WHO urges Hamas to release all prisoners on ‘health grounds’

Geneva, Switzerland – AFP

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for Hamas to provide proof of life of the prisoners it is holding and release them all on health grounds.

The WHO said the International Committee of the Red Cross should be allowed immediate medical access to ascertain their health status, while it stands ready to provide the ICRC with any health support required for the prisoners.

Israel has been bombarding since October 7 when Hamas gunmen poured across the border killing 1,400 people, and kidnapping more than 200 others, officials say, in the worst attack in Israel’s history.

So far, more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed, and there are fears the toll could further soar if Israel pushes ahead with a widely-expected ground invasion in a bid to destroy Hamas and rescue the prisoners

The WHO said it was “gravely concerned” for the health of the prisoners, which, it said, include health workers and up to 30 children.

“There is an urgent need for the captors of the prisoners to provide signs of life, proof of provision of health care and the immediate release, on humanitarian and health grounds, of all those abducted,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

He held talks on Wednesday with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli non-governmental organisation which represents families of those abducted.

Tedros said he “heard first-hand the tragedy, trauma and suffering they are facing”.

“Many of the prisoners, including children, women and the elderly, have pre-existing health conditions requiring urgent and sustained care and treatment. The mental health trauma that the abducted, and the families, are facing is acute and psychosocial support is of great importance,” he said.