24-05-2025, 08:07 AM
![](https://i.imgur.com/CLvY2jA.png")
Fighting back tears, WHO chief begs Israel to show ‘mercy’ in Gaza
24-05-2025, 08:41 PM
GENEVA - Fighting back tears, the head of the World Health Organisation on May 22 urged Israel to have “mercy” in the Gaza war and insisted peace would be in Israel’s own interests.
In an emotional intervention at the WHO annual assembly, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the war was hurting Israel and would not bring a lasting solution.
“I can feel how people in Gaza would feel at the moment. I can smell it. I can visualise it. I can hear even the sounds. And this is because of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” said Dr Tedros, 60, who has often recalled his own wartime upbringing in Ethiopia.
In an emotional intervention at the WHO annual assembly, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the war was hurting Israel and would not bring a lasting solution.
“I can feel how people in Gaza would feel at the moment. I can smell it. I can visualise it. I can hear even the sounds. And this is because of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” said Dr Tedros, 60, who has often recalled his own wartime upbringing in Ethiopia.
24-05-2025, 08:47 PM
One can imagine how people are suffering. It’s really wrong to weaponise food. It’s very wrong to weaponise medical supplies.” The UN on May 22 began distributing around 90 truckloads of aid, which are the first deliveries into Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2.
Dr Tedros said only a political solution could bring a meaningful peace. A call for peace is actually in the best interests of Israel itself. I feel the war is hurting Israel itself & it will not bring a lasting solution,” he said. I ask if one can have mercy. It’s good for you & good for Palestinians. It’s good for humanity.”
‘Systematic’ destruction
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that 2.1 million people in Gaza were “in imminent danger of death”.
Dr Tedros said only a political solution could bring a meaningful peace. A call for peace is actually in the best interests of Israel itself. I feel the war is hurting Israel itself & it will not bring a lasting solution,” he said. I ask if one can have mercy. It’s good for you & good for Palestinians. It’s good for humanity.”
‘Systematic’ destruction
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that 2.1 million people in Gaza were “in imminent danger of death”.
24-05-2025, 08:50 PM
We need to end the starvation, we need to release all hostages and we need to resupply and bring the health system back online,” he said. “As an ex-hostage, I can say that all hostages should be released. Their families are suffering. Their families are in pain,” he added.
The WHO said Gazans were suffering acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter. Four major hospitals have had to suspend medical services in the past week, due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones, and attacks.
Only 19 of the Gaza Strip’s 36 hospitals remain operational, with staff working in “impossible conditions”, the UN health agency said in a statement. “At least 94 per cent of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed,” it said, while north Gaza “has been stripped of nearly all healthcare”.
It said that across the Palestinian territory, only 2,000 hospital beds remained available – a figure “grossly insufficient to meet the current needs”.
The destruction is systematic. Hospitals are rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be exposed to hostilities or attacked again. This destructive cycle must end. AFP
The WHO said Gazans were suffering acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter. Four major hospitals have had to suspend medical services in the past week, due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones, and attacks.
Only 19 of the Gaza Strip’s 36 hospitals remain operational, with staff working in “impossible conditions”, the UN health agency said in a statement. “At least 94 per cent of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed,” it said, while north Gaza “has been stripped of nearly all healthcare”.
It said that across the Palestinian territory, only 2,000 hospital beds remained available – a figure “grossly insufficient to meet the current needs”.
The destruction is systematic. Hospitals are rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be exposed to hostilities or attacked again. This destructive cycle must end. AFP
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
