Edith Hejberg
For the first time, Israeli tanks rolled into the southern and eastern sectors of Deir al-Balah on Monday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, were struck by Israeli military attacks on Monday. The strikes caused a fire and extensive structural damage, putting staff and their families including children in immediate danger.
Repeated Attacks and Dangerous Conditions
According to the WHO, its staff residence was hit three separate times. Personnel and their families were forced to evacuate on foot amid ongoing clashes.
Male staff were reportedly handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated at gunpoint by Israeli soldiers on-site.
WHO Staff Detained During Raids
Two WHO staff members and two family members were detained during the incident. While three were later released, one remains in Israeli custody.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for the staff member’s immediate release and reiterated the need for humanitarian worker protection.
Israeli Tanks Advance into Deir al-Balah
For the first time, Israeli tanks rolled into the southern and eastern sectors of Deir al-Balah on Monday.
The move came amid claims that hostages may be held in the area. Tank fire hit homes and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and injuring several more, according to local medics.
Casualties Mount Across Gaza
Gaza’s health ministry reported one of the deadliest 24-hour periods in recent weeks, with at least 130 Palestinians killed and over 1,000 wounded in widespread Israeli strikes and gunfire across the territory.
Humanitarian Hub Under Threat
Deir al-Balah is a critical center for aid distribution in Gaza, now hosting thousands displaced by the ongoing conflict.
Despite evacuation orders, many humanitarian agencies, including the WHO, have vowed to continue operations in the area amid growing fears of mass starvation.
UN Condemns Strikes on Civilian Sites
UN officials condemned attacks on known UN facilities, including WHO sites, saying these locations had been clearly communicated to all parties.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that civilian infrastructure must be protected, regardless of military orders or evacuation notices.
Aid Blocked as Crisis Deepens
The UN and its agencies warned that aid is being blocked just outside Gaza, despite having food stocks that could feed the population for months.
The UNRWA said it continues to receive desperate messages from its own staff inside Gaza, pleading for food and supplies.
Senior Gaza Health Official Detained
Israeli forces reportedly detained Marwan Al-Hams, Gaza’s head of field hospitals, during a raid in southern Gaza on Monday.
The undercover operation, conducted near an ICRC-run medical site, also killed a Palestinian journalist and injured another. The Red Cross voiced serious concern over staff safety.
International Outcry Grows
More than two dozen Western nations issued a joint statement demanding an immediate end to hostilities, citing the worsening humanitarian disaster. Israel’s foreign minister rebuked the statement, placing blame on Hamas, while U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee branded the appeal “disgusting.”
