‘Deeply Concerned’ – WHO Reiterates Call for Israel to Release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. (Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry, via TASS)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

The WHO has called connected Israel to merchandise Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, detained manager of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, amid concerns for his information and the illness of Gaza’s healthcare system.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated its telephone to Israel to merchandise Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the manager of the Kamal Adwan Hospital successful bluish Gaza, amidst concerns for his safety.

“Kamal Adwan Hospital successful North Gaza remains wholly retired of relation and we person received nary updates connected the information and wellbeing of its manager Dr Hussam Abu Safiya since his detention connected 27 December,” the WHO Director-General, Tedros edros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said connected Sunday.

Kamal Adwan Hospital successful North #Gaza remains wholly retired of relation and we person received nary updates connected the information and wellbeing of its manager Dr Hussam Abu Safiya since his detention connected 27 December. We proceed to impulse Israel to merchandise him.

We repeat: attacks on…

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 4, 2025

“We proceed to impulse Israel to merchandise him. We repeat: attacks connected hospitals and wellness professionals indispensable end. People successful Gaza request entree to wellness care,” Tedros added successful his station connected X, urging a ceasefire.

Abu Safiya was detained by Israeli forces on with chap aesculapian unit and others during a raid connected the infirmary connected December 27, pursuing a days-long siege.

Abu Safiya ‘Subjected to Torture’

On Friday, the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said it had received accusation that the wellness of Dr. Abu Safiya has deteriorated owed to the torture helium has endured during his detention, peculiarly portion being held astatine the Sde Teiman detention center.

Dr. Abu Safiya Detained by Israel – Grave Concerns implicit Torture, Health

The enactment said it has besides received accusation from precocious released detainees astatine the Sde Teiman, “confirming that Dr. Abu Safiya was subjected to terrible torture, starring to a important deterioration successful his health.”

This occurred contempt him already being injured by Israeli aerial strikes connected the hospital, “where helium worked tirelessly until the installation was stormed and acceptable ablaze by Israeli forces,” it noted.

Concern for Critical Patients

The WHO’s typical for the West Bank and Gaza, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, besides called connected Friday for Dr. Abu Safiya’s contiguous merchandise saying the UN assemblage “remains profoundly concerned” astir him.

“We’ve mislaid interaction with him since and telephone for his contiguous release,” said Peeperkorn successful a UN Security Council meeting.

Peeperkorn pointed retired the grim concern successful Gaza, saying that implicit 25 per cent of the 105,000 injured civilians present look life-changing injuries.

"Hospitals person go battlegrounds"

Rik Peeperkorn briefed the UN Security Council connected Friday, echoing @WHO's telephone to guarantee that hospitals successful North #Gaza tin beryllium supported to go functional again. https://t.co/e9RNhyitXU pic.twitter.com/DE2piF8WKG

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) January 5, 2025

“At the existent rate, it would instrumentality 5 to 10 years to evacuate each these critically sick patients,” Peeperkorn warned, adding that implicit 12,000 radical stay connected waiting lists for urgent attraction abroad.

Only 16 of the enclave’s 36 hospitals stay partially operational, their corporate capableness simply supra 1,800 beds – wholly insufficient for the overwhelming aesculapian needs, helium said according to a UN News report.

Citing shortages of aesculapian supplies, equipment, and personnel, Dr. Peeperkorn noted that “The wellness assemblage is being systematically dismantled.”

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, much than 1,050 aesculapian professionals person been killed successful Gaza since October 2023.

Ongoing Genocide

The ongoing Israeli battle connected the Gaza Strip, which began connected October 7, 2023, has led to a humanitarian situation of unprecedented scale. As the decease toll among besieged and starved Palestinian civilians continues to emergence daily, Israel is presently facing charges of genocide against Palestinians earlier the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

35-day-old Yusuf Ahmad Anwar Kloub becomes the 8th kid to dice from utmost cold. The blockade and ongoing subject aggression person worsened conditions for displaced families. #Gaza #HumanRights #WinterCrisis

🔗 https://t.co/kmo48ssHqx

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) January 6, 2025

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, astatine slightest 45,854 Palestinians person been killed, and 109,139 wounded successful Israel’s ongoing genocide successful Gaza starting connected October 7, 2023. The toll is expected to emergence further, with astatine slightest 11,000 radical inactive unaccounted for, presumed dormant nether the rubble of their homes crossed Gaza.

The war, which Palestinians telephone “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” began aft a subject cognition carried retired by Hamas connected Israeli territory. Israel reports that 1,139 of its soldiers and civilians were killed during the archetypal onslaught connected October 7. However, Israeli media person raised concerns that a important fig of Israeli casualties were caused by ‘friendly fire’ during the assault.

Humanitarian Catastrophe

Human rights organizations, some Palestinian and international, person reported that the overwhelming bulk of the casualties successful Gaza are women and children. The ongoing unit has besides exacerbated an acute famine, with thousands of children among the dead, highlighting the severity of the humanitarian disaster.

Palestinians successful Gaza are facing the bitter winter, floods, and famine each portion surviving Israel's relentless attacks and forced displacement.

This is US-Israeli manufactured suffering. It indispensable end.pic.twitter.com/8oiHo3bvsB

— CODEPINK (@codepink) January 1, 2025

The warfare has displaced astir 2 cardinal radical from their homes crossed Gaza, with the bulk of the displaced forced into the already overcrowded confederate portion of the Strip. The colonisation successful Gaza remains trapped successful the ongoing conflict, with small entree to basal necessities specified arsenic food, water, and aesculapian care.

(The Palestine Chronicle)