Critical Patient Dies Due To Detained Israeli Examination, WHO Head: Gaza Society Has The Right To Access Health Services

JAKARTA - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern that a critical patient was killed when a convoy of medical supplies and ambulances carrying him was blocked by Israeli checks up to twice in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

In a post on X's social media, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO-led humanitarian mission to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on Saturday was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, which was run by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on their way to northern Gaza and on their way back.

He said several Palestinian Red Crescent staff were also detained on both occasions.

"We are deeply concerned about the prolonged examination and detention of health workers that endanger the lives of vulnerable patients," said Dr. Tedros.

The mission transferred 19 critical patients and sent trauma and surgical equipment to meet the needs of 1,500 patients at Al-Ahli Hospital, which has suffered significant damage since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted in October.

The WHO said two Palestinian Red Crescent Community staff were detained for more than an hour on their way to the hospital.

We received greater detail on Saturday’s high-risk @WHO-led mission in #Gaza to Al-Ahli Hospital. We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk.The mission was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza… https://t.co/DG4uxYSNBw

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 12, 2023

We received greater detail on Saturday’s high-risk @WHO-led mission in #Gaza to Al-Ahli Hospital. We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk.The mission was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza… https://t.co/DG4uxYSNBw

"The WHO staff saw one of them being told to knelt at gunpoint and then taken out of sight, where he was reportedly harassed, beaten, swallowed up and searched," the WHO said in a statement.

As the convoy entered Gaza City, aid trucks carrying medical supplies and one of the ambulances were hit by bullets, the WHO said.

On his way home from the convoy, Dr. Tedros said several patients and medical officers of the Red Crescent were instructed at the checkpoint to leave the ambulance in order to be identified.

"Several health workers were examined and interrogated for several hours," Tedros said.

"Due to the delay, one patient died on the way, given the severity of their injuries and slow access to treatment," he said.

Previously, health workers had been detained on an earlier mission to Gaza's health facility.

On November 18, six people were detained during a WHO-led mission to remove patients from Al-Shifa Hospital. Four of these people are still being held, the WHO said.

"The Gaza people have the right to access health services. The health system must be protected, even in war," tweeted Dr. Tedros.