GENEVA: The World Well being Group complained on Tuesday (Dec 12) in regards to the Israeli detention of a medical rescue convoy within the Gaza Strip, saying one affected person had died throughout an evacuation held up by troops who detained and abused a Pink Crescent employees member.
In a put up on the X social media platform, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated a WHO-led mission to carry provides in and evacuate sufferers from the final partly functioning hospital in northern Gaza was stopped in each instructions by Israelis.
One among 19 critically wounded sufferers the group was making an attempt to rescue died en route due to the hold-up. One Pink Crescent employees member was separated from the convoy, stripped, crushed and harassed earlier than being despatched out hours in a while foot, unclothed and shoeless, along with his palms nonetheless tied behind his again.
“We’re deeply involved about extended checks and detention of well being staff that put lives of already fragile sufferers in danger,” Tedros stated.
Saturday’s mission evacuated important sufferers and delivered trauma and surgical provides to cowl the wants of 1,500 individuals at battle-scarred Al-Ahli Hospital, the final hospital nonetheless partially functioning within the northern half of the Gaza Strip.
On the way in which out of the north, some sufferers and Pink Crescent employees had been instructed at an Israeli checkpoint to go away the ambulances. Crucial sufferers had been searched by armed Israeli troopers.
“Some well being staff had been held and questioned for a number of hours,” Tedros stated. “Because of the hold-up, one affected person died en route.”
WHO’s consultant in Gaza Richard Peeperkorn, who was on the convoy, stated the medics had been compelled to go away behind one Palestine Pink Crescent Society employees member.
“After two and a half hours, we needed to make this extremely tough selection to go away this extremely harmful space and proceed for the security and well-being of the sufferers,” Peeperkorn advised reporters through video hyperlink.
The detained employees member later reported being harassed, crushed, threatened, stripped of his garments, and blindfolded. After his launch, he was left to stroll in the direction of southern Gaza along with his palms nonetheless tied behind his again, and with out his garments or footwear, WHO stated.
“His story is harrowing, and the humiliation and inhumane remedy he was topic to is reasonably stunning,” Peeperkorn stated.
Well being staff have been detained on earlier missions to Gaza well being services. On Nov 18, six individuals had been detained throughout a WHO-led mission to maneuver sufferers from Al-Shifa Hospital. 4 of these individuals stay in detention, WHO stated.
