GENEVA: Fighting back tears, the head of the World Health Organization on Thursday urged Israel to have 鈥渕ercy鈥� in the Gaza war and insisted peace would be in Israel鈥檚 own interests.
In an emotional intervention at the WHO annual assembly, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the war was hurting Israel and would not bring a lasting solution.
鈥淚 can feel how people in Gaza would feel at the moment. I can smell it. I can visualize it. I can hear even the sounds. And this is because of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),鈥� said Tedros, 60, who has often recalled his own wartime upbringing in Ethiopia.
鈥淵ou can imagine how people are suffering. It鈥檚 really wrong to weaponize food. It鈥檚 very wrong to weaponize medical supplies.鈥�
The United Nations on Thursday began distributing around 90 truckloads of aid which are the first deliveries into Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2.
Tedros said only a political solution could bring a meaningful peace.
鈥淎 call for peace is actually in the best interests of Israel itself. I feel that the war is hurting Israel itself and it will not bring a lasting solution,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 ask if you can have mercy. It鈥檚 good for you and good for the Palestinians. It鈥檚 good for humanity.鈥�

WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that 2.1 million people in Gaza were 鈥渋n imminent danger of death.鈥�
鈥淲e need to end the starvation, we need to release all hostages and we need to resupply and bring the health system back online,鈥� he said.
鈥淎s an ex-hostage, I can say that all hostages should be released. Their families are suffering. Their families are in pain,鈥� he added.
The WHO said Gazans were suffering acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter.
Four major hospitals have had to suspend medical services in the past week, due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones, and attacks.
Only 19 of the Gaza Strip鈥檚 36 hospitals remain operational, with staff working in 鈥渋mpossible conditions,鈥� the UN health agency said in a statement.
鈥淎t least 94 percent of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed,鈥� it said, while north Gaza 鈥渉as been stripped of nearly all health care.鈥�
It said that across the Palestinian territory, only 2,000 hospital beds remained available 鈥� a figure 鈥済rossly insufficient to meet the current needs.鈥�
鈥淭he destruction is systematic. Hospitals are rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be exposed to hostilities or attacked again. This destructive cycle must end.鈥�