WHO Chief Calls on Hamas to Immediately Release Hostages
- WHO
Geneva – The World Health Organization Chief on Sunday urged Hamas to release all civilian hostages, as he warned that the war between Israel and the Islamist group would only bring destruction.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was gravely concerned by Israeli attacks on innocent Palestinian civilians and innocent children.
"Conflict is a terrible reminder of how quickly the health of millions of people can be jeopardized. War will bring nothing but destruction and horror," Ghebreyesus said at the headquarters in Geneva.
Konflik Israel-Palestina
- (Foto AP/Fatima Shbair)
Earlier, Israel declared war on Hamas last week, a day after the militant group broke through a heavily guarded border and attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.
The relentless bombardment that followed, which Israel declared retaliatory, devastated the Gaza Strip and killed at least 2,670 people, most of them Palestinian civilians.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had confirmed 155 people held hostage by Hamas since the group launched its deadly offensive last week.
"WHO calls on Hamas to release civilian hostages, and we continue to call on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international law to protect civilians and health facilities," Ghebreyesus informed.
"I am also deeply concerned by Israel's attacks on Palestinian civilians. Innocent civilians and children must suffer the consequences."
Meanwhile, the Israeli army has asked Gazans to head south, where it is safer, ahead of an expected ground offensive.
Dirjen WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
- Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP
"Asking 1.1 million people to move from northern to southern Gaza at such short notice would create a humanitarian tragedy," Ghebreyesus said.
"Forced evacuation of patients and health workers will further exacerbate the humanitarian and public health disaster," he continued.
In addition, WHO called for the restoration of electricity and water in the Gaza Strip, as well as conditions that allow for the immediate and safe delivery of food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian assistance.
