The World Health Organization (WHO) has accused the Israeli military of attacking its staff residence in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah city. According to WHO, the building was struck three times on Monday, causing major damage and putting staff and their families in danger.
The UN health agency said airstrikes set the building on fire, forcing staff members, including women and children, to flee on foot. Israeli forces then entered the premises and allegedly detained WHO workers.
WHO reported that male staff and their family members were handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated at gunpoint. Two WHO staff and two family members were taken into custody. Three have been released, but one staff member remains detained.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for the immediate release of the detained staff. He also urged protection for all WHO personnel working in Gaza.
The attack came as Israeli tanks entered southern and eastern areas of Deir al-Balah for the first time. The Israeli military said it was searching for hostages believed to be held by Hamas in the area.
Local medics confirmed that tank shelling struck homes and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and injuring several others. The area is crowded with displaced civilians due to ongoing conflict.
WHO also said its main medical warehouse in Deir al-Balah was hit a day earlier. The strike caused explosions and fire inside the warehouse, which sits inside an evacuation zone.
Despite the attacks, WHO said it would continue operating in Deir al-Balah. The agency plans to expand health services in the area, which has become a refuge for thousands displaced by the war.
Meanwhile, over 59,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the start of Israel’s military campaign following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The health system in Gaza remains under immense strain, facing severe shortages of medicine, fuel, and staff.
Also Read: Israeli Forces Kill 92 Palestinians Seeking Food Aid, and 19 Die from Starvation. Escalating attacks on aid sites deepen Gaza’s hunger crisis and spark global outrage.
