The Director-General of the World Health Organization reiterated today, Monday, the call for a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, stated that the aid provided to the region so far in terms of medical supplies is "a drop in the ocean of needs that are increasing every day."
Ghebreyesus noted that only 15 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza "are still operating partially or at minimum capacity," and that relief workers are doing their utmost under unimaginable conditions. The war in Gaza erupted on October 7th, when Hamas fighters breached the border fence to attack Israeli towns surrounding the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
Last week, Israel announced plans to launch an assault on Rafah, which has become the last relatively safe area in the Strip. Over one million displaced people have fled to the city, setting up tents in the streets, open spaces, and on the beach. Ghebreyesus expressed particular concern about the recent attacks on Rafah, where the majority of Gaza's residents have fled from destruction.
