The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark condemnation of Israeli military actions in central Gaza, accusing the Israeli army of launching direct attacks on its facilities in Deir al-Balah, resulting in severe structural damage, endangerment of staff, and disruption of life-saving medical operations.

In an official statement released on Sunday, the WHO revealed that its staff residence compound in Deir al-Balah was struck three times in succession by Israeli airstrikes. The attacks triggered large fires and extensive damage to the building. Following the strikes, Israeli ground forces stormed the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot under live gunfire, while male staff and their relatives were reportedly stripped, handcuffed, and interrogated at gunpoint.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that four individuals — two WHO staff members and two of their relatives — were detained during the raid. While three were later released, one WHO employee remains in Israeli custody. “We call for the immediate release of our detained staff member and demand the protection of all humanitarian personnel in Gaza in accordance with international humanitarian law,” said Dr. Tedros.

The WHO said the attacks followed Israeli evacuation orders in large areas of Deir al-Balah. One of the most severely impacted sites was the WHO’s main medical warehouse, which was bombed, triggering explosions and fires that critically damaged the facility. The destruction has paralyzed WHO’s ability to supply essential medicines and equipment to hospitals and emergency teams in the area.

The statement also highlighted intensified Israeli airstrikes across densely populated neighborhoods in central Gaza, including attacks on homes and mosques where displaced families had sought refuge. As a result, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee once again, heading toward relatively safer zones around Abu Holi and the eastern and western sectors of Al-Baraka.

Dr. Tedros issued a grim warning about the state of Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system. “Fuel and medical supplies are running critically low. A ceasefire is no longer a political demand — it is a humanitarian necessity to save lives,” he said.

The WHO has urged UN member states to intervene urgently to ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian and medical aid into the Gaza Strip. The organization reiterated the necessity of upholding international humanitarian law, particularly the protection of medical facilities and personnel operating in conflict zones.

These developments unfold amid intensified Israeli military operations in eastern and southern Deir al-Balah, where the army claims to be conducting searches for hostages. The ongoing ground assault, coupled with relentless aerial and artillery bombardments, has deepened the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, leaving its medical infrastructure on the verge of collapse.

The latest attack on WHO’s facilities is one of a growing number of documented incidents targeting medical infrastructure in Gaza, raising alarm among international humanitarian organizations and further straining the already devastated health system in the besieged enclave. (ILKHA)