WHO: "Israel" obstructs entry of aid and medical supplies to Gaza

The World Health Organization confirmed that Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid and medical supplies to Gaza are hindering the health response and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, noting that medical shipments including 50 intensive care beds and 170 medicine consignments did not receive permission to enter through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The World Health Organization confirmed that the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities on the entry of aid and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip are hindering the health response and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The organization stated in a Friday statement that the restrictions on the movement of aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing are impeding the arrival of vital supplies to the Strip's residents. It explained that its teams unloaded shipments of medical supplies at the crossing but did not obtain the necessary permission to collect them and bring them into the Strip, including about 50 intensive care beds, in addition to 170 consignments of medicines and vital medical supplies. It stressed that these restrictions come at a time when the health system in Gaza is suffering from a severe shortage of medicines, equipment, and medical supplies. The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, warned that ongoing Israeli restrictions are hindering the health response, noting that the deterioration of the situation is no longer linked only to attacks but also includes obstructing access to health services. Balkhy said that the spread of diseases in Gaza could pose a threat to the entire region.