WHO calls for mercy amid Gaza crisis

[MIDDLE EAST] Choking back tears, the head of the World Health Organization on Thursday issued an emotional plea to Israel, urging it to show “mercy” in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza and warning that continued conflict is ultimately detrimental to Israel itself.

Addressing delegates at the WHO’s annual assembly, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke with visible emotion, emphasizing that the war is not only devastating Palestinian civilians but also harming Israel in the long term.

“I can feel the anguish of the people in Gaza,” said Tedros, 60, drawing on his own experience growing up amid conflict in Ethiopia. “I can smell it. I can see it. I can hear the sounds. That’s PTSD.”

He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic, noting that conditions have worsened dramatically in recent months. “The humanitarian crisis has reached levels we’ve never seen before. The blockade imposed by Israel has drastically reduced access to essential goods and services,” he said. “Basic necessities—food, water, medical supplies—are dangerously scarce, and the conflict is making humanitarian aid delivery nearly impossible.”

Tedros condemned the use of food and medical aid as leverage in the conflict. “Weaponizing food and medicine is profoundly wrong,” he said.

Thursday marked the first day that aid trucks—around 90 in total—were allowed into Gaza since Israel enforced a total blockade on March 2. However, international agencies have warned that the deliveries fall far short of the massive need.

“The magnitude of the crisis is staggering,” Tedros added. “The blockade has not only stifled the flow of aid but also collapsed Gaza’s economy, driving up poverty and unemployment. Without access to clean water and sanitation, disease risks are soaring among a population already on the brink.”

He reiterated that only a political resolution could pave the way to sustainable peace. “Peace is not just good for Palestinians; it is in Israel’s best interest as well,” Tedros said. “This war is hurting Israel. It will not yield a lasting solution. I beg you—have mercy. It’s for everyone’s good. For humanity’s good.”

WHO’s emergencies director, Michael Ryan, issued a stark warning: “Some 2.1 million people in Gaza are facing imminent death.” He echoed calls from the international community for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate aid delivery and protect civilians, lamenting that such appeals have largely gone unheeded.

“The violence keeps escalating, exacerbated by the cycle of militant attacks and military retaliation,” Ryan said. “We must stop the starvation. We must release all hostages. And we must restore Gaza’s shattered health system.”

Ryan, himself a former hostage, spoke personally about the suffering of families still awaiting news. “All hostages should be freed. Their families are enduring unspeakable pain.”

According to the WHO, Gaza’s population is facing extreme shortages of food, water, fuel, shelter, and medical care. Four major hospitals have been forced to suspend services in the past week due to hostilities or mandatory evacuations.

“The destruction of health infrastructure is deeply concerning,” the agency reported. “Hospitals and clinics have been damaged or targeted, making it nearly impossible to deliver even basic care. The few that remain open are overwhelmed and under-equipped.”

Of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, only 19 are still functioning. Most staff are operating under what the WHO described as “impossible conditions.”

“At least 94 percent of Gaza’s hospitals have sustained damage or have been destroyed,” the agency noted. The situation in northern Gaza is particularly dire, with “virtually no healthcare remaining.”

Across the territory, just 2,000 hospital beds are still in use—numbers the WHO calls “woefully inadequate to meet current needs.”

“The cycle of destruction is relentless,” the organization said. “Hospitals are rebuilt and resupplied only to be targeted again. This must end.”