WHO Chief: Israeli Forces Attacked Staff Residence In Gaza

LONDON, July 22 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Israeli forces attacked the staff residence of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Gaza three times on Monday, along with its main warehouse, and detained staff and family members, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing the head of the UN agency.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that the attacks targeted the staff residence in Deir al-Balah.

“The Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot towards Al-Mawasi amid active conflict,” he said.

Tedros said male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint, adding that two WHO staff and two family members were detained.

Three were later released, but one staff member remains in detention, he said, adding that 32 WHO staff and family members were evacuated to the WHO office once access became possible.

“WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and the protection of all its personnel.”

Expressing concern over the latest Israeli evacuation order in Deir al-Balah, Tedros underlined that it has affected several WHO premises, compromising the agency’s ability to operate in Gaza and pushing the health system further towards collapse.

“WHO’s main warehouse, located in Deir al-Balah, is within the evacuation zone and was damaged yesterday when an attack caused explosions and a fire inside,” he recalled.

“WHO urgently calls on Member States to help ensure a sustained and regular flow of medical supplies into Gaza,” he said, stressing that compromising WHO’s operations is crippling the entire health response in Gaza.

“A ceasefire is not just necessary — it is overdue,” he added.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU