Israeli Forces Detain WHO Staff, Strike Gaza Facilities Amid Conflict

The World Health Organization (WHO) has accused Israeli forces of attacking its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, severely disrupting humanitarian aid operations amid escalating conflict. Israeli troops reportedly forced women and children to evacuate on foot and detained male WHO staff and family members at gunpoint, with one staff member remaining in custody. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned these actions and called for the immediate release of detained staff and protection of all humanitarian workers, emphasizing that a ceasefire is overdue. More than 25 Western countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Australia, and the European Union, have issued a joint statement demanding an immediate end to the war, a negotiated ceasefire, and the free flow of humanitarian aid, while condemning the ongoing suffering of Gaza’s civilian population. Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, rejected international criticism, insisting pressure should focus on Hamas, while regional mediator Egypt supported the call for peace. The conflict, ongoing for over 21 months, has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, with WHO warning that health systems in Gaza are on the brink of collapse.