The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has raised grave concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers in Gaza after revealing that Israeli military forces reportedly launched multiple attacks on a WHO staff residence in the besieged Palestinian enclave. According to Dr. Tedros, the residence came under assault on three separate occasions, resulting in a traumatic ordeal for personnel and their families.
The incident, which has sparked global outrage among humanitarian circles, occurred amid intensifying military operations by Israeli forces in Gaza, where airstrikes and ground invasions have continued in parts of the territory. Speaking via an official statement, Dr. Tedros stated that women and children living in the UN health agency’s residence were left with no option but to flee the building on foot, seeking safety amid active combat conditions.
The Director-General further revealed that male WHO staff members were forcibly held and interrogated on the spot by Israeli soldiers during the raids, an action that contravenes international protocols protecting humanitarian and United Nations personnel in conflict zones. He stressed that the attacks not only endangered innocent lives but also severely undermined the neutral status of global health workers, whose presence in Gaza is strictly humanitarian, aimed at delivering medical aid and saving lives in one of the world’s most volatile conflict zones.
Dr. Tedros did not mince words in condemning the repeated violations, calling for accountability and urging all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law. He reiterated that WHO staff operate under clear UN mandates and are not to be targeted or obstructed under any circumstances. “Our colleagues in Gaza are risking their lives daily to provide critical healthcare and support under extremely dangerous conditions. They should never be under threat, let alone directly attacked,” he said.
The ongoing Israeli military campaign, which began in response to the October 7 attacks by Hamas, has drawn sharp criticism from various human rights organisations over its scale and the toll on civilian lives. With hospitals overwhelmed, water and electricity cut off in many areas, and thousands displaced, international aid workers, including WHO teams, have become essential lifelines for the wounded and the sick.
Reports from inside Gaza indicate that humanitarian corridors remain unreliable, and aid deliveries are being delayed or blocked. This latest development, involving direct targeting of a UN agency’s residence, is expected to heighten diplomatic tensions and calls for an urgent ceasefire or humanitarian pause to allow civilians and aid workers safe passage.
WHO has submitted formal complaints to relevant international bodies, seeking immediate investigations into the incident. As the situation unfolds, global attention continues to shift toward the urgent need for protection of humanitarian actors in conflict zones, especially those operating in high-risk environments like Gaza.
