WHO Reports Attack on Gaza Facilities as Israel Expands Operations

The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed on Monday that its facilities in Gaza had been targeted in Israeli attacks, reinforcing calls from Western nations for an immediate ceasefire as Israel broadened its military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the Israeli military had entered the UN agency’s staff residence, forcibly evacuating women and children and subjecting male staff to physical abuse and interrogation at gunpoint. He condemned the attacks, underscoring that the actions violated international humanitarian law.

Tedros further highlighted that these events followed earlier attacks on WHO’s main warehouse in Deir el-Balah. In response, he joined the call for a ceasefire, saying:

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

Western Nations Call for Immediate Ceasefire

In response to escalating humanitarian conditions, more than two dozen Western countries, including the UK, France, Australia, Canada, and the EU, issued a joint statement on Monday urging an immediate end to hostilities. The statement described the situation in Gaza as having “reached new depths of suffering” and demanded a ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The plea for peace was echoed by the WHO chief, who highlighted the dire need for a halt to the violence, which has devastated the region, particularly its civilian population.

Israel’s Expanded Military Operations

As the international community called for peace, Israel’s military forces intensified their operations in Gaza, focusing on Deir el-Balah. Following an evacuation order from the Israeli military, between 50,000 and 80,000 people were displaced from the area, according to initial UN estimates. The region, which had previously seen limited military action, is now under heavy shelling.

Deir el-Balah resident Abdullah Abu Saleem, 48, described the situation:

“During the night, we heard huge and powerful explosions shaking the area as if it were an earthquake,” he said. “We are extremely worried and fearful that the army is planning a ground operation.”

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened since Israel began easing a two-month blockade on humanitarian aid in May. The UN reported that 875 people were killed while attempting to collect food aid. Western countries condemned Israel’s model for delivering aid, which they said “fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the escalating humanitarian breakdown, citing reports of growing malnutrition and civilian suffering across Gaza.

Images from AFP show thick plumes of smoke rising over Deir el-Balah, while Gaza’s civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal confirmed that several families were trapped in the Al-Baraka area due to Israeli tank shelling.

The ongoing fighting has displaced almost the entire population of Gaza. According to the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA, the latest evacuation orders mean that 87.8% of the territory is now under evacuation orders or within Israeli militarised zones.

Humanitarian Organisations and Local Responses

Mai Elawawda, communications officer for the UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, described the situation in Gaza as “extremely critical”. She reported that shelling was occurring “all around our office”, adding to the strain on healthcare and aid operations in the region.

Hamdi Abu Mughseeb, a Gaza resident, told AFP that he and his family fled northwards from their tent near Deir el-Balah after a night of intense shelling. “There is no safe place anywhere in the Gaza Strip,” he said. “I don’t know where we can go.”

Concern for Hostages in Deir el-Balah

The families of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on Israel have expressed concern over the risks to those still held in Gaza as military operations intensify in Deir el-Balah. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on political and military authorities to explain why the offensive does not pose a direct threat to the hostages.

Of the 251 hostages captured, 49 remain in Gaza, with 27 confirmed dead, according to Israeli military reports. The situation remains fluid, with media restrictions and access limitations making it difficult for independent sources to verify casualty figures.

Casualties and Civilian Impact

The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 59,029 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which is under Hamas control. The violence that erupted following Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel has also resulted in 1,219 Israeli casualties, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.