WHO says Israeli military struck staff housing and warehouse in Gaza

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has accused Israeli forces of striking its staff residence and main warehouse in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah, disrupting vital humanitarian operations amid intense fighting.

According to WHO, the residence was hit three times on July 21, triggering a fire and causing serious damage, Caliber.Az reports, referring to foreign media.

Staff and their families, including children, were forced to evacuate on foot toward al-Mawasi under active fire. Male staff members were reportedly handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated at gunpoint. Two WHO employees and two relatives were detained; one remains in custody.

“This is unacceptable,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, calling for the immediate release of the detained worker and for the safety of humanitarian personnel to be ensured.

The same day, the WHO’s main warehouse, located inside an evacuation zone, was damaged by an airstrike, sparking a fire. Despite this, the agency pledged to stay in Deir al-Balah and scale up its operations.

The strikes came as Israeli tanks entered southern and eastern Deir al-Balah, reportedly searching for Hamas-held hostages. Local medics said at least three people were killed by shelling, with homes and mosques hit.

Gaza’s health ministry reported over 130 Palestinian deaths and more than 1,000 wounded in the last 24 hours alone — one of the deadliest days in recent weeks.

The UN condemned the strikes, saying Israel had been informed of UN facility coordinates in advance. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that civilian sites must be protected regardless of evacuation orders. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described Gaza’s humanitarian collapse as “accelerating.”

In Gaza City, at least 12 Palestinians were reported killed in the morning of July 22 after tank fire hit tents sheltering displaced families at al-Shati camp.

Meanwhile, in southern Gaza, Israeli forces reportedly detained the head of Gaza’s field hospitals, Marwan Al-Hams, during a raid that killed a journalist and wounded another near a Red Cross-run medical site.

The Israeli military has yet to respond to these allegations. Calls for a ceasefire grew louder Monday as over two dozen Western countries urged an end to the war. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected the appeal, insisting pressure should focus on Hamas.

By Tamilla Hasanova