ISRAEL — The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a plea for an end to the hostilities between Hamas and Israel, while also advocating for the creation of a humanitarian corridor from Egypt to the Gaza Strip to ensure the delivery of critical medical supplies.
WHO’s call for calm and the release of over 100 Israeli and foreign hostages comes after a deadly confrontation that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,200 Israelis, foreign workers, and students, including infants, children, and elderly individuals.
This gruesome incident occurred after Hamas militants breached the Israeli border, unleashing a wave of violence across multiple Israeli kibbutzim and towns on the day of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
The international community, including US President Joe Biden and the European Union, has decried the events as a massacre.
Hamas militants, who took Israel’s formidable military by surprise, also seized approximately 130 hostages, including young mothers with infants and children.
These hostages, which comprise foreign nationals from the US, Canada, Thailand, Nepal, and other countries, are presumably intended as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.
Following the Hamas operation, Israel responded with widespread bombings in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
In addition to the airstrikes, Israel imposed restrictions on access to vital resources such as water, electricity, and fuel, exacerbating the crisis in Gaza.
As a result, nearly 900 Gaza residents have lost their lives in the bombings, with many neighborhoods left in ruins, undoing the reconstruction efforts that followed the 2014 conflict.
In a further escalation of tensions, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed ally of Hamas, launched guided missiles into Israel.
Despite calls for calm and efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, the situation remains volatile, with Hamas continuing to launch missile strikes on southern and central Israel.
The WHO has offered its assistance to health authorities in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, emphasizing the dire situation in Gaza’s healthcare facilities, which are at risk of paralysis.
Hospitals are currently operating on backup generators, with fuel expected to run out in the coming days.
The WHO is actively working to procure medical supplies locally to meet the growing demand and is preparing additional supplies from its Global Medical Logistics Hub in Dubai, UAE.
In 2020, The UAE became the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel, breaking with decades of Arab policy toward the Palestinian cause.
A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries came into effect in March, Israel’s first free trade agreement with an Arab state.
Negotiations involving Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Israel are underway to seek a resolution to the conflict, secure hostage releases, and facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who agreed to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
While the WHO advocates for the protection of humanitarian corridors and the safe release of hostages, the situation remains complex and fraught with challenges.
Israel’s decision to maintain a fuel and power blockade has garnered support among a growing number of its citizens, who argue that any humanitarian aid would be diverted by Hamas to prolong the hostilities.
The WHO also expressed grave concern for the health and well-being of the hostages held by Hamas, emphasizing the immediate need for addressing their medical requirements and calling for their safe release.
The Gaza Strip, under the control of Hamas since 2007, has faced a protracted blockade by Israel, exacerbating the challenges in this densely populated enclave. The ongoing conflict presents a dire humanitarian crisis, demanding urgent attention and resolution.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.
