WHO Records 721 Israeli Attacks On Health Facilities In Gaza

Gaza/DOK WHO via UN

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday said it had documented 721 Israeli attacks on health facilities in occupied Palestinian territories since October 7, 2023.

WHO spokesman Pull Jasarevic said 357 attacks were carried out in the Gaza Strip that killed 654 people and injured 818 others while answering questions at a UN press conference.

"The attack affected 98 health facilities (including 27 of the 36 hospitals were damaged) and hit 90 ambulances, 50 of which were damaged," said Jasarevic as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, February 9.

Meanwhile, 364 attacks in the West Bank killed 10 people and injured 62 others.

"The attack hit 44 health facilities, including 15 clinics running and 249 ambulances," continued the WHO spokesman.

During the attack on the West Bank, there were 251 incidents that hampered the provision of health services, 190 incidents involving violence, 60 incidents involving detention, and 67 incidents involving ambulance searches, said Jasarevic.

Israel launched a deadly attack on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, killing at least 27,947 Palestinians and injuring 67,459 others, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have died in Hamas attacks.

Israeli attacks have left 85 percent of Gaza's population displaced amid food shortages, clean water, and medicines, while 60 percent of infrastructure in the enclave has been damaged or destroyed, according to the United Nations.

A temporary decision issued by the International Court last month asking Israel to stop its abuses, but most international observers say Israel ignores the decision.