WHO chief calls for cease-fire amid 'appalling' conditions in Gaza hospital

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described conditions at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza as “simply appalling” in a statement on X Monday, calling for an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

“Hostilities around the hospital continue, and recent attacks have further damaged the oxygen supply, generators, and shattered windows and doors in patients' rooms,” said Tedros.

He said a WHO team delivered 5,000 liters of fuel as well as food and medicine during a mission two days ago, evacuating three patients and six companions to Al-Shifa Hospital amid ongoing hostilities near the facility.

Tedros also said that four WHO missions to the hospital had been "arbitrarily" denied over the past week, leaving it without specialized personnel for surgical and maternal care.

He called for the protection of health care infrastructure, adding “this hell must stop! Ceasefire!”

Israel has launched a large-scale ground offensive in northern Gaza since Oct. 5, displacing residents and severely limiting humanitarian aid. Palestinian authorities report nearly 4,000 killed in northern Gaza alone since the operation began.

Israel has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians across Gaza, mainly women and children, since Oct. 7 last year, with international bodies investigating war crimes and genocide by Israeli officials.