The World Health Organization has issued a damning condemnation of a recent Israeli military strike in Gaza City, describing the assault on the al-Ahli hospital complex as 'barbaric' and a catastrophic escalation in the ongoing conflict.
WHO spokesperson Dr Richard Peeperkorn revealed that the organisation's attempts to reach the devastated medical facility were blocked for over two weeks, leaving staff and patients in what he termed 'a death zone'. The hospital, once a functioning medical centre, now stands as a symbol of the deepening humanitarian disaster.
A Scene of Utter Devastation
When WHO personnel finally gained access, they encountered a scene of utter destruction. The hospital's courtyard was littered with mass graves, a grim testament to the scale of casualties. Dr Peeperkorn reported that the facility, which previously housed 80 patients, had been reduced to a skeleton operation with just ten staff members struggling to care for 30 critically ill patients.
'What we see is that the hospital is basically a hospice now,' he stated, highlighting the complete absence of pain management or essential medical supplies. The conditions were described as utterly inhumane, with patients begging for food and water.
The Human Cost Mounts
The assault on Gaza's healthcare infrastructure represents just one facet of the overwhelming crisis. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that the Palestinian death toll has now surpassed 38,000, with thousands more injured and missing beneath the rubble.
Israeli forces have justified their intensified military campaign as a necessary operation to root out Hamas militants, following the group's 7 October attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza.
Aid Efforts Paralyzed
The situation for humanitarian organisations remains dire. The WHO has been largely prevented from delivering desperately needed medical supplies, fuel, and food to northern Gaza. Dr Peeperkorn emphasised that only 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain partially functional, creating an impossible burden on the crippled healthcare system.
Despite mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained steadfast, insisting military operations will continue until Hamas's military and governing capabilities are completely destroyed. The human cost of this determination continues to rise with each passing day.
