Fighting back tears, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made a powerful plea on Thursday, urging Israel to show “mercy” in the ongoing Gaza conflict, warning that the war is inflicting lasting harm not only on Palestinians but also on Israel itself.
Speaking at the WHO’s annual assembly, Tedros delivered an emotional address in which he reflected on his own traumatic experiences of war during his childhood in Ethiopia.
“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,” said the 60-year-old health leader, attributing the vivid memories to PTSD.
He condemned the targeting of humanitarian essentials, saying: “It’s really wrong to weaponise food. It’s very wrong to weaponise medical supplies.”
Tedros stressed that only a political solution could deliver lasting peace. “A call for peace is actually in the best interests of Israel itself. I feel that the war is hurting Israel itself and it will not bring a lasting solution,” he said. “I ask if you can have mercy. It’s good for you and good for the Palestinians. It’s good for humanity.”
The WHO chief’s remarks came as the United Nations began delivering around 90 truckloads of aid—the first since Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza on March 2.
Meanwhile, WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan painted a grim picture, stating that 2.1 million Gazans are “in imminent danger of death.”
“We need to end the starvation, we need to release all hostages and we need to resupply and bring the health system back online,” said Ryan. Drawing from his own harrowing past, he added, “As an ex-hostage, I can say that all hostages should be released. Their families are suffering. Their families are in pain.”
According to the WHO, 94% of all hospitals in Gaza are either damaged or destroyed, and only 19 of the Strip’s 36 hospitals remain operational. These are functioning under extreme pressure with staff working in “impossible conditions.” In total, only 2,000 hospital beds are available to serve the entire population—an amount WHO describes as “grossly insufficient.”
In a chilling summary, the WHO stated: “The destruction is systematic. Hospitals are rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be exposed to hostilities or attacked again. This destructive cycle must end.”
What you should know
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom has made a heartfelt plea for mercy in the Gaza war, stating that continued conflict is harming both Palestinians and Israelis.
The WHO reports that Gaza’s health system is on the brink of collapse, with nearly all hospitals damaged and millions at risk of death due to starvation and lack of medical care.
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