GENEVA—The UN World Health Organization on Friday called on Israeli authorities to ease persistent delays in the entry of medical supplies into Gaza, citing critical risks to Palestinians needing urgent care. Dr. Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said timely delivery of appropriate aid is crucial for saving lives.
"A truck full of non-priority supplies or the right supplies arriving too late doesn't save lives," Van De Weerdt said. "That's the question that actually matters."
The situation remains challenging nearly 12 months into a fragile ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, describes Gaza's humanitarian conditions as "overwhelming," marked by ongoing Israeli airstrikes and military activity.
Approved aid can only enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom, located at the southern tip of the enclave. The Rafah crossing, also in the south, is reserved for limited movement of people, including patients seeking medical treatment abroad. Four other primary entry points—Kissufim, Gate 96, Erez and Erez West—remain closed.
Van De Weerdt urged Israeli authorities to "release the pressure on medical supplies." She stressed that essential medicines "should not be considered as dual use," a designation Israel applies to items it believes could be used by Hamas fighters. These are "globally accepted standards on medical items anybody needs anywhere to run a hospital or a clinic," she said.
A shipment of prosthetics and assistive devices was rejected four times over six months. "Every rejection means another delay for someone who has already lost a limb and is simply waiting for the chance to walk again," Van De Weerdt said. Medicines themselves move "relatively well," with almost 87 percent approved and just over 1 percent rejected.
UN aid agencies continue to deliver assistance across Gaza, coordinating with Israeli authorities. However, the WHO official noted that this work is hampered by unreliable and untimely access for supplies.
"Our ask is simple and has not changed: we need the unimpeded and predictable entry of humanitarian and health supplies into Gaza at scale," a senior WHO official said. The organization also advocates for a multi-crossing model to prevent aid from being restricted to limited entry points.
Van De Weerdt acknowledged the "extraordinary health workers" risking their lives in Gaza but noted that too few supplies reach them, leaving many patients without needed care. As winter approaches, the situation is expected to worsen.
Almost two million people require shelter to protect against cold temperatures and the risk of flooding, exposing them to serious health and safety hazards, she said.
