presence of surgical and obstetric care specialists within the hospital.
Ghebreyesus stressed that the ongoing shelling around the hospital had severely damaged oxygen supplies and disrupted generators, worsening the health situation.
He described the situation as “truly horrific” and reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to “protect health services and end these hellish conditions.”
In conjunction with these developments, medical sources at Kamal Adwan Hospital reported the presence of Palestinian dead and wounded that medical teams were unable to save due to the ongoing heavy shelling and a lack of surgical intervention capabilities.
The Israeli war of extermination on the Gaza Strip has continued since October 7, 2023, with American support, killing and injuring approximately 152,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, with an additional 11,000 missing. It also caused a famine that killed dozens of children and the elderly, as well as widespread destruction that has rendered the health-care system inoperable in one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history.
The deteriorating situation at Kamal Adwan Hospital blatantly reflects the Israeli occupation’s violations of basic human rights and international conventions that require the protection of civilians, medical personnel, and health facilities in times of war, necessitating immediate international action to press for a ceasefire and ensure the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to save the lives of civilians trapped in the circle of death.