GENEVA: The World Well being Group complained on Tuesday (Dec 12) concerning 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 mentioned a WHO-led mission to deliver provides in and evacuate sufferers from the final partly functioning hospital in northern Gaza was stopped in each instructions by Israelis.
One in every of 19 critically wounded sufferers the workforce was attempting 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, together with his arms 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 mentioned.
Saturday’s mission evacuated vital sufferers and delivered trauma and surgical provides to cowl the wants of 1,500 folks 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 have been instructed at an Israeli checkpoint to go away the ambulances. Vital sufferers have been searched by armed Israeli troopers.
“Some well being staff have been held and questioned for a number of hours,” Tedros mentioned. “Because of the hold-up, one affected person died en route.”
WHO’s consultant in Gaza Richard Peeperkorn, who was on the convoy, mentioned 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 troublesome alternative to go away this extremely harmful space and proceed for the security and well-being of the sufferers,” Peeperkorn instructed 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 together with his arms nonetheless tied behind his again, and with out his garments or sneakers, WHO mentioned.
“His story is harrowing, and the humiliation and inhumane therapy he was topic to is fairly stunning,” Peeperkorn mentioned.
Well being staff have been detained on earlier missions to Gaza well being amenities. On Nov 18, six folks have been detained throughout a WHO-led mission to maneuver sufferers from Al-Shifa Hospital. 4 of these folks stay in detention, WHO mentioned.