WHO chief says threats to Al-Quds hospital in Gaza ‘deeply concerning’

ISTANBUL (AA) – Israel’s threat to bomb Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza is “deeply concerning,” the WHO chief said on Sunday.

“We reiterate – it’s impossible to evacuate hospitals full of patients without endangering their lives,” Tedros Ghebreyesus said on X.

He added that healthcare must always be protected under International Humanitarian Law.

Earlier, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Israel threatened to bomb the medical facility in Gaza and demanded an “immediate evacuation.”

“We received serious threats from the occupation authorities to immediately evacuate Al-Quds Hospitalin the Gaza Strip, as it is going to be bombarded,” the humanitarian organization said on X.

Israel claims Hamas operates beneath hospitals and other civilian structures, and that “in order to dismantle Hamas, we must dismantle their underground tunnels.”

Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group carried out a cross-border attack, killing 1,400 people, and taking many hostages.

The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 8,005, including 3,342 children, 2,062 women, and 460 elderly, according to the Health Ministry.