WHO slams 'Israel' for delaying Gaza missions, detaining medical staff

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Dec 2023 15:01

WHO highlights concerns about the safety of patients and its humanitarian mission in Gaza in the wake of extended inspections of health convoys and the detainment of healthcare workers.

An emergency responder carries a wounded child in a hospital following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on October 14. (AFP/Getty Images)

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed apprehension, on Tuesday, regarding the extended inspections of health convoys in the Gaza Strip and the detainment of healthcare workers in the region.

According to Reuters, Ghebreyesus noted in a social media post that a WHO-led mission to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza faced delays at a checkpoint both on the way to north Gaza and upon returning.

We received greater detail on Saturday’s high-risk @WHO-led mission in #Gaza to Al-Ahli Hospital. We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk.

The mission was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza… https://t.co/DG4uxYSNBw
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 12, 2023

He highlighted that some Palestine Red Crescent Society personnel were detained on both occasions. Tedros emphasized deep concern about the prolonged checks and detention of health workers, putting the lives of already vulnerable patients at risk.

WHO documents mistreatment of Palestinian staff

In further detail, the World Health Organization has released a forceful statement, warning that "Israel" has impeded a crucial medical mission, forcing Palestinian medical personnel to kneel at gunpoint, detaining them, and obstructing them from performing their duties.

The statement detailed that on December 9, 2023, a WHO mission concluded a perilous undertaking to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. The objective was to deliver medical provisions, assess the hospital's condition, and transfer critically injured patients to a southern facility.

During the journey north, the UN convoy underwent scrutiny at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, leading to the detainment of two PRCS staff members, causing further delays. Disturbingly, one of them was reportedly mistreated, including being forced to kneel at gunpoint, harassed, beaten, stripped, and searched, as per the statement.

Upon entering Gaza City, gunfire struck the aid truck carrying medical supplies and one of the ambulances. On the return trip south with patients from Al-Ahli Hospital, the convoy encountered another stop at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, the statement detailed.

It also noted that PRCS staff and most patients had to disembark for security checks, with critical patients in ambulances searched by armed soldiers.

Despite numerous attempts to coordinate the release of a previously detained PRCS staff member, the mission, prioritizing the safety of patients and humanitarian workers, had to proceed, the statement added.

It also revealed that one patient succumbed to untreated wounds during the transfer due to Israeli delaying and harassment.

The released PRCS staff member recounted being harassed, beaten, threatened, stripped, blindfolded, and subjected to degrading treatment, as per the statement.

After release, he was left to walk south with tied hands, without clothes or shoes.

This is happening as the health crisis in Gaza has reached alarming proportions with the toll of Israeli the aggression surpassing 18,205 martyrs and 49,645 injured since October 7.

The situation is expected to worsen as a significant number of people remain trapped under debris, while ambulances are barred from reaching the wounded due to depleted fuel reserves.

Spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health Ashraf al-Qudra revealed that the Israeli occupation had deliberately targeted 137 facilities, rendering 22 hospitals and 46 primary care centers inoperable.