The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned multiple attacks by Israeli forces on its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on Monday. According to the UN agency, three airstrikes hit the residence, triggering a fire that severely damaged the building and put families – including children – at risk.
In a striking escalation, Israeli tanks advanced into the southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah – a densely populated area hosting Palestinians displaced by the 21-month conflict. Local medics report at least three Palestinians were killed and several others injured after tank shelling struck homes and mosques.
WHO staff described harrowing scenes of armed soldiers entering the residence compound. Women and children were forced to walk out on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active fighting, the organization said. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, and screened at gunpoint. Two staff members and two relatives were initially detained; three were later released, but one remains in custody.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus demanded the immediate release of detained staff and full protection for WHO personnel in Gaza. The attack also damaged the WHO's main warehouse – located in an evacuation zone – after explosions sparked a fire on Sunday.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that troops returned fire after coming under attack and had warned civilians to evacuate before operations began. The IDF added that suspects detained during field questioning were mostly released in coordination with international organizations.
Deir al-Balah is one of the few remaining urban centers in Gaza not fully evacuated, crowded with displaced families facing shortages of fuel, medicine, and basic supplies. The WHO has warned that Gaza's health sector is on its knees, with continuous mass casualty events stretching resources to the breaking point.
Despite the risks, the WHO says it will remain in Deir al-Balah and expand its operations to deliver critical aid. The agency affirmed that its teams cannot abandon the people of Gaza.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
