The World Health Organization condemned the recent airstrike carried out by the Israeli occupation on a refugee camp in the besieged Gaza Strip, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 70 Palestinian lives.

On social media platform X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the UN health agency, conveyed significant concern in a post on Monday. He referenced touching narratives from health workers and victims, highlighting the profound suffering inflicted by the attacks.

"One child had lost their whole family in the strike on the camp. A nurse at the hospital suffered the same loss, with his entire family killed," he added.

WHO today visited Al-Aqsa Hospital, where scores of injured people were taken overnight following strikes in central #Gaza, including in the vicinity of the Maghazi refugee camp.

Palestinian health authorities reported that 70 people were killed, while Al-Aqsa Hospital staff… pic.twitter.com/B5503C82CT

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 25, 2024

Casualties exceeded hospital's capacity

Ghebreyesus' statement came a day after an Israeli airstrike targeted the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central region of Gaza, which has been under constant aggression by the occupation.

In response to the attack, Gaza's Health Ministry reported the destruction of a "residential block", and expressed concern that the "toll is likely to rise" due to the considerable number of families living there and the fact that many individuals were still trapped under the rubble.

Describing the Israeli attack on Sunday, the ministry's spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said, "What is happening at the al-Maghazi camp is the annihilation of an entire residential square."

"Palestinian health authorities reported that 70 people were killed, while Al-Aqsa Hospital staff reported receiving around 100 casualties," Tedros said, adding, "The hospital is taking in far more patients than its bed capacity and staff can handle."

Read next: New Israeli massacre targets Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp in Gaza

"Many will not survive the wait," the WHO's head warned, insisting that "this latest strike on a Gazan community shows just why we need a #CeasefireNOW."

The senior UN official noted, "WHO is extremely concerned about the unbearable strain that escalating hostilities are putting on the few hospitals across Gaza that remain open – with most of the health system decimated and brought to its knees."

The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has resulted in the martyrdom of at least 20,674 Palestinian lives, with the majority being women and children.

#Watch | The bodies of scores of Palestinian martyrs in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in #Gaza, following the new massacre that Israeli occupation forces committed against several families in the densely-populated al-Maghazi refugee camp.#Palestine https://t.co/PYP4wCgw54

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 25, 2023