During the WHO annual assembly, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emotionally urged Israel to show “mercy” amidst the ongoing Gaza war, emphasizing that peace is in Israel’s best interest and warning that the conflict is detrimental to both sides. He highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where acute shortages of food, water, and medical supplies have led to the suspension of services in most hospitals, with only 19 of 36 operational under “impossible conditions.” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan reiterated the urgent need to end starvation, release hostages, and restore Gaza’s health system, condemning the systematic destruction of healthcare facilities.
