Concerned about the Israeli Military Raid on Al Shifa Hospital, WHO Head: Hospitals Must Not Become Battlefields

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. (Wikimedia Commons/MONUSCO)

JAKARTA - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday voiced his concern about the Israeli military attack on Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza.

"Hospitals must not become battlefields. We are very worried about the situation at Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, which endangers health workers, patients and civilians," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the social media platform X, reported by Reuters, March 19.

According to Ghebreyesus, the hospital has only recently managed to restore "minimal health services," warning fighting there or "militarization of the facility jeopardizes health services, access to ambulances and delivery of life-saving supplies," quoted by CNN.

Earlier, special forces, supported by infantry and tanks, carried out a "precise operation" based on intelligence that the hospital was again being used by Hamas leaders, and were fired upon when they entered the compound, the military said.

"We arrested more than 200 suspected terrorists and are currently being interrogated. We killed more than 20 people inside the hospital complex," said Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Furthermore, Admiral Hagari also revealed that one Israeli soldier was killed in the incident.

"Hamas is trying to rebuild its base in the hospital and use it as a refuge for fleeing terrorists. We will not allow this and continue to attack any place where Hamas tries to regain its grip," explained Admiral Hagari.

Separately, Hamas said in a statement, the Israeli military had committed a new crime by directly targeting the hospital building without regard for the patients, medical staff or refugees inside.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian health authority said the Israeli operation had caused many casualties and sparked severe fires.

"There were casualties, including deaths and injuries, and it was impossible to save anyone due to the intensity of the fire and the target was anyone who approached the windows," the ministry explained.