The World Health Organization condemned Israeli attacks on health facilities in Gaza and called for protection of the territory’s health infrastructure. In a statement on X cited in a report published August 4, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said an Israeli strike on August 1 hit a medical-supplies warehouse near Al-Aqsa Hospital. Emergency medical equipment, including some WHO-provided supplies, was destroyed, and the hospital itself was damaged.

Tedros said health facilities should never be attacked and must not be militarized under any circumstances. International organizations have repeatedly voiced concern over attacks during the ongoing Gaza conflict involving hospitals, ambulances, medical centers and warehouses holding medical supplies.

WHO said it has documented about 1,000 attacks on Gaza’s health sector since October 2023. More than 1,000 people have been killed and about 1,700 injured in those attacks, according to the organization. WHO also cited figures saying Israeli attacks in Gaza over the same period had killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured at least 174,000 others. The organization reiterated calls to protect these facilities so health services can continue.